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Average-speed camera coverage in UK 'doubles' in three years | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The length of the UK road network covered by permanent average speed cameras has more than doubled since 2013, new figures have revealed. | The length of the UK road network covered by permanent average speed cameras has more than doubled since 2013, new figures have revealed. |
Research, obtained by the BBC's The One Show, found permanent cameras were now positioned in 80 UK sites, covering 263 miles - a distance longer than the M6. | Research, obtained by the BBC's The One Show, found permanent cameras were now positioned in 80 UK sites, covering 263 miles - a distance longer than the M6. |
The largest increase was in Scotland, where cameras were installed along a 100-mile stretch of the A9, in 2014. | The largest increase was in Scotland, where cameras were installed along a 100-mile stretch of the A9, in 2014. |
Transport Scotland said the cameras had helped reduce casualties on the road. | Transport Scotland said the cameras had helped reduce casualties on the road. |
Unlike traditional speed cameras, average speed cameras work by recording the time it takes a vehicle to travel between two positions on the road. | Unlike traditional speed cameras, average speed cameras work by recording the time it takes a vehicle to travel between two positions on the road. |
Roadworks | Roadworks |
The research, conducted for the RAC Foundation, found the distance covered by the cameras in 2013 was 127 miles. | The research, conducted for the RAC Foundation, found the distance covered by the cameras in 2013 was 127 miles. |
More than 130 miles of road have been installed since then, it showed. | More than 130 miles of road have been installed since then, it showed. |
The new data excludes sites where average speed cameras are deployed temporarily, such as to monitor speed limits through motorway roadworks. | The new data excludes sites where average speed cameras are deployed temporarily, such as to monitor speed limits through motorway roadworks. |
The RAC Foundation said the analysis was the first of its kind. | The RAC Foundation said the analysis was the first of its kind. |
The cameras now cover 29 miles of the A9, between Dunblane and Perth, and have been installed at intervals on single-carriageway sections of the same road between Perth and Inverness. | The cameras now cover 29 miles of the A9, between Dunblane and Perth, and have been installed at intervals on single-carriageway sections of the same road between Perth and Inverness. |
The longest stretch in England is now on the A614 Old Rufford Road near Ollerton, in Nottinghamshire - which is 12 miles long. | The longest stretch in England is now on the A614 Old Rufford Road near Ollerton, in Nottinghamshire - which is 12 miles long. |
Richard Owen, from Road Safety Analytics - which carried out the research - said the cost of introducing the cameras had fallen in recent years, making the devices more appealing for authorities. | Richard Owen, from Road Safety Analytics - which carried out the research - said the cost of introducing the cameras had fallen in recent years, making the devices more appealing for authorities. |
The cost was now typically about £100,000 per mile, compared with about £1.5m per mile in the early 2000s, he said. | The cost was now typically about £100,000 per mile, compared with about £1.5m per mile in the early 2000s, he said. |
"Some of the old fixed speed cameras have been around for 25 years and they are based on 35mm film," he added. | "Some of the old fixed speed cameras have been around for 25 years and they are based on 35mm film," he added. |
"They are coming to the end of their life so as they are replaced, they're sometimes getting replaced with average speed camera systems." | "They are coming to the end of their life so as they are replaced, they're sometimes getting replaced with average speed camera systems." |
'Wrong solution' | 'Wrong solution' |
Transport Scotland - which is responsible for managing the £3m scheme on the A9 - says the cameras have led to a fall in the number of those killed on the road. | Transport Scotland - which is responsible for managing the £3m scheme on the A9 - says the cameras have led to a fall in the number of those killed on the road. |
There were six deaths in the first full year of the project, it said, compared with an average of eight in recent years. | There were six deaths in the first full year of the project, it said, compared with an average of eight in recent years. |
However, anti-speed camera campaigner Mike Burns said the system was the "wrong solution" and money should instead be spent on turning the whole of the A9 into a dual carriageway. | However, anti-speed camera campaigner Mike Burns said the system was the "wrong solution" and money should instead be spent on turning the whole of the A9 into a dual carriageway. |
Plans have already been announced to turn 80 miles of single carriageway between Perth and Inverness into dual carriageway by 2025, costing £3bn. | Plans have already been announced to turn 80 miles of single carriageway between Perth and Inverness into dual carriageway by 2025, costing £3bn. |
Average speed cameras were first introduced in the UK in 2000, on a single four-mile stretch of the A6514, near Nottingham. | Average speed cameras were first introduced in the UK in 2000, on a single four-mile stretch of the A6514, near Nottingham. |
Almost all the permanent sites deployed since then are in England, with two in Scotland, two in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. | Almost all the permanent sites deployed since then are in England, with two in Scotland, two in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. |
In March, the House of Commons' Transport Committee recommended further use of average speed cameras on British roads, as they "are generally better received by motorists than traditional fixed speed cameras". | In March, the House of Commons' Transport Committee recommended further use of average speed cameras on British roads, as they "are generally better received by motorists than traditional fixed speed cameras". |
It said they had "reduce the impression that motorists are unfairly caught out by speed cameras". | It said they had "reduce the impression that motorists are unfairly caught out by speed cameras". |
For a full report, watch The One Show on BBC One, at 19:00 BST on Tuesday 31 May. | For a full report, watch The One Show on BBC One, at 19:00 BST on Tuesday 31 May. |