Speed Camera suggestion interesting, say Environment

Saturday 18 August 2018

As Environment and Infrastructure moves to review the public consultation on introducing 25mph limits on 80 island roads, Home Affairs yesterday suggested E&I invest in “traffic control and management technology linked to an automated fixed penalty system” as a way of enforcing the lower speeds.

Home Affairs said current finite police resources would not be able to meet the level of public expectation for enforcement of the new limits, if they were adopted.

If such technology and penalty system were to be adopted, it would mark a radical departure from methods of enforcing Guernsey’s speed limit. And an Environment spokesman did not discount the idea out of hand.

“The Committee welcomes the feedback from Home Affairs, especially its endorsement of initiatives to improve road safety and its interest in traffic control management technology and a fixed penalty system," it said.

“However, far from being a “blanket approach” to speed limits, as described by Home Affairs, the draft proposals encompass the areas that have been identified as those with the greatest concentrations of services and facilities accessed regularly by islanders. The draft proposals simply make the speed limits around our schools and in our Main and Local Centres more consistent, in line with the island’s existing, long-established speed limits policy of lower speeds in busy community areas.”

Home Affairs also pointed to the fact that "regardless of the defined speed limit" most drivers "not just in Guernsey" drive at a speed they "consider appropriate for the road in question". As part of this, it highlighted the current police focus on the reckless few drivers who travel at excessive speed and put others in danger: "This is an operational focus which the Committee fully endorses".

It also suggested the potential for lowering speed limits at certain hours of the day around areas such as schools, as is already done in some places.

 The Environment spokesman said internationally recognised road safety guidelines advise speed limits are set according to objective safety criteria.

“…for example how many people are likely to access an area on foot or bike and whether or not there is any separated infrastructure provided for them. The speed people feel is appropriate to drive a vehicle is often very different to the speed people on foot, bike or mobility scooter feel is appropriate for other vehicles to pass them. There is extensive evidence that these vulnerable road users are and - as importantly - feel safer in busy community areas when traffic speeds are slower, and whilst speed limits are not the only means to achieve slower speeds, they are nonetheless an important part of the equation. 

“The Committee recognises that the Police have finite resources to allocate to road harm reduction and welcomes the opportunity to work with them across a range of measures that will achieve the aim of safer roads for everyone in the community.”