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Speed camera initiative in Essex

04 July 2007 | 07:32

MOBILE speed cameras will now be found on a daily basis on some of Essex's busiest roads as part of a new initiative to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidents.

The new “even tougher” approach is being taken by the Essex Casualty Reduction Board (ECRB) in a bid to make the county's roads safer for motorists and pedestrians.

Representatives from the emergency services joined ECRB members at Chelmsford's Hylands House to raise the profile of the new scheme, called Driving Casualties Down.

So far this year there have been 395 KSI (people killed or seriously injured) accidents in Essex and motorists will now find the county's six mobile safety cameras, more police patrols and extra bridge-based cameras on busy trunk roads such as the A120 and the A12.

Speaking at yesterday's launch was Luke Bistow, a 19-year-old from Witham who lost the lower part of his left leg and badly injured his left arm when he came off his motorbike last year.

The teenager said motorists should take better care on the roads and think about the impact their actions have on victims and their families.

He said: “Lots of road users think 'it will never happen to me' - and I thought that. That's why it's time to get tough.”

Also at the event was Chief Inspector Tom Diment, Essex Police's head of road policing, who said that officers would now be in a position to move cameras on a more regular basis and combine clear and covert operations to help cut speeding.

He said: “We can be more dynamic and in a position to move the mobile cameras to the areas where we are identifying as KSI sites.

“They could be moved daily or weekly. The vehicles we're using are bigger and more high-profile to affect driver behaviour to reduce KSIs.”

He said there were some people regularly driving at speeds of up to 130mph on Essex roads, which was an “unacceptable” situation.

Essex County Council's network and safety manager, Rosemary Welch, said that the number of KSIs had been coming down, but just not as many as the board would like.

She said: “We have targets for casualties and we were above our benchmark last year.

“This year it's even more challenging - we want to bring the figure down below last year's total of 842.”

The scheme, developed to get Essex “back on target” for this year, uses a combination of activities, including a poster and leaflet campaign, to target groups such as young drivers and motorcyclists and problems such as drink and drug driving as well as speeding.

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The medicine isn't working! Double the dose!

I wouldn't double the dose - I'd get a SECOND OPINION. Essex? Are you listening?

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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

The analogy I'd use is the old practice of pulling a patients teeth out when they had blood poising from septicemia.

Treating the symptoms not the cause.

The only difference is this will be less effective

Except they aren't even treating a symptom are they? They are treating a red herring instead.

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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

Are we sure they don’t already know it’s a red herring and just want to use the excuse to make life more difficult for the motorist and, at the same time make even more money to top up Mr browns coffers.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

A few might, but mostly it's like a religion. They have faith. They have seen the light. They know the one true way.

I'm sure Ladyman knew the truth.

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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

I don't think it's about money - although there are a lot of vested interests.

I think they are complete zealots.

When you have devoted your life to something, gone on the record to defend it and so on how can you give in?

A boss of mine was absolutely convinced that what we was doing was right, he refused to see the truth or the changing situation inwork. In the end he became completely deluded throwing more and more energy into his doomed project. He was made redundent....and i got his job.

His response....'Good, that means I have more time to devote to my project'!!!! You wait when Brunstrom gets the heave ho.

Didn't that show up in the Tele Traffic "buckets of money " expose in the Mail??

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Exactly

When I saw not about money I mean revenue generation for the treasury.

But look at the jobs, the reputations, the suppliers and manufactures.

I actually think its more to do with the reputations than anything else. How can they turn round and say it's not working after some of the stupid and rabid comments we've heard?