Two SafeZone average speed schemes installed by Siemens last year have received high acclaim from a local safer roads partnership, and local acceptance, after recording almost 100% speed compliance in the first six months of operation.
Mark Trimmer, operations manager for the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, said: ‘Using a collection of cameras along Brighton seafront on Marine Parade and a further set of average speed detection cameras on the A259 Grosvenor Crescent in Hastings, compliance levels have reached 98.8%, which is exceptional.
‘The schemes also use a combination of visible and invisible (Infra Red) lighting, which is more sensitive to the effects on local residents and the environment. It’s the first time such schemes have been installed in the county.’
Completed in July 2017, the cameras on Brighton’s seafront (pictured above) have been deployed to reduce the risk of a serious collision while providing a safe environment for local residents and visitors to one of the county’s most popular visitor destinations.
Average speed cameras are helping to maintain a safe environment along the seafront at Hastings, one of the busiest roads in the town, which is susceptible to people speeding and overtaking at all hours of the day. The road is a main thoroughfare to the other side of the county and has to contend with large numbers of visitors.
Commenting on the two schemes, Mr Trimmer said: ‘Throughout the whole process from design to installation and handover, the project management and engineering support was exceptional with the project manager at Siemens [Guillame Derre] worthy of particular praise.
‘He ensured excellent management of the two schemes and the whole team demonstrated a positive attitude to finding effective and practical solutions which has resulted in schemes which have considered and minimised the impact on local residents, whilst still achieving the aim of speed compliance and collision reduction.
Mr Trimmer added: ‘The project team at Siemens also anticipated that there may be complaints from local residents about the use of white lights close to their properties so the initial scheme was changed to include infra-red lighting solutions in these areas in combination with the cameras.
‘Since installation of the schemes, there have been no complaints from any residents about the placing of the cameras and supplementary lighting.’
