Average speed cameras on the M4 at Newport are still not being used for prosecutions, a year after Welsh ministers said they were ready to enforce new 50mph limits.
Last year the Welsh Government said the permanent 50mph limit with average speed enforcement between junctions 24 and 28 on the M4 was set to go live by 15 March as part of its approach to tackling congestion following work carried out by the South East Wales Traffic Commission.
Officials said the cameras would be operational and the mandatory 50mph speed limit would be monitored closely by the Go Safe road safety organisation during a bedding-in period that would allow for full systems and enforcement checks to take place and 'give motorists time to get used to the new speed limit'.
‘Notices of prosecution will then begin to be issued in the summer,’ officials added.
However, in August, it was revealed that the cameras were not yet operational.
A Welsh Government spokesperson has told Highways: ‘The average speed cameras between junctions 24 to 28 of the M4, are now operational.
‘We continue to work with GoSafe and the police to develop processes to support future speed enforcement and/or education at this location.’
Highways understands that there is no technical reason why the cameras are still not being used for enforcement.
Jenoptik SPECS3 Vector cameras used for air quality purposes are green, rather than yellow
According to a Welsh Government webpage: ‘The 50mph speed limit is being enforced in 5 locations on the motorway and trunk road network using average speed cameras.’
This appears to relate to five sites, including the M4 between junctions 25 and 26 Newport, where the Welsh Government reduced speed limits to 50mph in 2018 in a bid to cut air pollution.
Last autumn it announced that the 50mph limits would be enforced using average speed cameras. It said that in 2021, with support from the police and GoSafe, it would start to issue advisory notices to drivers who exceed the limit and fine drivers who go significantly faster.
According to the Welsh Government webpage, two further locations have since been identified where nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels are above legal limits:
- A470 Coryton Interchange to Nantgarw Interchange
- M4 junction 43 Llandarcy to M4 junction 44 Lon Las
The Welsh Government says it is carrying out WelTAG investigations to help identify the most suitable actions to ensure that NO2 levels at these locations drop below the limit in the shortest possible time.
