Revealed: Speed cameras return to these Black Country roads
Speed cameras will return to busy Black Country routes in a bid to cut the number of road deaths.
A project is already under way in parts of Birmingham and Solihull led by local councils, police and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
A series of routes in the Black Country have now been earmarked for the average speed cameras.
Wolverhampton Council, which revealed its roll in the plans, says it is hoped the cameras could be up and running by April.
The new cameras spot vehicles through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and calculate their average speed between locations.
Officials say the cameras will be clearly signposted. They will be in fixed positions and cover a length of road rather than just a spot.
Which routes would have speed cameras?
A449 Stafford Road, outside Wolverhampton city centre,
A4444 Black Country New Road from Bilston into Moxley,
A41 Black Country New Road from Moxley to Dangerfield,
A34 Birmingham Road, in Walsall, into Great Barr,
A4148 Broadway North, in Walsall,
A4123 Birmingham New Road; between Dudley and Tipton,
A458 Lye bypass.
Why are average cameras being introduced?
Wolverhampton transport bosses say police still carry out mobile speed camera patrols but claim they are 'infrequent'.
Council officials say they take road safety seriously and believe the new cameras could help cut the new of deaths and serious injuries.
In Solihull and Birmingham, across eight sites, there has been a reduction of around 20 per cent in speeds, say West Midlands Police.
In 2017 there were 2,105 road crashes in the Black Country, leaving 2,916 people injured, with 418 of these causing serious injuries and 24 people losing their lives.
The new speed camera project comes after a Black Country-wide ban against car cruising - illegal street racing and gatherings - has been deemed a success and has been extended until 2021.
Old single location static speed cameras were turned off five years ago. But there are still currently 160 mobile camera sites across the West Midlands.
Wolverhampton Council view
A city council spokeswoman said: "The City Council is taking a report to cabinet tomorrow evening to seek approval to pursue a collaboration agreement to introduce new average speed enforcement cameras on the identified routes.
"If approved by Cabinet, the council will aim to implement the scheme by the beginning of April 2019. Once operational, work will continue to identify other potential routes where average speed enforcement cameras can be implemented.
Head of City Transport for Wolverhampton, John Roseblade added: “In addition to this there has been increasing levels of anti-social behaviour such as car cruising which has adversely impacted on our communities.
“Looking at Wolverhampton over the same period, there were 503 road traffic collisions resulting in personal injuries to 684 people, with 84 of these casualties suffering serious personal injury and one person being killed.
“Considering the tragic impact that these unnecessary injuries cause to our families, community and local economy, the council takes its road safety responsibility very seriously, implementing a wide range of engineering and education schemes to address road safety problems throughout the year.
“However, a cornerstone to managing and reducing road traffic collisions is speed enforcement.
“West Midlands Police currently undertake mobile speed enforcement at specific locations across the network, although it is recognised that this is at a low level and infrequent.
“The phased introduction of average speed enforcement across the Black Country will raise the profile of this important tool to assist in reducing casualties and anti-social behaviour across the area,” he added.
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West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's view
David Jamieson said: "I promised that I would improve road safety and do all I could to reduce the number of injuries and deaths on our roads.
"That is why I am pleased that these safety cameras are being delivered.
"Speed is one of the major causes of deaths on the road and one of the biggest issues that local people raise with me on a daily basis
"I have encouraged councils in the Black Country to introduce cameras after the success of the pilot scheme in Birmingham and Solihull.
"Where the councils invest in safety cameras, the police will enforce them."
When will the scheme get under way?
Mr Roseblade said in order to bring in the project, approval is now required to develop collaboration agreements with the other Black Country authorities to manage the design and introduction of the scheme.
“Funding has been identified to implement the infrastructure required to deliver ASE by each of the other Black Country authorities, hopefully by the end of March 2019,” added Mr Roseblade.
The council is looking to approve an overall budget of £755,000 for the scheme. Wolverhampton’s investment will be £150,000.
The city’s Full Cabinet Committee is set to discuss the plans on Wednesday.
