Transport minister Stephen Ladyman has revealed that GPS speed camera detection systems in cars will remain legal – and he admitted having one in his car.

Ladyman said during the second reading of the Road Safety Bill in the Commons that devices which use satellite technology "will continue to be perfectly legal. I have one myself", when asked in the Commons whether such systems will remain legal.

Nigel Carter, of GPS speed camera warning system supplier Talex, said: "Our research has shown there is considerable confusion over the legality of systems that use global positioning satellite technology as opposed to speed camera ‘detection’ devices that the Road Safety Bill seeks to outlaw.

"The fact the transport minister is using a GPS system to stay within the law and protect his licence sends a clear message that these systems are acceptable and will remain legal."

GPS speed camera warning systems use satellite technology to pinpoint where a vehicle is on the road. The vehicle’s position is constantly compared with the system’s database of speed camera locations and the driver is warned of a camera’s proximity and the appropriate speed limit.

Speed camera and laser ‘detection’ systems, however, do not use GPS technology or databases of known camera locations. They detect some types of speed camera and although currently allowed, there is general cross-party consensus that the Road Safety Bill should make the use of these devices illegal.