Edinburgh mulls camera mix after average speed success

10/09/2019 | CHRIS AMES

Police Scotland is considering 25 locations in Edinburgh for speed camera enforcement following the success of the country’s first urban average speed camera.

However, it has played down suggestions that the sites are likely to see a large scale roll-out of average speed cameras.

Andy Jones, Police Scotland's east safety camera unit manager, told BBC Scotland: ‘We are doing speed surveys at 25 locations in Edinburgh and if they meet the criteria once we have analysed collision and speed data, average speed cameras will be considered where appropriate.’

However, Mr Jones told Highways that the sites would also be considered for mobile or single fixed cameras, depending on the location and the collision and speed data and that it was unlikely that very many would be average speed cameras.

Mobile speed cameras could be appropriate, depending on the time of day that drivers were found to be speeding, he explained. He added that decisions would be made in conjunction with the city council.

Mr Jones also commented on the success of the first urban average speed camera system in Scotland (pictured), which is on Old Dalkeith Road in the capital.

As reported on Highways, the camera, which was installed in 2017, cut speeding to just two offences a day, compared with three in every five vehicles speeding beforehand.

Between 2013 and 2015 there were six injury collisions, three of which resulted in serious injury or fatality. Speed surveys in April 2019 found the average speed was now 25.6mph.

Mr Jones told the BBC: ‘This was the first installation of an average speed system in an urban area and I'm delighted that it has resulted in an improvement in driver behaviour.

‘An average speed of 25.6 mph and two offences on average each day shows the effectiveness of this type of speed camera in encouraging drivers to adhere to the speed limit.’

The Old Dalkeith Road system was installed camera specialists Jenoptik. Its sales and marketing director, Geoff Collins, told Highways: ‘The use of average speed cameras continues to increase year on year, as the clear benefits they provide are more widely understood, both by road users and highway authorities.

‘Jenoptik are delighted to have supplied and supported every average speed camera used in Scotland.’

City of Edinburgh Council transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes said: ‘It is encouraging that compliance with the 30mph speed limit continues to improve on this route.

‘We will continue to work with our colleagues at Police Scotland's Safety Camera Unit to monitor the impact of average speed cameras on Old Dalkeith Road.’

In July Transport Scotland announced that a £250,000 average speed camera system would be installed (by Jenoptik) on a 15.9-mile stretch of the A82 and A85 roads between Tyndrum and Lix Toll.

Mr Jones said at the time that although his unit had deployed mobile camera vans along this route, motorists were complying with the speed limit when the vans are present with 'a significant number of vehicles travelling above the limit out with enforcement periods'.

Traffex Scotland takes place at The SEC in Glasgow on 13 and 14 November 2019 and together with Bridges Scotland remains the country's only dedicated event for the roads and bridges sector.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Senior Civil Engineering Technician

Grade 7 £29,093 to £32,654 per annum
We are looking for a flexible individual who has the ability to meet targets and analyse and resolve complex technical problems and formulate a design Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW