Leeds speed camera catches 2,000 drivers in first month after it was put up

A new Leeds^[1] fixed speed camera has caught out more than 2,000 drivers in its first month in action.

The camera is located on a 30mph section of Scott Hall Road, on A61 Sheepscar Street North, beside the Jaguar and Land Rover shop, at the junction with Sackville Street. The speed camera was erected on October 8. It is located a few hundred metres shortly after the road goes from 40mph to 30pmh.

Since it came into operation, the camera had issued 2,106 Notice of Intended Prosecutions by November 14, when West Yorkshire Police^[2] responded to a Freedom of Information request. The force said it had issued 179,715 tickets for speed camera violations across the whole of West Yorkshire in 2018 alone, according to another FOI request^[3].

This section of road is the site where a mother and her four-year-old daughter were killed while crossing the road^[4] on January 16, 2023. Justyna Hulboj, 27, and Lena Czepczor were hit by an Audi TT driven by Hardeep Bhachu, who admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Leeds Crown Court^[5] in June.

West Yorkshire Police's response to the FOI request reads: "Dear Sir/Madam, thank you for your request for information, received by West Yorkshire Police on 11/11/2024.

"You requested the following information: How many Notices of Intended Prosecution were issued based on evidence gathered from the speed camera located at A61 Sheepscar Street North, Junction with Sackville Street, Leeds within the first month of the camera becoming operational on 8th October 2024?

"Since 8th October 2024, 2,106 Notice of Intended Prosecutions have been issued at this location."

A Leeds City Council^[6] spokesperson said: “The camera on Scott Hall Road became operational on October 8 2024 to encourage compliance with the 30mph speed limit.

“It was introduced following concerns of speeding reported by members of the public and as part of Leeds City Council’s Vision Zero ambition to eliminate deaths on the city’s roads by 2040.

“The 30mph speed limit is well signed, in line with appropriate guidance, to alert drivers of the limit change.”

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