Near Infrared (NIR) test

The biggest change from the existing standard, NIR contrast helps cameras read plates.

ANPR plays an increasingly important role in enforcement and commercial applications.

However, 3% of plates are currently misread by ANPR cameras* - a potential 1 million vehicles being misidentified every day, and that's before cloned plates.

The E rules should reduce that number by ensuring the right NIR contrast between the plate background and plate digits - meaning the plate can be read at speed.

How are plates tested?

Six plates of every construction must be submitted alongside a description of the materials used to make them.

A pair of white and yellow standard oblong plates, plus a yellow motorcycle plate is printed to show specified markings.

A large black square is used for retroreflectivity testing of black characters and the characters B and 8 help evaluate the NIR contrast.

What makes a fail?

If the contrast between the black digits and coloured backgrounds is not sufficient, the plate has failed.

^{* Surveillance Camera Commissioner speech at the national ANPR conference 2017.}