Safe Speed Forums

U-turn over cameras

SPEED camera bosses have unveiled a drastic change in policy after axeing one of East Lancashire's most notorious devices in a pilot scheme.

They are investigating whether to replace some speed cameras with electronic signs that display the speed of passing cars instead of issuing motorists with £60 fines.

And the speed camera in Whalley Road, near the junction with Pendle Road, Great Harwood, has been selected to test the effectiveness of the plan.

It is the first time a speed camera has been removed in East Lancashire since the programme, which has seen 293 devices installed in the county, began 10 years ago.

If the electronic signs prove to keep motorists' speed in check as effectively as speed cameras, then the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety may roll the scheme out to other sites.

MPs and a motoring organisation have praised the relaxed stance taken by the partnership, which has often been accused in the past of taking a hardline approach on speeders.

John Davies, of Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, said: "Speeding puts all road users at risk of injury and death. We are trying to save lives on our roads and are constantly looking at new initiatives to change the behaviour of drivers who exceed the speed limit.

"The data will be very important when considering road safety equipment at new sites.

"It is too early to say if we will remove the speed cameras that are in place now as a result of this trial but it will be very likely that we will put these signs up at new sites instead.

"We look forward to assessing the results and making a decision about the future use of these signs around the county."

The Whalley Road speed camera was chosen for the six-month trial because there have only been three minor crashes in the vicinity in the past five years.

It proved to be one of the most notorious in East Lancashire when it was installed in 2002 as it was sited just over the brow of a hill and coincided with a reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph.

Now it has been removed, a special cable is being laid over the road so that data can be gathered on motorists' speeds to see if the electronic sign is effective.

Great Harwood Coun Lynn Wilson said: "The residents of Whalley Road have always been concerned about people speeding past their houses, but it is a double edged sword because many of them have been caught by the camera too. It isn't necessarily a deterrent."

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, welcomed the trial. He said: "Research shows that these signs do slow people down.

"What makes them so effective is that they are a direct communication with the driver, rather than a speed camera that snaps you and you don't think about it until you get the ticket.

"If the objective is to slow people down near accident blackspots then it makes sense to utilise these signs. Hopefully they will make motorists respond sensibly and kill their speed."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has been a strong campaigner against speed cameras. He said: "It would be far more effective to use the fine money to fund more intelligent road calming measures, like these signs.This is giving motorists the immediate information they need to make the roads safe."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope added: "Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety deserve a pat on the back for this.

"I have driven past such signs before and they do have an instant effect."


http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.c ... ameras.php

my only concern is the KPI for success is speed reduction - surely it should casualty reduction. I'm also concerned that RTTM will work against the new signs.

But the real headline is that its the first sign of a U-turn in scamera policy - Paul et al rightly deserve much of the praise for this

I'm not so sure about those VAS. I've seen some of the new ones that advertise crossings, sharp bends etc to passing vehicles. They flash up like Las Vegas when you're virtually on top of them, and if you're not expecting it (like I wasn't) they give you a right shock - somewhat counterproductive I think.

Just wait until some old boy has a heart-attack from shock and sues the Council.

I'm not sure if I like them or not. The last one I saw (and boy do they flash) was in the New Forest. Sooo not expecting it. It distracted me from reading a road sign and by the time I realised why there were numbers flashing at me, the sign I was trying to read had gone.

Strangely that is the first SID which seemed to be displaying a speed somewhere near the speed I was travelling at.

The portable speed scoreboard devices I have seen in other countries seem much better, they don't flash and they are quite big and obvious.

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Andrew.