New camera enforcement to see automatic fines for road rule breakers

People driving through Cheltenham[1] who try to use a bus lane to skip a long queue will now get an automatic fine sent to them in the post, as traffic enforcement cameras go live across the borough. Three major bus lanes in the town are now enforced by cameras. These are just the first in a planned wave of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems that will go up from January onwards to enforce the rules of the road in trouble spots across Gloucestershire.[2] As well as people using bus lanes, these cameras will look for those that stop in a yellow box junction, take a banned turn, go the wrong way in a one-way street or drive down a prohibited road.

The routes with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems now monitoring bus lanes are the B4063 Gloucester Road near Arle Court, the A40 near Benhall, and Barley Road in Prestbury. Powers to implement ANPR traffic enforcement were granted to the county council by the Department for Transport this summer.[3][4]

Fourteen "moving traffic offence" hotspots were identified by the council in November 2022 as possible areas for ANPR enforcement.

The locations selected by the council were then monitored for months and at each one of them, accidents were recorded. In the initial weeks, road bosses have said that warning letters will be sent out in place of fines. Any excess funds generated from penalty notices when the system goes live have been earmarked for road repairs and other safety upgrades.

Gloucestershire County Council hopes these measures will improve traffic flows as well as the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians - as well as to encourage more people to take up the latter environmentally-friendly modes of transport. Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for road safety, said at the time of the camera's announcement: "The majority of road users safely adhere to the rules of the road, however a small number do not, which poses a risk to everyone. "We have identified several locations where ANPR cameras would help to prevent collisions, so they can act as a deterrent to people who are tempted to breach the rules.

This will help to improve road safety and also encourage walking and cycling."

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References

1. ^ Cheltenham (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Gloucestershire. (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
3. ^ county council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
4. ^ this summer. (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
5. ^ Art Deco Daffodil in Cheltenham looks to move on from being a restaurant (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
6. ^ Homes at risk of flooding as drivers ignore road closure signs (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
7. ^ iPhone (go.skimresources.com)
8. ^ Android (play.google.com)