These are the Lancashire roads getting new average speed cameras, as councillors issue warning over near misses

By Paul Faulkner
Published 18th Nov 2020, 14:18 BST
Updated 19th Nov 2020, 16:37 BST
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Lancashire county councillors have warned that the method for deciding which of the region's roads are targeted for speed reduction action is dangerously flawed.

Members of the authority’s internal scrutiny committee issued a cross-party call for near misses to be a factor in determining measures such as where speed cameras are sited.

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Currently, there are 282 locations across the county where the infamous yellow camera casings are installed - with a smaller number of actual detection devices being rotated between them, prioritised according to where speed and casualty data suggests they are most needed.

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The A583 in Fylde was one of the first Lancashire routes where average speed cameras were installed back in 2017The A583 in Fylde was one of the first Lancashire routes where average speed cameras were installed back in 2017
The A583 in Fylde was one of the first Lancashire routes where average speed cameras were installed back in 2017

Mobile devices are also deployed on a daily basis - with their positioning similarly based on information indicating the highest-risk speeding spots.

Half a dozen problem areas are targeted every morning and afternoon by Lancashire Constabulary - two in each of its three divisions - with a total of 166 locations currently on a list compiled by input from traffic policing teams, local authorities and reports from the public.

Dozens of new average speed cameras are also set to be introduced.

However, committee member John Fillis said that the qualifying criteria for a road accident for speed enforcement purposes rendered the resultant statistics “totally inaccurate”.

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Dozens more average speed cameras are set to appear across Lancashire on the county's most dangerous routes - including this stretch of the A581 in ChorleyDozens more average speed cameras are set to appear across Lancashire on the county's most dangerous routes - including this stretch of the A581 in Chorley
Dozens more average speed cameras are set to appear across Lancashire on the county's most dangerous routes - including this stretch of the A581 in Chorley

“Accidents are only being recorded when an individual is injured.

“So when cars are hitting people’s homes, mounting pavements or hitting signs, these [incidents] are not being taken into consideration - which is totally wrong.

“Because if a vehicle is coming onto the pavement, it's only a matter of time before a pedestrian is standing there,” County Cllr Fillis warned.

County Cllr Peter Steen added his voice to the concern, calling for Lancashire to be “pro-active rather than reactive” in its attempts to curb speeding.

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