A portable traffic enforcement camera, deployed by Osaka Prefectural Police, is seen on a designated school route in the city of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on Dec. 3, 2019. (Mainichi/Kumiko Yasumoto)

OSAKA -- A portable version of an "Orbis" speed camera saw its first day of use by Osaka Prefectural Police on Dec. 3 in hopes of keeping children on the school run safe.

The cameras don't need space for installation, and they can be used to clamp down on speeding vehicles without forcing the offending driver to stop. Police hope they prove useful on narrow roads such as residential streets and designated school routes.

Up until now, cars confirmed to be speeding had to be stopped, then led into a more spacious area to be issued a ticket. For that reason, many police officers had to be deployed to watch out for speeding cars, and it was necessary to secure locations where they could lead the offending vehicles.

However, the portable Orbis cameras automatically snap shots of speeding cars' license plates and drivers if they detect speeding cars, furnishing police with evidence of the violations. Days later the owner of the vehicle will receive an advisory note and a traffic ticket in the post. The system enables easier crackdowns on speeding cars in narrow roads.

On Dec. 3, a camera was set up in the western Japan city of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on a designated commuting route to the municipal Sambo Elementary School. The location was reportedly chosen as it gets a lot of use by drivers trying to avoid traffic congestion during rush hour, which is also the time children are on the school route.

The head of the traffic department at Sakai Police Station said, "We want to use this new equipment to protect children from traffic accidents."

(Japanese original by Kumiko Yasumoto, Osaka City News Department)