Safe Speed Forums

You get to move cameras

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news?articleid=2709693

By Monique Cleaver, Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, Wednesday 18 April 2007

DETERRENT – the rules on where speed cameras can be placed have been relaxed- caption to picture of a Truvelo speed camera

RESIDENTS are to be given a say over speed camera locations.

A review of Northamptonshire's speed cameras will see greater involvement from communities before a new camera is erected.

Residents will also be asked to comment if a camera with a low capture rate is moved to an area where enforcement is more urgent.

It is part of a review of the future of speed cameras, and an attempt to challenge the perception by some that cameras are money-making machines and that it is "okay to speed".

County councillors have approved the strategy, which includes better publicity about how the money generated from fines is spent.

There will also be closer working with different groups, such as young drivers, and better signposting of speed cameras so that motorists are not prosecuted by stealth.

Until now, police and local authorities had to put nearly all their cameras on roads where there had been at least three crashes in which a person was killed or seriously injured in a three-year period.

However, the Government has relaxed the rules, giving greater flexibility in deciding where speed cameras can be placed.

John Spencer, head of casualty reduction at Northamptonshire County Council, urged residents to get involved.

He said: "It's essential to work with the public because they are our eyes and ears. The funding arrangements have changed and the rules have been relaxed slightly.

"We are happy for residents to contact us and all they have to do is ask the question but there are some rules about where and how we place speed cameras.

"We can then make a decision about whether a camera is appropriate."

Cllr Liz Tavener, portfolio holder for community safety, said the input from residents was vital, but added that it would have to be backed up by evidence.

She said: "To move a speed camera or put up a new one has to be supported by evidence.

"It's about local knowledge - we can get as many statistics as we like but only the people who live or drive in that area can give us the added value of their comments."

Over the past three years, 100,905 motorists were caught speeding, with 60,350 paying their fines immediately. Around 27,000 paid either through the courts or by attending speed awareness courses and the rest escaped paying.

There are currently 42 fixed speed cameras in Northamptonshire.

Chrissie Osborne, who is campaigning for road safety measures on the A43 at Hannington, said: "It's important residents are listened to. People's evidence about what happens on the roads shouldn't be ignored. Some cameras seem to be in strange places."

A proposal for workshops for people who do not speak English as their first language is also being investigated, to ensure they are fully aware of road signs.

Changes to the way the county's casualty reduction partnership is funded means that instead of being financed on the basis of the number of speeding tickets issued, they now get a fixed amount from Government.

This is likely to be about £2.46m in the first year.

Last Updated: 18 April 2007

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the essence of this article that cameras are now being placed on a purely political basis? The LA, together with the electorate, are the only one's with a say!

Ahh yes...

Let's leave road safety to the real experts shall we?

That Mrs Hilda Gronk at 3 Ironside Villas knows a thing or two.



Actually, it REALLY isn't funny. Those are our lives that they are playing fast and loose with.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Presumably, all these people know all the intricacies of good driving such as lifting the vision / ipsga / maintaining good progress / adopting road position for max vision etc.............

Yeah. Right.

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Simon

Presume the residents will be told that the low return is because the accident history at that site had nothing to do with speeding?


Obviously that will be the location with the most vociferous minority


Seem to recall something about the blind leading the blind....?


Is another part to be the long awaited judgement from the ECHR?


So the equivalent of 10 of the cameras are superfluous as their FP's aren't paid....doing away with them will be a step in the right direction


Hang on....wasn't that fixed amount to cover ALL road safety schemes?

Wasn't there another forum post to do with moving a camera......something about theft....?

During the 6 short months I’ve been a member of Safe Speed, it’s with absolute horror that I’ve realised that no one in a position of responsibility over road policy, has the remotest qualification, knowledge, experience or common sense to make any decisions that ultimately affect our safety.

I had suspected it was so, but the reality is very disturbing.

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It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

I want my local camera in the skip.

Richard