Average speed cameras installed on Lancashire ‘danger’ road

Enforcement of average speeds on the A581 between Rufford and Euxton has started as part of a major investment to improve safety on Lancashire's historically most dangerous roads. Work has been underway for the past year on five new schemes to install average speed cameras in the county, with the cameras on this stretch of the A581 being the first to go live. It follows a successful bid by Lancashire County Council to the Department for Transport for GBP7.9m for measures to reduce casualties on routes which have been identified as the county's most dangerous A-roads.

The other routes where cameras are currently being installed are the A588 from Lancaster to Skippool; the A683 in Lancaster from junction 34 of the M6 motorway to Kirkby Lonsdale; the A6 in Lancaster between the city centre and J33 of the M6 motorway; and the A682 in the Ribble Valley[1] from Gisburn to the boundary with North Yorkshire at Long Preston. The average speed cameras are one of the key features of Lancashire's Safer Roads Programme which has already seen the installation of features including LED cats eyes, high reflectivity road markings, signs and crash barriers on these routes. Speed limits have also been reduced along some sections.

The speed limit on the approximately seven miles of the A581 between Rufford and Euxton varies between 20mph and 50mph and is being enforced by cameras placed at strategic points. Average speed cameras work by reading the number plate of passing vehicles and calculating a driver's average speed over a known length of road within the same speed limit. This results in drivers maintaining a steady average speed rather than just slowing down when they see a traditional fixed or spot speed camera, making traffic flow more smoothly and safely.

Offences recorded by the average speed cameras will be processed by Lancashire Constabulary. Superintendent Hassan Khan, Lancashire Constabulary operations manager, said: "There will be sanctions for anyone detected breaching the speed limits, where eligible they will be given the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course to learn about the dangers of speeding, or accept a conditional offer of a fixed penalty (currently GBP100 and three penalty points). For higher speeds the matter may be referred to court."

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The enforcement of average speeds between Rufford and Euxton is the latest stage[2] of an extensive programme of improvements along this route, which should significantly improve its safety record from this point forwards. "Excessive speed was identified as a major factor in the incidents which have led to a number of fatalities and serious injuries along this and the other four routes in Lancashire for which we've received funding from the Department for Transport. "As well as significantly reducing the risk of these awful collisions, I hope these measures will provide some reassurance to those living near these roads who worry about when the next serious incident will happen, and whether they or their family and friends could be affected."

To find out more search 'safer roads' at lancashire.gov.uk.

References

1. ^ Ribble Valley (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
2. ^ stage (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)