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Birmingham and Solihull introduce ASE cameras to reduce road traffic accident injuries and deaths (10 August 2016)

Date: 10/08/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Birmingham and Solihull introduce ASE cameras to reduce road traffic accident injuries and deaths

Birmingham City Council has reminded motorists that from Monday (08/08/16) new Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras have been operating across Birmingham and Solihull.

The council says that project partners from Birmingham City Council (BCC), Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), West Midlands Police (WMP) and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have adopted a system using average speed cameras because, historically, compliance with speed limits is far better than with mobile or fixed-point cameras.

The new cameras detect vehicles through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) – and calculate their average speed by measuring the time taken to travel between defined points of a known distance apart.

A clear signing strategy is used to inform drivers that they are entering an average speed control zone.

Superintendent Kerry Blakeman of West Midlands Police said:

“Our intention is for people to adhere to the speed limit – those who exceed the limit will have to attend a speed awareness course, where they will be educated about the dangers of speeding, or face either an appearance at court or a fine and points on their licence.

“We hope that the presence of these highly visible cameras will ensure that road users comply with the set limits on roads in Birmingham and Solihull.”

Between 2010 and 2014, there were 2,356 people killed or seriously injured in Birmingham and Solihull – an average of 471.2 people per year.

Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Roads, Councillor Stewart Stacey, said:

“Most people will see no impact to their overall journey time, as this is all about enforcing speed limits that already exist on the roads in question – all of which are routes with a significant record for accidents historically.

“It will only be the minority who continually exceed the speed limit and endanger others who will be caught by our adoption of this new modern technology.”

The cameras will be located across Birmingham and Solihull – and will be operational for a term of five years, with an initial 21-month evaluation phase to assess the effectiveness of the cameras, equipment and the overall system.

Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Cllr Ted Richards, added:

“This new digital technology will play a very important role in keeping the region’s roads safe – thousands of people use the roads through Birmingham and Solihull every day and any work that local authorities can do to keep them safe is certainly positive.

“The cameras and associated signs are very noticeable – the only people being caught are those who choose to ignore them.”

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said:

“I promised that I would improve road safety and do all I could to reduce the number of injuries and deaths on our roads.

“Speed is one of the biggest causes of deaths on the road – and one of the biggest issues that local people raise with me on a daily basis.

“Birmingham and Solihull are installing the cameras and the police are supporting them by processing and enforcing the fines – this shows that we are on the side of the overwhelming majority of motorists who drive safely and sensibly.”

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