£300,000 speed camera plan to save lives on city's roads

The scheme is part of a road safety strategy which involves Bradford Council officers working with local people to solve traffic problems in their areas.

The council's executive will be asked at its meeting on February 16 to approve the funding for fixed speed cameras at six locations in the district.

These are Manningham Lane, Great Horton Road, Shipley Airedale Road, Haworth Road, Thornton Road and Oakworth Road, Keighley.

A further 10 locations have been chosen as sites for mobile speed cameras.

According to a report to the executive, all 16 sites meet the criteria for speed cameras because of the number of road accidents involving death and serious injury.

The report says: "The average reduction in killed and serious injury at fixed camera locations in Bradford is 60 per cent over a three year before and after period taken to the end of 2008. That is against a general overall reduction of eight per cent across the metropolitan district.

"The corresponding figure for mobile cameras in the Bradford district is not available but across West Yorkshire the reduction of killed and serious injury is 32 per cent against a general reduction overall of five per cent."

The council has received a petition calling for a fixed speed camera on Haworth Road, Daisy Hill – which is included within the six fixed camera installation sites provisionally put forward.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's executive member for environment and culture, said: "Despite recent high-profile casualty reduction campaigns, the number of accidents in certain locations continues to cause concern.

"Site locations for speed cameras are identified through analysis of road casualties and speed information.

"The Bradford district has fewer safety cameras in relation to overall killed and serious injury than other West Yorkshire authorities."

Drivers caught out by speed cameras – apart from those travelling at alarmingly high speeds – will have an opportunity to attend a speed awareness course instead of incurring a fine and points on their licence.