Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership
News Archive
Speed Enforcement at Marlow Hill
Speed enforcement will continue on Marlow Hill and other sites in High Wycombe in a drive to reduce the numbers of people killed or injured on roads in the town.
In the last three years 33 people have died and more than 2,000 have been injured on roads in High Wycombe. 14,000 drivers were caught speeding through High Wycombe in the last year.
The mobile camera site on Marlow Hill, a main road into the town centre, is a site for speed enforcement because it is a proven black spot. In the three years before that camera site was installed (24/03/1999 to 24/03/2002) there were 20 crashes, one quarter of which were caused by speed. In the three years after it was installed there were 12 crashes, and only 1 in 6 were caused by speeding traffic; a reduction of 40 per cent.
Malcolm Collis, manager of Roads Policing Specialist Units, said: “Cameras are put in places where speed has caused serious collisions. This particular spot in High Wycombe has been proved to be dangerous and many children and pedestrians use the road to get to Wycombe General Hospital, Wycombe Abbey School or the bus stop, a main collecting point for school children. Drivers who choose to break the speed limit risk killing or injuring other road-users or pedestrians. We will do everything we can to get the speed message through to drivers that speed limits are there for a reason. We will also continue to be vigilant targeting other offences that jeopardise lives such as not wearing seatbelts and driving while using a hand-held mobile phone”
Speed fine money goes direct to the government. Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership then bids for funding to pay for the costs of enforcement e.g the officer, the camera van, the film and the processing costs. No profit is made.
Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership is determined to reduce the numbers of people who are killed or injured by speeding drivers. This includes educating drivers about the dangers of speed. For instance some drivers caught speeding are offered a speed awareness course as an alternative to a fine and points on their licences. This is run in partnership with DriveTech Uk.
The option for speeders caught just over the speed limit is a three-hour interactive course that costs £71. The alternative is a £60 fixed penalty fine and three points on your licence.
Mr Collis, said: “It is clear from the feedback from people who have been on the course that the speed awareness scheme is changing the attitude and behaviour of drivers towards speed, especially in urban areas where the most serious collisions occur.”
Speed is the single biggest cause of road deaths. In 2003 more than 1,365 people were killed or seriously injured in Thames Valley and although in 2004 that number dropped to 1,260, some of these deaths and serious injuries could have been prevented if drivers were not speeding.
Nearly 90 per cent of motorists caught speeding and given the option to go on a speed awareness course are taking up the opportunity.
Created: 2005-10-25 09:08:11 | Last Updated: 2005-10-28 11:49:12
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