Birmingham and Solihull speed camera switch-on delayed until August
New ASE cameras in Birmingham and Solihull were set to be switched-on on Monday 18th July – but this has had to be postponed after heavy rain showers made testing impossible.
The average speed enforcement cameras will now be turned-on on Monday 8th August.
Councillor Stewart Stacey, Cabinet Member for Transport and Roads at Birmingham City Council, said: “The terrible weather we have been having this summer has prevented our contractors fitting and testing all of the equipment needed for switch-on on Monday.
“We now hope to be ready for August 8, but in the meantime, I would remind motorists of the need to drive within the speed limits set by law to keep our roads safe for everyone.”
Project partners from Birmingham City Council (BCC), Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), West Midlands Police (WMP) and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have decided to adopt a system using average speed cameras because historically compliance with speed limits is far better than with mobile or fixed-point cameras.
The new cameras detect vehicles through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and calculate their average speed by measuring the time taken to travel between defined points of a known distance apart.
A clear signing strategy is used to inform drivers that they are entering an average speed control zone.
Superintendent Kerry Blakeman, from West Midlands Police, said: “Our intention is for people to adhere to the speed limit. Those who exceed the limit will have to attend a speed awareness course where they will be educated about the dangers of speeding or face either an appearance at court or a fine and points on their licence.
“We hope that the presence of these highly visible cameras will ensure that road users comply with the set limits on roads in Birmingham and Solihull.”
Latest figures show that in the years 2010-2014, there were 2,356 people killed or seriously injured in Birmingham and Solihull, an average of 471.2 per year.
The cameras will be located across Birmingham and Solihull and will be operational for a term of five years.
There will be an initial 21-month evaluation phase to assess the effectiveness of the cameras, equipment and the overall system. The initial pilot at these routes will do much to help inform the wider efforts to make the region’s roads as safe as they can possibly be.
Cllr Ted Richards, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, added: “This new digital technology will play a very important role in keeping the region’s roads safe.
“Thousands of people use the roads through Birmingham and Solihull every day and any work that local authorities can do to keep them safe is certainly positive.
“The cameras, and associated signs, are very noticeably; the only people being caught are those who choose to ignore them.”
The routes of the digital average speed cameras are as follows:
Solihull routes
* B425 Lode Lane (between Henley Crescent and Moat Lane) – 30mph
* B4114 Bradford Road/Chester road (in the vicinity of the junction) – 30mph
* A3400 Stratford Road, Hockley Heath – 30mph
Birmingham routes
* A38 Bristol Road between Priory Road and Speedwell Road – 30mph
* A456 Hagley Road between Portland Road and Lordswood Road – 30mph
* A4540 New John Street between Lucas Circus and Hospital Street – 30mph
* A34 Newtown Row Northbound between New John Street West and Newbury Road – 30mph
* A45 Coventry Road between Berkley Road and Rowland Road/Steyning Road – 40mph