Leicester Leicestershire & Rutland Safety Camera Scheme

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Safety Camera Scheme aims to reduce casualties and collisions caused by excessive or inappropriate speed through the enforcement of speed limits, driver education and publicity. The Scheme is part of a wider road safety strategy implemented by the authorities and aims to make the roads in the area as safe as possible through engineering, education, and enforcement.

Safety cameras are making a positive contribution to the well being of local residents and road users, which is evident by the reduction of speeds and injury collisions at camera sites.

The Safety Camera Scheme is part of the National Safety Camera Programme which supports the Government’s Road Safety Strategy and the ambitious targets for casualty and collision reduction. The strategy, published in 2000, sets out targets for a 50% reduction in number of children killed or seriously injured, a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured and 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate by 2010.  As the figures below show, the Safety Camera Scheme is making an extremely positive contribution in meeting these ambitious targets.

Since the Safety Camera Scheme was established in Aril 2002, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people killed injured on our roads.  At Camera sites, there has been 26% reduction in Personal Injury Collisions (PICs) and a 55% in the number of people killed or seriously killed (KSIs).  This reduction is how the cameras are judged to be effective and why they are such a valuable road safety tool.

An independent report evaluating the first four years of the Safety Camera Programme in 2005 further confirmed the effectiveness of safety cameras.  The report thoroughly examined over 4000 sites in 38 partnership areas and categorically concluded that safety cameras are continuing to be highly effective in reducing speeding and collisions at camera sites.

The full report and information about the National Safety Camera Programme can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/

The Safety Camera Scheme is different to previous initiatives because it is paid for by fine money recovered from speeding motorists. Running costs include the installation and operation of safety cameras, film and ticketing processing, education and publicity initiatives and staff costs.  ONLY costs associated with the Safety Camera Scheme may be paid for by fine money.

The Scheme works proactively throughout the year to improve understanding of safety cameras and increase awareness of camera locations. All fixed, red light and mobile safety camera locations are made available to the public through a range of communications channels including local newspapers and radio stations, leaflets and CD ROMS, e-mail bulletins and the website.

The Scheme launched the Speed Awareness Workshops in October 2004 as an alternative to prosecution for drivers caught speeding.  The aim of the workshop is to change people’s attitudes towards speeding and to show why speed limits are needed. The offer of attending a course is only made for low-level speeding offences. Those who are eligible will receive a booking form with their penalty offer from Leicestershire Constabulary. For more information about the workshop, please visit:  www.speedawarenessleicester.com

For more about the Safety Camera Scheme, including camera locations, please visit: www.speedorsafety.com