17 November 2009

****PRESS RELEASE****

Speed on Green Safety Cameras Detect Reduced

Speeds at Traffic Light Junctions

The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership (DSCP) has identified a reduction in vehicle speeds at the Holes Bay Road traffic light junctions since Speed on Green safety cameras went live on 1st July 2009.

During the first month, the average speed of vehicles detected driving in excess of the speed limit at the two sites on the Holes Bay Road where the safety cameras have been installed, reduced from over 41mph to 39mph*.  However, the DSCP is continuing to urge drivers to reduce their speed to within the 30mph speed limit in order to prevent serious collisions.

Johnny Stephens, Head of Fixed Penalties at the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership comments: “The Speed on Green cameras are acting as a deterrent to speeding, however the speed of vehicles travelling through the busy traffic light junctions remain high and we want to urge drivers to slow down.  The highest speeds that our cameras have recorded are 68mph by a vehicle being driven northbound (away from Poole) and 65mph by a vehicle coming into Poole.   We have also captured footage of a vehicle travelling towards Poole at 40mph which encountered a pedestrian trying to cross the road, luckily on this occasion the incident was a near miss, however in future we may not be so lucky.”

The speed limit for this stretch of road was reviewed in September 2007 by Borough of Poole Council and found to be correct for the road conditions.  Whilst the road is a good quality dual carriageway, it is a high-risk road with above average collisions resulting in injury (in the three years prior to the review there were 19.57 collisions per kilometre). This is due to the junctions catering for pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorised vehicles.

Of the vehicles detected speeding, the majority are locally registered, 20 have been detected speeding twice and three were detected speeding three times.

The Speed on Green cameras are used to monitor compliance with the speed limit by vehicles crossing traffic light junctions on a green signal. They have been introduced in response to community concern regarding the speed of vehicles at the busy traffic light junctions and the need to prevent collisions.

A list of all safety camera locations in Dorset is available on the DSCP website - www.dorsetsafetycameras.org.uk. 

ENDS

Notes to editors
* Average speeds of vehicles detected speeding by the Speed on Green safety cameras located at two sites on the Holes Bay Road in Poole during July compared to tests prior to the Speed on Green cameras going live:
• Southbound: Reduced from 41.6mph to 39.2mph
• Northbound: Reduction from 43.5mph to 39.2mph

The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership
The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership, which was set up in August 2002, constitutes a partnership between Dorset County Council, Borough of Poole Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset Police, NHS South West, Highways Agency, Her Majesty’s Courts Service and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Partnership, through a combination of measures including education, engineering and enforcement, is working together to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on Dorset’s roads, as a consequence of both excess and inappropriate speed.  It is responsible for the operation and maintenance of fixed site, mobile and red-light junction cameras throughout Dorset.