East Lancashire's speed cameras branded ‘wasteful’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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East Lancashire's speed cameras branded ‘wasteful’
10:30am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News
By Lisa Woodhouse, Assistant picture editor
SAFETY Speed camera
ROAD safety groups have labelled East Lancashire’s speed cameras ‘inefficient and wasteful’ after learning that none of the 168 devices use digital technology.
The ageing ‘wet film’ cameras are more susceptible to vandalism and most are out of action due to costs.
Campaigners say increasing digital camera numbers will help reduce crashes as they are more reliable than those using standard film.
Digital cameras offer slightly better picture quality, but appearance and detection are the same.
Vali Birang, head of sustainable transport and safety at Lancashire County Council, said: “All of our existing cameras have Home Office approval, however the wet-film technology is becoming obsolete.
“We have been working with the police to review the available technology with a view to upgrading to digital cameras.
“At the same time, we are moving towards a more flexible and targeted approach to enforcement with the Lancashire RoadWatch scheme which will make more use of mobile cameras to respond to community concerns about speeding and focus on locations where we know speeding causes injuries.”
The cost of the upgrades was unavailable, but the new technology would be paid for by the Lancashire Road Safety partnership – a multi-agency partnership between Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Lancashire Police, The Highways Agency and other local authorities.
In England and Wales, only about one in six speed cameras is digital, according to a survey by Road Safety Support, commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Almost 3,000 cameras use photographic film with only 453 digital.
And 18 partnerships, including Lancashire, have no digital cameras.
Richard Coteau, from road safety charity Brake, said: “It is vital local authorities move to replace wet-film cameras with digital ones, as they cost less to run and mean more can be switched on at any given time, helping to improve safety.”
Kevin Delaney, head of road safety at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “The present wet-film system is inefficient and wasteful and films are often only part used.”
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (6)
2:07pm Wed 17 Oct 12
brossen99 says...
4:08pm Wed 17 Oct 12
eastlancslad says...
All we here about is speeding. Never about simple bad driving/lack of attention/faulty vehicles/inexperienc
ed young drivers/doddery old drivers/kids running out into the road/etc/etc. Then again, I don't suppose that type of driving can be turned into a revenue collection method as easily as putting up speed cameras.
Could we here something about school kids learning how not to act around traffic. Then again, I suppose that costs money, and that won't do, will it.
"Richard Coteau, from road safety charity Brake, said: “It is vital local authorities move to replace wet-film cameras with digital ones, as they cost less to run and mean more can be switched on at any given time, helping to improve safety.”
Rubbish. The only reason it's'vital', is to get the money pouring in.
"Switched on at any given time"? Digital cameras operate all the time - you don't have to keep switching them on and off.
"Helping to improve safety? For 200 yards, whilst you pass the camera.
Would someone from the 'road safety groups' please tell what other plans they have in mind to improve driving standards, please.
4:49pm Wed 17 Oct 12
darwenTower says...
6:12pm Wed 17 Oct 12
brossen99 says...
9:46pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Marsdogs says...
8:05pm Thu 18 Oct 12
rilistic says...