New research shows that the safety camera on the A217 Brighton Road, Banstead has made a huge difference to the number of casualties on a dangerous stretch of road.
The camera is located on a 40 mph stretch of road adjacent to Banstead Infant and Junior Schools, St Anne’s Church and Halls, and near to the junction with Burgh Wood. In the three years prior to enforcement (November 2003 to October 2006), 37 casualties, including three fatalities and two serious injuries, were recorded on the 1km section of road around the camera.
But in the year after the camera was put up there was just ONE minor casualty in collisions over the same 1km stretch of road.
Speed surveys at the site also prove the effectiveness of the camera. Average speeds fell from 45mph in June 2005 to 38mph in June 2007, a fall of nearly 16%.
High-end speeders also appeared to take note, with the 85 per centile speed (the speed at which the fastest 15% of speeders were recorded) falling from 52 mph to 41 mph - a 21% reduction.
An important principle of the Partnership is that all enforcement is highly visible to encourage safe driving at collision hotspots rather than issuing penalties. This site is no exception, with safety camera warning signs and speed limit repeater signs throughout the 40mph zone. There is also a vehicle activated sign on the northbound approach to the camera which lights up to remind drivers of the speed limit and to warn of the safety camera enforcement ahead should they be approaching too fast.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership Project Manager, Duncan Knox, said:
“It’s clear that the installation of the camera has led to slower, safer driving on a road which was once a collision hotspot - and that is borne out by the huge drop in casualty figures”
A new website (www.drive2survive.com), aimed at cutting accident rates and encouraging safer motoring amongst young drivers in Surrey has been launched.
The website is part of a campaign targeting young drivers in the 17-24 age group, particularly young males, who are tragically over-represented in accident figures.
Research shows that 76% of deaths of 16-19 year olds are caused by road traffic accidents and young male drivers are seven times more at risk of having a crash than all male drivers.
Developed by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership, the website features a competition to win an off-road driving experience or Pass Plus lessons, which help new licence holders to gain more driving experience as well as reducing their insurance premiums. Parents of young drivers can also find a young driver agreement which allows a young person to drive the family car, or a car funded by their parents, if they sign up to some safe driving ground rules. There are also hints and tips for safer driving.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership’s Project Manager, Duncan Knox, said:
“The statistics make grim reading- one in three male drivers aged between 17 and 20 will crash within two years of passing their test. Young men are more likely to drive too fast, to show off to their friends and to take risks - which means they are also far more likely to kill or injure themselves, their friends or other road users. Young women are also vulnerable, both as passengers and drivers, so we hope that all young drivers will visit this new website and find out how to Drive 2 Survive.”
The campaign, which will also include driver information packs, posters and flyers and a viral film, written and acted by young people, goes fully live next March.
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is to introduce mobile enforcement on the A322 Bagshot bypass in an move to cut casualties on a dangerous stretch of road.
Enforcement has now begun on a 1.4km stretch of the A322 in Bagshot between the junctions of Dukes Covert and New Road.
The move comes after collision data revealed that in a three year period between October 2004 and September 2007 there were 34 casualties, including one fatal and three serious at the site. There were also two fatal collisions in April 2004.
Mobile enforcement will continue whilst investigations are carried out into the viability of introducing fixed cameras at the site.
An important principle of the Partnership is that all enforcement is highly visible to encourage safe driving at collision hotspots rather than issuing penalties. This site will be no exception. There are currently safety camera warning signs and speed limit repeater signs throughout the 50mph zone and Partnership enforcement vans have an unmistakeable brightly-coloured livery (photo available on request).
If the site is selected as fixed camera site, vehicle activated signs, which light up to remind drivers of the speed limit and to warn of the safety camera enforcement ahead, will also be considered.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership Project Manager, Duncan Knox, said:
“This is clearly a collision hot spot and action needs to be taken to make it a safer road for all users. The introduction of mobile speed enforcement at this site will lead to a significant drop in speeds and consequently, a drop in the number of collisions and casualties.
Speeding motorists face the prospect of being caught on camera if they travel too fast through roadworks on the M3.
The roadworks, between junctions three and four, Lightwater and Farnborough, are in place whilst roadworkers install acoustic barriers along the side of the motorway.
For the safety of road users and the workforce, a mobile enforcement van will enforce both northbound and southbound to ensure motorists drive at safe speeds, protecting both other road users and contractors working on the scheme.
Enforcement will be provided by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership at the invitation of the the Highways Agency who are managing the project, with a limit of 50mph.
The site will have vehicle activated warning signs (VAS) that illuminate if drivers are approaching too fast to give them warning of the speed limit and the presence of cameras. There will also be fixed safety camera warning signs combined with speed limit repeater signs on both sides of the road.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership Manager Duncan Knox said:
“The aim is to get drivers to slow down for safety’s sake, and to issue as few penalties as possible. However if drivers fail to heed the warnings and reduce their speeds then they face the risk of being issued with a fine and penalty points”.
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
October sees the launch of a new campaign by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership focussing on business drivers and their employers.
The campaign,Time is money? focuses on both the potential human cost, in terms of death and injury, and the economic costs to the employer if drivers are involved in an accident or subsequently receive a driving ban because they have been speeding.
Driving is now recognised as the most dangerous work activity that most people undertake with around 200 road deaths and serious injuries nationally each week involving someone at work. Business drivers have collision rates that are 30%-40% higher than those of private drivers.
Not all of these collisions can, of course, be put down to speeding. But speeding is a major factor in many collisions and makes the consequences far worse. Out of a total of 4,684 recorded collisions on Surrey’s roads last year, 749 (16%) were recorded as being caused by drivers either exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for the conditions.
The Partnership will be using billboards, petrol pump advertising, articles in the business press, mailshots and posters to promote their campaign. The hard-hitting billboards (see attached) will be seen in Guildford, Frimley, Leatherhead, Walton, Woking, Epsom and Redhill.
The campaign is supported by the Surrey Chambers of Commerce.
The Partnership has also produced a new leaflet, Driving safely for business, in conjunction with the Chamber and Surrey County Council’s Safer and Smarter Travel team. It lists eight top tips for drivers on how to drive more safely and suggests ways in which employers can improve driving standards amongst their workforce through training.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership Project Manager, Duncan Knox, explained:
“Driving too fast puts lives at risks and could cost someone their licence and their job - with all the knock on effects that go with it for business. However you look at it, speeding costs business money.
“If businesses take positive action to improve driving standards then the pay back will be a safer workforce, lower costs and an enhanced reputation for their company - so doing something makes sound financial sense too.”
Chief Executive of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Louise Punter, said:
“There are many issues facing Surrey businesses including ever increasing red tape, soaring fuel costs, difficulties in recruiting the right people with the right skills and high accommodation costs. We are all aware of the heavy congestion on the roads and are constantly lobbying for better infrastructure.
“However if we take advice and guidance on safer driving we could make a huge impact on congestion problems, often caused by accidents, and hopefully reduce time lost in the workplace following delays and in the worst circumstance absence due to injuries. We encourage businesses topromote safer driving to their employees through this campaign.”
Businesses who would like more information on the campaign should contact Partnership Communications Manager, Adrian Creek, on 01483 466816 or email enquiries@surrey-safecam.org
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
Speeding motorists face the prospect of being caught on camera if they travel too fast through a temporary diversion route constructed as part of the A3 Hindhead project.
Two fixed cameras will enforce both northbound and southbound to ensure motorists drive at safe speeds, protecting both other road users and contractors working on the project. This will be particularly important during off peak hours and at night when traffic moves more freely.
Enforcement will be provided by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership at the invitation of the the Highways Agency who are managing the project, with a limit of 40mph.
The site will have vehicle activated warning signs (VAS) that illuminate if drivers are approaching too fast to give them warning of the speed limit and the presence of cameras. There will also be fixed safety camera warning signs combined with speed limit repeater signs on both sides of the road - but if drivers fail to heed warnings and reduce their speeds they risk being issued with a penalty.
When completed the project will complete the dual carriageway link between London and Portsmouth and remove a major source of congestion, particularly around the A3/A287 traffic signal controlled crossroads. The new road will be four miles long and includes twin-bored tunnels under the Devil’s Punch Bowl Site of Special Scientific Interest. The tunnel is expected to open in mid 2011.
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
A new campaign aimed at warning motorists about the potentially fatal consequences of speeding is now up and running across Surrey.
How would you tell Amy? is the latest road safety campaign organised by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.
The poster depicts a young girl crying as drivers are asked How would you tell Amy that you’ve killed her parents? and asked to slow down (please see attached poster).
The eye-catching design is now being used on bus backs on routes serving Guildford, Woking, Weybridge, Epsom, Staines, Reigate, Redhill, Horley and Caterham. Posters have also been distributed to businesses, libraries, council offices, police stations, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries across the county. A radio advert is also planned.
Out of a total of 4,684 recorded collisions on Surrey’s roads last year, 749 (16%) were recorded as being caused by drivers either exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for the conditions.
Partnership Communications Manager, Adrian Creek, said:
“The posters are designed to be emotive and hard-hitting because we want to make drivers think very carefully about the very serious consequences if they drive too fast. Not only is speed clearly a major factor in many collisions in Surrey but it also makes the consequences far worse.”
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
In 2006, 52 people were killed and 531 people were seriously injured on Surrey’s roads. Whilst speed is not the sole cause of collisions it is an unneccessary contributor to the number of casualties and makes the consequences of any collision much worse.
A campaign aimed at warning motorists about the dangers of jumping red light signals has been launched in Surrey.
Don’t gamble on red is the latest road safety campaign run by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.
The poster, depicting a red light camera on a roulette wheel, will appear on billboards in Guildford, Redhill, Reigate, Epsom and Hinchley Wood for four weeks in May and June warning motorists: The odds are stacked against you.
Last year 366 accidents were recorded close to traffic light signals in Surrey, with 19% of these caused by drivers ignoring red lights.
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership currently operates 14 red light cameras at 12 of the most dangerous junctions in Surrey and has made a big difference to the number of casualties at these sites. In its first year of operation the Partnership achieved a 30% reduction in collisions, including a 76% reduction in collisions involving death or serious injuries compared with the three year average before they were installed. In 2006 5,648 motorists were issued with tickets for jumping red lights in Surrey, which works out at about one ticket per camera housing per day.
Partnership Project Manager, Duncan Knox, said:
“No matter how pressed for time you are, there is absolutely no excuse for running red lights. It’s particularly worrying for the vast majority of drivers who are going about their business lawfully and could be killed or seriously injured by someone who gambles on saving a few minutes by jumping a red light.”
The poster will also be distributed to businesses, libraries, council offices, police stations, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries.
Mr Knox added:
“Although we are pleased with the casualty reduction figures at our sites we are very conscious that we only cover only a fraction of the red light camera junctions in Surrey. So it is doubly important we spread this message far and wide to motorists across the County.”
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
Close to 40 vehicle activated signs (VAS) are in the process of being put up across Surrey as part of a campaign to cut speeds on the county’s roads.
The VAS, both electric-powered and solar-powered, will be erected at 20 locations including Staines, Guildford, New Haw, Dorking, Cobham, Esher, Ewell, Thames Ditton, Lightwater, Merstham and Salfords (please see the list at the bottom of the latest news page).
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership (SSCP) is funding 26 of the VAS, which will light up to speeding drivers on the approach to safety camera sites.
As a deterrent to speeding, the VAS will remind drivers of the speed limit and warn them of the safety camera up ahead.
All SSCP camera sites already have conventional signs with safety camera warning symbols and speed limit reminders.
Another 12 VAS will be put up by Surrey County Council as part of a generous donation of funding by the High Sheriff of Surrey, Adrian White, who has previously helped purchase 16 vehicle activated signs at eight sites around the county. These signs will highlight the speed limit or particular hazards such as a bend or a junction. One other sign on Copsem Lane in Esher is being funded by Surrey County Council Local Committee (Elmbridge).
Partnership Project Manager Duncan Knox says:
“The use of vehicle-activated signs positioned ahead of our safety cameras has proven very effective. The most successful camera site is one where people slow down, no tickets are issued and there is no more death or injury as a result.”
Work on reducing speed and cutting casualties on the Mickleham Bends in Dorking will continue as normal despite an arson attack on a speed camera says the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.
Arsonists damaged the safety camera housing on the A24 Mickleham Bends in the early hours of Thursday (April 12th) morning.
Partnership Project Manager Duncan Knox says:
“This senseless criminal act puts lives at risks because this camera is making a huge difference to the number of collisions and casualties at Mickleham.
Without the camera there as a deterrent some irresponsible drivers may attempt to drive at dangerous speeds.”
The Mickleham Bends safety camera is one of the Partnership’s biggest casualty reduction success stories. In the three years before the camera was installed there were 56 casualties, two of which were fatal and seven serious. But in the first 17 months of enforcement by the Partnership there were just four slight casualties over a 1.5km stretch around the camera – an 85% drop.
The Partnership has now moved swiftly to ask contractors to install a replacement camera housing and the aim is to get it back in action as soon as practically possible.
Whilst the camera is being replaced those who drive at excessive speeds will still be caught by one of the Partnership’s mobile units.
Mr Knox added:
“We will be scheduling our mobile units to undertake regular enforcement at this site. We are winning the battle to cut casualties and will not let this criminal act stop that vital work.”
Detective Sergeant Dale Brunt from Surrey’s Arson Task Force says:
“Arson is a serious crime and this activity is the work of irresponsible people who are unnecessarily putting members of the public at risk. Surrey Police will not tolerate such actions and we are working hard to catch those responsible.”
If you have any information regarding this or any other arson, please contact the Arson Task Force on 01737 733693. Information can also be left on the arson hotline between 4pm and 8am by calling 01737 245844 and leaving a message.
Speed and red light cameras are playing a major role in helping cut casualties on Surrey’s roads. This is the key message from the first ever Surrey Safety Camera Partnership annual report
Figures from the first full year of the Partnership show that overall there has been a 34% reduction in the total number of collisions at fixed speed camera sites, including a 71% reduction in the number of collisions involving death or serious injuries.
Similarly there has been a 30% reduction in the total number of collisions at red light violation sites, including a reduction of 76% in the number of collisions involving death or serious injuries.
These are among the facts and figures contained in the report, which covers the first 18 months of the Partnership after it was set up in April 2005.
The report also explains how the Partnership operates, features financial information and news of educational campaigns and unveils plans for the coming year. Those interested can also see statistics from every single camera site.
The Partnership’s Project Manager, Duncan Knox, says:
“These figures prove that cameras are making a real difference to speeds and driver attitudes at these collision hotspots and this is saving lives and reducing casualties.
Although we are delighted with the results, we know that there is no room for complacency when lives are at stake. We will continue to enforce at sites which have the greatest potential to reduce casualties and keep an eye on collision statistics to see if safety cameras might have a role to play in cutting casualties elsewhere.”
Copies of the annual report are available from the Partnership website www.surrey-safecam.org or from libraries, council offices and police stations. Alternatively please contact Adrian Creek on 01483 466816 or email adrian.creek@surreycc.gov.uk
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is playing a key role in a new scheme designed to cut traffic congestion on the M25 which got underway on Monday (March 5th).
At present the high volume of traffic joining the M3 westbound from the M25 (junction 12) at peak times causes congestion that tails back onto the M25. To improve these conditions, the Highways Agency is testing a new traffic layout between the M25 and the M3 westbound. For a trial period, where the two motorways merge, there will be two dedicated lanes for traffic joining the M3 from the M25 and a single lane for M3 westbound traffic. After this point, the M3 westbound will be restored to a three lane motorway.
Throughout the new layout a speed limit of 50 mph with average speed cameras will be in effect, with enforcement being carried out by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership at the invitation of the Highways Agency.
The Partnership’s Project Manager, Duncan Knox, says:
“This is the first time we have used average speed check cameras and the first time we have provided enforcement to reduce congestion rather than just to improve safety. It is sometimes difficult for drivers to understand, but if they stick to lower speed limits it could improve the merging between vehicles and that will mean quicker and safer journeys for everyone.”
Vehicle activated signs on the M3 will illuminate to drivers to remind them of the speed limit should they be approaching too fast.
The pilot layout will be in place for a month with traffic cones and temporary signs setting out the lanes. CCTV is being used to monitor queue lengths and traffic flow during the pilot. If the new layout proves beneficial the signs and traffic cones will be replaced with a permanent scheme.
The Surrey Safety Camera Partnership is made up of four public sector organisations, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the Highways Agency and Her Majesty’s Court Service (HCMS), who are working together to help cut casualties on Surrey’s roads.
The Highways Agency and Surrey Safety Camera Partnership are working together to improve safety for drivers travelling in to London on the northbound Esher bypass.
The improvements will give drivers heading towards London more advance warning and opportunity to slow down before reaching the speed camera located at the site, which is enforced by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.
After consultation between the Highways Agency and Surrey Safety Camera Partnership, we have agreed to provide:
An electronic vehicle activated sign to remind people of the speed limit and to warn of enforcement should they be approaching too fast
An extension of the street lighting southwards to clearly show the location of the speed camera
Relocation further south of the change in speed limit from 70 mph to 50 mph
Clearer conventional speed limit signing, including large speed limit signs painted on the carriageway
· Enhanced conventional speed camera warning signs.
The works have been agreed following consultation with the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership to improve the safety of this stretch of the A3, which has had a poor accident record due to a combination of hazards such as:
Reduction from three lanes to two
A right hand bend
Traffic merging from the A309 Kingston Bypass;
Peak time queuing and stationary traffic.
Tim Lyver, Highways Agency Route Performance Manager, said:
“Safety for road users and pedestrians is our top priority. By making these improvements drivers will have even more advice on the change in speed limits and of the enforced camera at the bypass. This will reduce the sudden braking and the potential for accidents.”
Duncan Knox, Project Manager of the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership, said:
“We know that the enforcement has already resulted in reduced speeds and fewer casualties at this location, but some drivers are still not reducing their speed at this collision hot spot despite the warning signs that are already there. We are delighted that the Highways Agency is making further improvements, especially the provision of the vehicle activated sign, as we believe that this will result in lower speeds, less drivers being issued with penalties, and even greater safety”.
Surrey is to get five new safety camera sites in the next few months as part of a drive to cut road casualties across the county.
The sites, approved by the Department for Transport (DfT), have been chosen by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership because they have experienced a high number of casualties in recent years related to excessive speed.
They are:
Fixed speed - A318 Byfleet Road/Oyster Lane, New Haw, Woking and A232 Cheam Road, Ewell East, Epsom and Ewell. Mobile speed sites - A318 New Haw Road, New Haw, Woking; A244 Copsem Lane, Esher, Elmbridge and A307, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Elmbridge.
These five collision hotspots alone have seen 112 casualties, including 31 people killed or seriously injured, due to road traffic collisions in the past three years,.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership’s Project Manager, Duncan Knox, says:
“The casualty figures indicate that we need to do something to cut the number of collisions at these sites. Providing a fixed camera or mobile enforcement will make a big difference to speeds and make these roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.”
Enforcement began on both the A244 Copsem Lane, Esher and the A307, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton this week. The other three sites will be operational in the next few months.
The new camera sites will be in addition to the 35 existing “core” safety camera sites in the county consisting of 17 fixed speed sites, 12 red light violation and six mobile zones already managed by the Partnership.
The new sites were selected after they met strict Government criteria showing they they have a poor accident record and surveys confirmed excessive speeds. The sites are analysed by road safety engineers and Surrey Police to check if any other measures could be used before resorting to a safety camera. All sites will be well-signed and conform to minimum visibility distances.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership says it is business as usual despite an arson attack on a speed camera in Reigate Hill.
Arsonists caused superficial damage to the safety camera housing on the A217, designed to slow down speeding near the dangerous junction of Raglan Road, in the early hours of Monday (January 29th) morning.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership Project Manager Duncan Knox says:
“This is a senseless act that makes our job of reducing speeds and cutting casualties that much more difficult. But it is an ultimately futile act as we will be looking to get the damage repaired as soon as we can. We are also looking very closely at the possibility of providing mobile enforcement in the interim.”
Acting Detective Sergeant Dale Brunt from Surrey’s Arson Task Force says:
“Arson is a crime and this activity is the work of irresponsible people who are unnecessarily putting members of the public at risk. Surrey Police will not tolerate such actions and we are working hard to catch those responsible.”
If you have any information regarding this or any other arson, please contact the Arson Task Force on 01737 733693. Information can also be left on the arson hotline between 4pm and 8am by calling 01737 245844 and leaving a message.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to leave information anonymously.
Arsonists who set fire to a safety camera designed to slow down speeding motorists near several Banstead schools have been branded dangerous and irresponsible by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.
The camera, sited on the A217 Brighton Road, near the junction with Burgh Wood, had been playing a major role in helping to reduce accidents and serious injuries on the road. It was seriously damaged in the early hours of Saturday (December 30th) morning.
A safety camera was originally located on the A217 northbound approach to the Banstead crossroads. When the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership was formed in April 2005, the site was reviewed and it was decided that even better casualty reduction figures could be achieved by moving the camera close to the A217 junction of Burgh Wood near to the Banstead Infant, Junior and the Priory Schools. This was the site of a tragic collision last April resulting in three fatalities. The new camera was installed last October in the central reservation to maximise the visual deterrent to oncoming motorists and to allow enforcement in both the southbound and northbound directions.
The opportunity to continue reducing casualties at a site near a number of schools is now threatened by this crass act.
Surrey Safety Camera Partnership Project Manager Duncan Knox says:
“We utterly condemn this dangerous and irresponsible crime, as I am sure would the parents of children who attend the nearby schools. We will working very closely with Surrey Police to find out who carried out this mindless criminal act.”
The Partnership have moved swiftly to ask contractors to install a replacement camera housing and the aim is to get it back in action as soon as practically possible.
Whilst the camera is being replaced local residents have been assured that those who drive at excessive speeds will still be captured on film by one of the Partnership’s mobile units.
Mr. Knox added:
“We will be scheduling our mobile units to undertake regular enforcement at this site. We are winning the battle to cut casualties and will not let this criminal act stop that vital work.”
If you have any information regarding this or any other arson, please contact the Arson Task Force on 01737 733693. Information can also be left on the arson hotline between 4pm and 8am by calling 01737 245844 and leaving a message.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to leave information anonymously.
