Tackling road casualties with average speed cameras
The Lancashire Road Safety Partnership have average speed enforcement camera systems in place, to help in reducing the death toll and making the roads safer for all to use.
The Partnership have funded the scheme and Lancashire Constabulary are responsible for enforcing the cameras.
The routes are (cameras will cover traffic flow in both directions):
- A565 Southport New Road (3.7m) between Tarleton crossroads and the Gravel Lane roundabout at Banks.
- A583 Blackpool Road (3m) between Wrea Green roundabout, through Kirkham bypass to Newton-with-Scales, west of Clifton.
- A588 Head Dyke Lane, Pilling (2m) between Fold House Caravan Park and Bourbles Lane.
- A59 Brockholes Brow, Preston (0.5m) between M6 junction 31 and Glenluce Drive.
- A6 London Road, Preston (0.7m) between Capitol Centre (Winery Lane) and Albyn Street East.
- A675 in Belmont (8m) between M65 junction 3, through Abbey Village and Belmont to Scout Road.
- A682 Gisburn Road, Pendle (5.2m) between A59 at Gisburn and Whittycroft Avenue (between Barrowford and Blacko).
- B6232 Grane Road/Haslingden Road (4.93m) between A56 through Haslingden Grane to M65 junction near Belthorn.
Alongside Lancashire Constabulary the Partnership, which includes representatives from Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, Lancashire Fire
and Rescue Service, Highways England and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, has decided to adopt the system using average speed cameras as safety and motorist compliance has consistently improved on a variety of road types using the system in other parts of the UK.
The cameras use number plate recognition technology to detect vehicles and calculate their average speed by measuring the time taken to travel between fixed points of a known distance apart. Average Speed Check signage are used to inform drivers that they are entering an average speed control zone.
This is intended to positively influence driver behaviour and ensure that motorists comply with the set limits on roads, resulting in a safer environment for all road users.
The routes were chosen by the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership based on the following criteria:
- There is a history of collisions and casualties within the routes
- Speed surveys indicate that speeding vehicles is an issue
- Some of the routes have been identified as needing action around speed and road safety issues, but there aren’t any other realistic or appropriate enforcement options
There are sanctions for anyone detected breaching the speed limits, where eligible they will be given the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course to learn about the dangers of speeding, accept a conditional offer of a fixed penalty or for higher speeds the matter may be referred to court.
Be more tortoise...
The technical stuff
Geoff Collins from Jenoptik Traffic Solutions explaining why average speed cameras are used and how they work.