POLICE are braced for a 'social media backlash' as it emerged that West Yorkshire motorists will no longer be warned when they are approaching a speed camera or camera van.
Today, West Yorkshire Police has launched a significant change to the way safety cameras are used – waging war on ‘camera surfers’ and warning Bradford speeders to 'expect the unexpected'.
Police chiefs are anticipating criticism over the crackdown, but say West Yorkshire’s 'speeding problem' means a major rethink is necessary to stop 'preventable deaths'.
Currently, signs warn motorists when they are approaching a safety camera or enforcement van, but police won’t ‘routinely use signage’ in the future in a bid to encourage safer speeds across the entire road network, rather than just at specific sites.
A total of 65 people died and more than 5,000 people were injured in collisions on the roads of West Yorkshire last year.
The head of the police’s casualty prevention unit, Paul Jeffrey, said he was prepared for a 'social media backlash' over the crackdown, but that West Yorkshire’s 'speeding problem' meant action was necessary.
Speaking at a cross-party meeting of councillors held in Farnley, Mr Jeffrey said the fact 65 people died on West Yorkshire’s roads last year was 'unacceptable'.
He said: "People have a choice whether they go fast or slow. 30 miles per hour is not appropriate in poor weather conditions, for example.
“What’s happening increasingly in West Yorkshire is camera surfing, where people know where a fixed camera is likely to be so they slow down for it, then immediately speed up afterwards.
“Our new strategy will address that. What we’re aiming for is predictable unpredictability, so people in West Yorkshire can expect speed enforcement anywhere, on any of our roads.”
There are two main changes introduced by the force today (Monday, February 20).
The first change sees under these new arrangements, safety cameras will continue to be deployed to evidenced ‘high risk’ sites with a history of fatal or serious injury collisions, but cameras may also be utilised at community concern sites where there is clear evidence of emerging risk due to excessive speed.
The police claim this represents a more proactive approach, trying to address issues with excessive speed on a road before a fatality or serious injury occurs.
Safety cameras may also be deployed during periods of roadworks to protect the workforce and other road users, or potentially following the opening of a new road where no speed or collision data exists.
The second change concerns signage. At the moment there is signage to indicate when you are approaching a safety camera or enforcement van.
Under the new strategy, some sites of concern may be enforced without signage being present with the aim to encourage safe speeds across the network and not simply in the vicinity of established enforcement locations.
Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire, said: “We all have a part to play in making our roads safer, both the authorities and the road users.
“We know, through the surveys my office runs, that road safety is a key issue for residents.
"We are committed to tackling and educating people around the Fatal Five, which are careless driving, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and speeding.
“All of us have a responsibility to make our roads safer and avoid the misery and devastation that any one of the Fatal Five can cause, and we can only tackle this successfully together."
The AA welcomed the changes, adding drivers have 'little reason to complain' is speed enforcement is evidence-led.
An AA spokesman said: "It is common for police forces in the UK to carry out blitzes on speed, this one across a force area. Warnings that the police are about to go on the offensive are also common.
"Even so, police forces will often deploy vans after accidents to try to get drivers to moderate their speed and behave themselves.
"So long as speed enforcement is evidence-led, drivers have little reason to complain. The enforcement can have added benefits such as catching those holding mobile phones while driving.
"If anything, the AA would like to see more cops in cars out on the road - to deter other threats such as tail-gating, aggressive driving, lack of control due to drugs and drink, and other offences."
Simon Williams, RAC road safety spokesman, said: “Speeding is a major contributory factor in collisions and fatalities on our roads, so drivers who don’t stick to the limit should be prepared to face the consequences.
"Law-abiding drivers in West Yorkshire will be pleased to see the police cracking down on offenders.
"It’s good to see high-risk areas being prioritised where there is a history of collisions or where illegal speeding happens on a regular basis.
"While the police’s shift away from using signage is a change from what’s normally done, it seems as though a new strategy is needed to tackle those who habitually speed.”
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