High-tech speed cameras that caught 3200 drivers could come to …
High-tech speed cameras which caught out over 3,200 drivers in a two-week spell could come to the Potteries. The bi-directional cameras – which don’t require any painted lines on the road – are able to record excess speed in both directions.
A trial has seen four of the cameras set up in Devon and Cornwall where they have been busy. During the pilot they caught 3,280 drivers in just two weeks.
Now there have been reports the devices could well be rolled out nationally. There are numerous ‘hotspots’ across North Staffordshire where speed camera vans will regularly target in an effort to improve road safety.
In Devon and Cornwall the routes selected had all ‘had problems with collisions and speeding vehicles’. The devices were funded by Cornwall Council and the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership. In one location the camera caught a motorist doing 73mph in a 30mph zone.
READ: Hygiene inspectors order ‘dirty’ North Staffordshire sandwich shop to clean up its act[1]
Adrian Leisk is head of road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police and chair of the Vision Zero South West enforcement group. Mr Leisk says the devices uses infa-red technology to snare offending drivers.
He said: “Speed is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ contributory factors to serious and fatal collisions. Travelling too fast means you have less time and space to react and significantly increases your risk of serious or fatal injuries in the event of a crash. The higher the speed, generally the worse the severity of injury.
“Unlike older technology, they do not need painted lines on the road, or loops sunk into the road surface. They also use infra-red low light technology so will not ‘flash’ like the legacy systems.”
Road safety experts with Road Angel – which manufactures speed camera detectors, dash cams, and smart car stereos – say the new cameras could ‘become standard all over the UK’. Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel, said: “Introducing these multi-directional speed cameras is a positive step forward in helping to reduce the number of accidents caused by motorists excessively speeding each year.
“By capturing vehicles travelling in both directions, the new cameras will be able to penalise many more motorists than the old legacy systems are currently able to.
“Although there is still a long way to go to stop motorists from driving above the limit, and reduce the number of fatalities and injuries that speeding causes, we hope that the new speed cameras will make all Brits think twice before putting their foot down.
“Not only will you be slapped with a hefty fine of up to £1,000, points on your licence and the potential to be disqualified from driving, you’re also seriously putting your own and other road user’s lives in serious danger.”
This summer and Staffordshire Police has launched a dedicated crackdown to improve safety on the county’s roads. During one initiative, as reported by StokeonTrentLive[2], 76 drivers were caught breaking the speed limit on the A50 through Uttoxeter.
The force has said during the #SaferSummerRoads campaign officers – along with the speed camera van – will set up at various locations where there have been a history of serious collisions.
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References
- ^ Hygiene inspectors order ‘dirty’ North Staffordshire sandwich shop to clean up its act (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ as reported by StokeonTrentLive (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Want more court and crime news? Sign up to our court and crime newsletter here (data.reachplc.com)