Conclusions
Enforcement
- To maximise the Programme’s collision and casualty reduction potential the site selection criteria should continue to be used as the basis to identify and prioritise new safety camera sites on an annual basis.
- To support the continued use of mobile camera technology, six existing mobile enforcement sites have been identified for technology change, reusing existing equipment from redundant fixed sites. This will free up resource time which can be spent across existing mobile sites or in response to identified challenges.
- All three Units should collaborate on pooling and sharing mobile assets to allow those more impacted by fleet reliability and replacement delays to undertake more mobile enforcement than would otherwise have been possible.
- The Programme should liaise with camera supplier and the Home Office in its role as regulatory body to ensure the new fixed spot speed camera technology can be deployed in live operation mode in a timeous manner.
- The Programme should look to progress a procurement exercise aimed at identifying a supplier to deliver red light technology at identified sites.
Staffing
The filling of vacant posts has progressed well across the West and East units throughout 2022/23 although operational plans have increased the full-time staffing complement since 2021/22 by an additional headcount of 3. With 7 additional staff across all units now in post, combined with the delivery of new fleet vehicles, this is expected to lead to better resilience and performance against KPIs.
Communication
Given the small but sustained reduction of positive perceptions of the role of safety cameras in reducing collisions, enhancing communications should be prioritised for 2023/24 with a view to reversing that trend.
Local Engagement
The result of the 2022/23 Local Engagement survey shows all respondents are satisfied with the level of engagement they receive from their respective Units. In addition, there has been a slight increase in satisfaction in safety camera resources deployed in their respective areas. There has been consistency amongst authorities with the frequency of engagement and no change in the measure of benefit from the 2019 changes to the Safety Camera Handbook. However, these figures are based on only 11 out of 32 authorities providing feedback. To improve this going forward, it would be beneficial if each Unit would engage with their roads authorities and encourage them to respond to the 2023/24 survey.
Finance
To ensure the Programme has an appropriate budget level which enables it to maximise its collision and casualty reduction potential, and help Scotland achieve its overarching road safety targets, a real terms increase in budget should be the focus for 2023/24.