Transport for London (TfL) has awarded Siemens a contract to replace existing speed cameras on selected routes in the capital with new digital average speed enforcement systems.
The contract, part of TfL’s London Safety Camera Replacement Project, includes the deployment of more than 100 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras over the next 24 months.
This covers four main routes across London and represents the largest roll-out of Siemens SafeZone average speed enforcement solution in an urban area anywhere in the UK. Ongoing service and maintenance will also be provided by Siemens.
A key priority for TfL is to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on London's roads, with a target of a 40% reduction by 2020. According to TfL, the existing wet film technology will soon be obsolete and the replacement programme is expected to ensure that the casualty reduction benefits that have been achieved to date in London will continue. In total, the full replacement programme covers more than 600 existing wet film camera sites on London’s roads including speed and red light cameras.
Ben Plowden, director of strategy and planning at TfL, said: “Ensuring that all road users are acting responsibly is vitally important to ensure that the capital's roads are kept safe for all. We are committed to delivering a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the capital's roads by 2020. We've worked closely with the London boroughs and police on implementing this important upgrade and, by ensuring that our safety cameras have the latest digital technology, we can help further reduce the number of unnecessary speed-related collisions that occur each year.'
As required by TfL, SafeZone is capable of successfully identifying the Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) and make, model and colour of vehicles in all light conditions from all lanes on a carriageway and calculating average speed over a measured distance within the speed enforcement zone.
TfL is responsible for 360 miles (580km) of main roads, and all of London’s 6,000 traffic lights. In addition, it manages the London Congestion Charging scheme, the Low Emissions Zone and promotes a range of walking, cycling and environmental initiatives across the Capital.
The order for SafeZone follows the recent award of two new maintenance contracts to Siemens to service more than one third of all TfL traffic control sites across the capital, deliver planned new schemes for the replacement and upgrade of a number of signalised junctions in North and North east London and continue with the ongoing upgrade of London’s traffic signals to the latest, energy-saving technology.
