Speed Camera News

Darren · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:32 am Post subject: Speed Camera News

It looks like the great speed camera switch-off is making an about turn with news this week that speed cameras are to be reactivated in Bristol and the West Midlands and other councils look to expand their speed camera assets.

Bristol's cameras were switched off in 2011 after central government funding ended. Now Bristol City Council and Avon and Somerset Police are working to reactivate 26 speed and red-light cameras. Revenue from the cameras will be used to operate and maintain them.

Meanwhile, in the West Midlands, plans are being made to install digital speed cameras and mark a return to their use after the last one was switched off in April this year.

A reduce speed limit on the A180 in North East Lincs may be enforced by average speed cameras. The A180 has been included in a strategic sped review and councillors will now debate plans to police the reduced speed limit (down from 70mph to 50mph) using average speed cameras.

And finally, Essex, well known for its love affair with speed cameras, has announced plans to upgrade half of the county's speed camera to digital technology at a cost of £824,000.
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Darren Griffin

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:35 am Post subject:

Is the revenue now going to the council? I thought that Dave had stopped that some time ago, having it put in the central gov coffers.

I also remember Dave saying that he was going to stop the 'war on motorists' Rolling Eyes

Darren · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:41 am Post subject:

The revenue is ploughed back into running the cameras and enforcing the fines. So not actually going into council coffers as such. But, the more fines they issue, the more cameras they can deploy. And the more cameras they have, the more fines they can issue. Hence this sudden surge to re-activate them because motorists are evil (we're not), speed cameras save lives (they don't) and we're easy targets (that bit is true).

Give it 10 years and every stretch of road will have average speed cameras.

Good eh Evil or Very Mad

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Darren Griffin

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:50 am Post subject:

Have the rules on revenue 'disposal' changed to cause this? I thought that the (main) reason for switching them off was that they (the council/police/safety partnerships, whatever) were not getting the revenue, but it went to central government.

Darren · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:54 am Post subject:

MaFt · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:27 am Post subject:

West Yorkshire is also upgrading a lot of their older (single direction) Gatso's to newer 'StreetSeen' style front-and-rear facing cameras with sensors and lines on both sides of the road - effectively doubling their presence...

MaFt

Graculus · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 07, 2006 Posts: 51

Of all the authorities who turned off their cameras, and are now considering turning them on again, I wonder if they have any statistics on the number of accidents at the camera sites before and after switch off. In other words, can they show how much more dangerous those stretched of road are with no cameras, in order to justify turning them on and increasing their presence.

FoI request, anyone? Or could it be that they can't justify this approach?

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 2:55 pm Post subject:

Quinny1 · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:56 pm Post subject:

M8TJT · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 1:15 am Post subject:

MaFt · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:50 am Post subject:

timtech · Lifetime Member Joined: Oct 14, 2009 Posts: 14

From this article http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/Staffordshire-Speed-Camera-Trial-Catches-14000-Drivers-4455.php :
The fines go to the government treasury and not the county council.

Two conflicting statements. Which one is correct?[/b]

Darren · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:40 pm Post subject:

The Staffs story is incorrect, due to some sloppy quoting of a newspaper article. And we all know how accurate newspapers are in their reporting so our apologies for not correcting it.

Since April 2007 all income from speed camera fines goes to Local Authorities/County Councils in the form of an enhanced road safety grant.

Safety Camera Partnerships then bid for access to these for funds to allow them to run their operations.
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Darren Griffin

IanS100 · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 3:49 pm Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 3:58 pm Post subject:

You can bet on it. What's not there for them to like, no end cost to the LA, more jobs for the SCP's, and we all know there is no easier target than the motorist, be it in parking or speeding fines.

But dare to quiz them on the finer details of the stats they are all to happy to spout when justifying cameras and they get very defensive.
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Darren Griffin

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