Camera enforcement to continue following changes to funding
The way safety cameras are funded in Warwickshire is changing from April of this year.
Safety camera enforcement and associated publicity and education will be funded from a specific road safety grant paid to local authorities by central Government.
This replaces a system of cost recovery whereby local partnerships taking part in the National Safety Camera Programme have been able to reclaim their costs from fines paid to the Government for speeding and red light offences.
Safety camera activity in the county has been managed by Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership since October 2001. The Partnership is made up of Warwickshire County Council, Police, Highways Agency and other agencies with an interest or involvement in speed education and enforcement.
In 2007/08 Warwickshire will receive £2.25 million from the road safety grant. The Government decided on this amount after considering the road safety needs in Warwickshire and making an assessment of the quality of road safety activity in the county. The Department for Transport recently gave Warwickshire the highest possible qualitative assessment for road safety.
Warwickshire County Council will have the freedom to spend the grant on the road safety measures it considers will make the greatest contribution to reducing road casualties in Warwickshire. Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership spent £2.23 million in 2005/06.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Safety cameras have made a huge contribution to casualty reduction on Warwickshire’s roads in recent years and will continue to do so. I hope that breaking the link between fines paid and funding available for safety cameras will give road users confidence that safety cameras are being used to make our roads safer and for no other reason.
“The new funding arrangements will also give us greater flexibility as to how we use the money available for road safety.
“All of the organisations currently involved in Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership remain committed to using safety cameras as a fundamental part of the County’s road safety strategy.”
· There have been dramatic casualty reductions at Warwickshire camera sites. There were 60 fewer deaths or serious injuries at camera sites in 2005 compared to the annual average for 1994-98.
· Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership currently operate 29 fixed speed cameras, 7 red light cameras and 5 mobile enforcement vehicles.
· In a 2006 survey, 66% of Warwickshire residents stated they supported the use of safety cameras as a method of reducing road casualties and accidents.