This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6205412.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Road cameras lead to 37,000 fines | |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Arthur Strain BBC News website | By Arthur Strain BBC News website |
Nearly 37,000 tickets have been issued to motorists since fixed speed cameras were introduced in Northern Ireland, the police have said. | |
The safety camera scheme was introduced in 2003 in a bid to stem the high rate of death and injury on local roads, and police said they are having an effect. | The safety camera scheme was introduced in 2003 in a bid to stem the high rate of death and injury on local roads, and police said they are having an effect. |
The Safety Camera Scheme has been operating for three years | The Safety Camera Scheme has been operating for three years |
Since then 36,900 fixed penalty notices have been issued for excessive speed, each with a value of £60. | Since then 36,900 fixed penalty notices have been issued for excessive speed, each with a value of £60. |
There are five fixed camera sites and a new one is planned between Bangor and Belfast. | There are five fixed camera sites and a new one is planned between Bangor and Belfast. |
There were 134 fatal accidents in Northern Ireland in 2005 and 113 so far this year. | There were 134 fatal accidents in Northern Ireland in 2005 and 113 so far this year. |
The cost of a fatal accident to the economy is £1.384m, according the the Department for Transport in London. | The cost of a fatal accident to the economy is £1.384m, according the the Department for Transport in London. |
This breaks down as £475,922 in lost output, £817 in medical and ambulance costs and £907,698 in what are labelled human costs. | This breaks down as £475,922 in lost output, £817 in medical and ambulance costs and £907,698 in what are labelled human costs. |
The cost of a serious accident is £155,563, with £11,108 of this accounted for by medical and ambulance costs. | The cost of a serious accident is £155,563, with £11,108 of this accounted for by medical and ambulance costs. |
The total of fines imposed through the safety camera scheme in Northern Ireland, over the three years to the end of September 2006, was £20,214,000. | |
ACCIDENT COSTS | ACCIDENT COSTS |
*Source Department for Transport | *Source Department for Transport |
Police said cameras are only used in areas where they have identified a history of collisions resulting in death or serious injury and there is evidence of a speeding problem. | Police said cameras are only used in areas where they have identified a history of collisions resulting in death or serious injury and there is evidence of a speeding problem. |
There are four standard fixed camera sites, all in the Belfast area, Saintfield Road, Antrim Road, Upper Newtownards Road and Springfield Road. | There are four standard fixed camera sites, all in the Belfast area, Saintfield Road, Antrim Road, Upper Newtownards Road and Springfield Road. |
The speed enforcement camera system (SPECS) deploys digital safety cameras in pairs to monitor drivers' average speed between two fixed points. | The speed enforcement camera system (SPECS) deploys digital safety cameras in pairs to monitor drivers' average speed between two fixed points. |
One is on the main Belfast to Newry Road and another will also go on the Belfast to Bangor Road. | One is on the main Belfast to Newry Road and another will also go on the Belfast to Bangor Road. |
Mobile camera units are also used in a number of areas. | Mobile camera units are also used in a number of areas. |
The PSNI have said they are analysing the data and the "initial indications will support that there has been a reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured at the sites and routes enforced by cameras". | The PSNI have said they are analysing the data and the "initial indications will support that there has been a reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured at the sites and routes enforced by cameras". |
"Our message is simple - we want to stop you speeding - not catch you speeding," a PSNI spokeswoman said. | "Our message is simple - we want to stop you speeding - not catch you speeding," a PSNI spokeswoman said. |
Police said that while they did not have the exact financial details at this stage, the camera scheme is meant to be self-financing - with any surplus being reinvested into making roads safer through enforcement and education. | Police said that while they did not have the exact financial details at this stage, the camera scheme is meant to be self-financing - with any surplus being reinvested into making roads safer through enforcement and education. |