Next-gen speed cameras to catch more drivers in Warwickshire
Warwickshire Police is cracking down on speeding – including by bikers – with the help of new mobile cameras.
The new speed cameras capture video footage of offenders as well as high-resolution imagery which can reveal the make, model and registration plates
The new LTI TruCAM II traffic and speed recording equipment is being used by both the Safer Neighbourhood Team and Operations Patrol Unit officers and can detect any type of vehicle speeding.
Deployed as lockdown restrictions ease and more drivers take to the roads – more than 3,000 motorists were caught speeding by the police force in June – the new tech captures video footage of offenders as well as high-resolution imagery which can reveal the make, model and registration plates; providing a more rock-solid case for prosecution and reducing the need for officers to attend court when evidence is contested.
The new cameras are also very portable, enabling a more adhoc approach to changing speeding hot spots.
They’ve been acquired with the help of £20,000 of funding from Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe’s Road Safety Fund.
Seccombe said: “Speeding makes it more difficult for a driver to maintain control of their vehicle and the police have my full support to enforce speed limits and take action against those who break the law as this will make Warwickshire’s roads safer for everyone.
“We know that bikers in particular can be more vulnerable in a collision, so it is important to be able to educate and where necessary enforce those who speed in order to ensure the safety of all road users. Speed is just one factor, however, so I support a range of other initiatives aimed at bikers to help them improve their safety. These include BikeSafe, the police-led motorcycle safety initiative, and Biker Down, which offers free training courses for bikers in Warwickshire.”
The force added that the new equipment is one of a range of measures to help save lives.
In Warwickshire, between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2019, 92 people were killed and 669 seriously injured in collisions where speed or loss of control was recorded as a contributory factor.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
One Comment
Chris Rocksmith06. Jul, 2020
Why does the discussion never roll back to driver training for road safety?
Learner drivers are not given any further training than the absolute basics. It’s up to the driver to seek advanced training. Speed awareness is one thing but understanding the vehicle capabilities, reading the road and traffic with an understanding of potential hazards on ALL roads is something that needs to better catered for.
Looking at 2018 statistics from the Department for Transport, the top causes of road accidents that occur in a year throughout Britain, speed is at number 8. Improved driver training could vastly contribute to the prevention of most of the other accident types.
1. Driver failed to look properly – 42,189 accidents reported
2. Driver failed to judge other person’s path or speed – 21,211 accidents reported
3. Driver was careless, reckless or in a hurry – 17,845 accidents reported
4. Driver had poor turn or maneuver – 15,560 accidents reported
5. Loss of control – 12,151 accidents reported
6. Pedestrian failed to look properly – 8,687 accidents reported
7. Slippery road surface – 7,327 accidents reported
8. Driver was travelling too fast for conditions – 6,468 accidents reported
9. Driver was following too close – 6,040 accidents reported
10. Driver was exceeding speed limit – 5,102 accidents reported