Digital speed cameras installed as part of new road safety measures

Northumberland County Council is set to join a new road safety partnership alongside Northumbria Police and the local authorities in Tyne and Wear. As part of this, existing static speed cameras will be digitised with the latest technology.

This will allow police to process information supplied by the cameras using computers, making them more effective. Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting (September 17) of the council’s cabinet, council leader Glen Sanderson spoke of the impact on road safety.

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He said: “I think it is fair to say that when we’re talking about cameras that catch people speeding, it brings a difference in view for many people. Those of us who have had points, or indeed a multitude of points, on our license know very well that it is an unpleasant part of life.

“On the other hand, the cameras are there for road safety, and are placed in places with real issues. I am thinking of villages like Longhorsley and Longframlington, or specific junctions on the A1.

“We’re going to renew and modernise the static cameras. It is expected this will be completed by next summer.

“This will not stop the deployment of the mobile camera van. We have reached an agreement to get those static cameras back into action and help safety, to alleviate concerns from people who are concerned about speeding traffic.

“I think it is absolutely the right thing to be doing, just to ensure that those places like I have mentioned are made more safe.”

The partnership, which will be known as the Northumbria Road Safety Partnership, will also address problem areas on the highways network, collaborate on road safety-related research and develop education activities for “bespoke groups”.  

These activities will account those groups’ “individual needs” and their “collective threat of harm on Northumbria’s roads”.