The average speed cameras in North Wales and why they are there

There are speed cameras dotted around North Wales aimed at enforcing limits across the region. These include fixed cameras and the Go Safe mobile vans that set up at different locations each day. In addition there are also a smaller number of average speed cameras - clocking drivers as they enter a speed trap zone and then when they exit to gauge the speed they have been travelling at.

These are placed at a number of sites - with the enforcement there for different purposes. Sites include the A55[1], A494 and A483 and hundreds of drivers are caught out every month by them.

The cameras and why they are there:

A483 and A494 cameras:

In 2019 Welsh Government[2] installed cameras along a stretch of the A483[3] in Wrexham[4] and the A494[5] in Deeside[6]. The justification was not the usual road safety reason but instead it was to try to reduce pollution.

Limits on the stretches of road were reduced to 50mph and the speed cameras were brought in to enforce that speed. The aim was to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations - with levels at the sites above the 40 ug/m3 maximum level set out EU regulations. Poor air quality is associated with causing and exacerbating a number health conditions.

Anyone who has been fined will have cursed the cameras but a report showed the move had cut emissions. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter[7] sent twice daily to your inbox. Back in 2018 on the A483, Mold[8] Road interchange to Gresford interchange, the 'Annual Mean NO2 Concentration' was 57(ug/m3) at the roadside and 19 in the urban background. In 2022 this was down to 33 on the roadside and 14 in the urban background.

On the A494 Deeside, St David's interchange to Deeside Park interchange, the level was 48 at the roadside and 22 in the urban background in 2018 and 32 and 17 for those respective locations in 2022. In terms of fines an FOI in 2024 showed 37,000 motorists had been fined for speeding in the two areas covered by the average speed cameras in the preceding three years.

A55 cameras

There is one average speed enforcement on the A55. The system was installed on the westbound carriageway of the road at Rhuallt Hill.

Radar data collected between 8 March and 27 March 2018 found 217,642 vehicles had been travelling at speeds of more than 70mph on the Rhuallt Hill westbound carriageway - the steep curved downhill section. Welsh Government said it was "collision hotspot". To reduce speeds and therefore crashes cameras were installed in the summer of 2019.

The speed was not reduced from 70mph but it was hoped that the cameras would reduce the number of drivers speeding. There have been thousands of fines dished out since the cameras were put in although the numbers have reduced as more drivers became aware of the cameras. Early figures did show a reduction in crashes on that stretch.

Flintshire roads:

Flintshire[9] council have average speed cameras installed on three roads in the county.

These roads are the A548 Sealand Road, A5104 Coed Talon to Rhydtalog and A548 Mostyn To Llanerch-y- Mor. They said these were all brought in on "safety grounds". The most recent cameras were on the Mostyn To Llanerch-y-Mor stretch which were introduced at the end of last year.

This was identified as a priority location because of a significant number of collisions in recent years, including several incidents resulting in fatality or serious injury.

Evo Triangle:

The Evo Triangle is a three road route on the Conwy[10]/Denbighshire[11] border. The name comes from the writers over at the EVO Magazine and is what the writers use to test drive the cars for magazine features. The route - made up of stretches of the A5, A543 and B4501 - became very popular among driving enthusiasts but this raised huge concerns about some drivers turning it into a race route.

This prompted calls for action to reduce speeds and saw average speeds cameras installed at various locations on the 'triangle'. The final cameras went live in 2021 and they remain in place with road safety the fundamental purpose.

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References

1. ^ A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
2. ^ Welsh Government (www.dailypost.co.uk)
3. ^ A483 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
4. ^ Wrexham (www.dailypost.co.uk)
5. ^ A494 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
6. ^ Deeside (www.dailypost.co.uk)
7. ^ Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter (www.dailypost.co.uk)
8. ^ Mold (www.dailypost.co.uk)
9. ^ Flintshire (www.dailypost.co.uk)
10. ^ Conwy (www.dailypost.co.uk)
11. ^ Denbighshire (www.dailypost.co.uk)
12. ^ all you need to do is click this link and select 'Join Community' (chat.whatsapp.com)
13. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
14. ^ Click here to join the WhatsApp community. (chat.whatsapp.com)