Increasing the “fear factor” that drivers might get caught by a speeding camera is vital to reducing the deaths on West Yorkshire’s roads – Councillors have been told.
During a discussion on road safety in the region, the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel heard about new speed camera legislation that could change how speeding drivers are caught.
A recent report to the panel revealed that there had been a 20 per cent rise in road accidents that left people injured in the past year in West Yorkshire.
It means figures are now higher than before the pandemic.
Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor in charge of policing in West Yorkshire, told members that new changes to how speed cameras are rolled out could help change the behaviour of speeding drivers.
The changes, which have been welcomed by West Yorkshire Police, mean motorists no longer have to be given a warning that they may be approaching a speed camera or camera van.
The aim is to encourage drivers to constantly stick to the speed limit, rather than just slowing down when they get to a sign.
At the last meeting of the Panel, which includes Councillors from across West Yorkshire, Calderdale Councillor Robert Thornber asked whether investing more money in signage might be the way forward.
He suggested that signs warning people of speed cameras were actually more effective than speed cameras.
He said: “There is a certain road in Calderdale where there is a speed camera sign. You don’t know when the camera is going to be out, but just the sign being there slows people down.
“If you have a fixed camera people speed until they get to the camera, then go back speeding when they get past it.
“With this new policy what is the emphasis on a much wider use of signage?”
Ms Lowe said: “The evidence over many years is that signage alone doesn’t stop crashes occurring – and deaths are still occurring.
“What we want is not for people to see a sign and slow down, then drive how they want when they get past that road.
“We want it so that anywhere in West Yorkshire, whether they see a sign or not, drivers know there could be a camera waiting to catch them.
“This is the behaviour change that needs to be embedded in people – if we don’t get that then the deaths we’re seeing on the roads won’t reduce.
“We need to introduce that fear factor to drivers so they are more conscious of the speed they are driving at.
“Behaviour change will take time, but it we don’t do this then nothing will change.”
