HUNDREDS of drivers have been caught out by a camera on one of Blackburn’s most dangerous roads. 

The new traffic offences enforcement camera has already detected a high number of motoring offences on Barbara Castle Way since going live on October 18.

Detections after just four weeks of data show an alarming number of incidents per day. Between November 1 and November 15, detections show 396 speeding offences and 78 occasions when motorists have gone through a red light on the busy road.

The first camera of its kind in Lancashire, the new kit allows for enforcement of speed offences, as well as those who run a red light which is a common cause of collisions, especially at junctions.

Barbara Castle Way was identified as a trial site for the camera, which is seen as leading technology in prosecuting drivers who jump red lights or speed up to avoid them.
The Blackburn junction has a poor history of road safety with 18 collisions being recorded during 2016 to 2020, including one fatality.

Blackburn with Darwen’s assistant executive member for growth and development, Cllr Zainab Rawat said: “This innovative camera technology will be a fantastic tool to help us make the roads safer for everyone in our borough. 

“I’m passionate about safer roads for our residents and proud of this forward-thinking council action – all road users deserve to feel safe which means tackling dangerous driving in our borough. Driving through red lights is always a dangerous manoeuvre and this camera will help to penalise drivers who think it is a clever thing to do. Hopefully we will be in a position soon where we can roll out more of these and make our roads even safer.”

The camera was installed without digging up roads and is independent of traffic signals, which means less maintenance costs. 

It is funded by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership. 

Safer Roads unit manager for Lancashire Constabulary, Lara Jones, said: “Sadly our officers have attended numerous incidents around this junction, including a fatal collision in 2016.

“Unfortunately having reviewed the footage recorded during the trial phase and more recently whilst testing the new system it is clear many drivers continue to ignore the traffic signals and proceed when the lights have clearly changed to red or more often speed up in an effort to beat the red light.

“This irresponsible behaviour creates an unacceptable risk for other motorists and vulnerable road users and increases their chances of being involved in a collision; the new technology will allow us to enforce this junction day and night and any motorist ignoring the traffic signals or driving above the 30 mph speed limit will be prosecuted; hopefully this will act as a strong deterrent, improve driver behaviour and as a result have a positive impact on road safety.”

The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points added to a driver's licence.