Camera trial goes full time to fight region’s ‘speeding culture’

North Yorkshire Police officers confirmed they had caught the speeding drivers during the start of a six-month trial that began last month to station mobile safety cameras along the county’s vast network of country roads.

Until now, the county has been the only area in the country that was not using either mobile or fixed-site cameras.

But senior police officers said the “disappointing” number of people caught within the first month, some of whom were travelling at more than 100mph along quiet rural roads, had revealed the problem to be so endemic throughout North Yorkshire that cameras are now needed permanently.

The head of North Yorkshire Police’s strategic roads group, Inspector Dave Brown, said: “We are not surprised at the numbers because we know there is an extensive amount of abuse of the speed limit.

“What is disappointing to me is we have told as many people as we can that we are going to be out there with the camera but despite that we are still putting this number of people through the system.

“People are just not heeding the warnings.

“There is a culture of this in North Yorkshire that we are trying to address. The size of the county plays a part in this, as does the size of the road network – people seem to think they will not get caught.

“My personal feeling is there is a lot of work to be done with motorists. This pilot project has already proved its worth and it is having an impact. To keep the momentum going, the pilot needs to become a full-grown operation. We are always working to keep casualties down and this will be the biggest leap forward for years.”

Among the worst blackspots for speeding during the past month were the B1222 near Sherburn in Elmet, Flixton, near Scarborough, and the A64 between York and Tadcaster.

Of the 1,805 motorists caught by the camera for exceeding the speed limit, 37 have been summoned to court for excessive speed, while 381 people were given fixed penalty notices. A total of 1,387 offenders, about 70 per cent of those caught, have been offered speed awareness courses.

Officers hope the courses, which are offered to first-time offenders travelling marginally over the speed limit and do not include any penalty points on a driving license, will help address North Yorkshire’s speeding problem.

Insp Brown said: “It has been a complete mixed bag really of young and middle-aged drivers, anywhere between 20 and 60. But already we are getting feedback that where the mobile speed camera has been before, there seems to be a reduction in the number of speeding drivers.

“We hope these results reinforce the message that speeding is unacceptable and will not be tolerated on our roads.

“If you speed you are now more likely to be caught in North Yorkshire than ever before. Speed kills, ignore the law and you will be punished.”

The speed camera is in a van equipped with an enforcement system, which can track vehicles from almost two-thirds of a mile away.

The cameras can also detect mobile phone and seatbelt offences, officers have warned.

During the trial, North Yorkshire Police has published a full list of the sites being visited by the mobile cameras on their website and published the information more widely.

While the mobile cameras are intended to target anyone speeding on the county’s roads, police have confirmed there will be a “particular emphasis” on rogue motorcyclists.

Advocates of the cameras have maintained the technology has helped dramatically reduce the number of deaths on the nation’s roads.

Research published by the RAC Foundation has revealed there would be 80 more deaths and 720 more serious injuries in the UK every year if the cameras were decommissioned.

Between 2008 and 2010, there were 36 fatalities on the county’s roads in collisions where speed was a contributory factor. One of the biggest areas of concern is the number of bikers who continue to break the speed limit.

North Yorkshire Police announced in April it was teaming up with seven other forces across the North of England in the first formal agreement of its kind to prevent the number of fatal bike crashes increasing.

Drivers urged to be ‘bike aware’

North Yorkshire Police has issued a warning to road users to take care while near junctions and overtaking after a spate of crashes involving cars and motorbike riders and cyclists.

Traffic Sergeant John Lumbard, said: “It appears that at least one of the collisions involving a motorcyclist, occurred when a car was pulling out of a junction.

“I urge car drivers to take an extra moment at junctions to make sure that motorbikes and pedal cycles are not approaching before they start moving. I also advise bike riders to pay attention as they approach junctions if there is a stationary vehicle present.

“Drivers also need to ensure they leave plenty of space when they are overtaking.”