Enforcement
Camera Deployment
Safety cameras were deployed throughout 2022/23 as the Programme sought to deliver its overarching aim of reducing the number of casualties on Scotland’s roads by encouraging improved driver behaviour and speed limit compliance on our roads.
Deployments were undertaken on an intelligence led basis, informed primarily on an evidence base of collisions and speeding. This ensured the locations of greatest risk were prioritised.
In addition, mobile cameras were used as Short Term Deployments. Deployments of this nature were in response to emerging issues or one-off/short term events where expected change in traffic behaviour had raised road safety concerns from stakeholders. Similarly, mobile cameras were also used as Flexible Deployments. Deployments of this nature were in support of improved driver behaviour and speed limit compliance in high footfall areas where active travel could be encouraged by lower vehicle speeds, in locations including A93 Drumoak, B9170 Oldmeldrum Road, Inverurie, A836 Forss and B9005 Methlick.
Camera Technology
The technology deployed included fixed speed cameras, mobile speed cameras, average speed camera (ASC) systems, and red-light cameras (including a number with dual functionality to detect speeding vehicles).
Fixed Cameras
Camera rotations at fixed camera sites took place across the Units. This prioritisation was based on where there was likely to be the most significantly impact on casualty and collision reduction and the number of cameras available in the Unit. The ratio of fixed speed cameras to fixed camera enforcement locations at the end of 2022/23 was as follows:
|
North |
East |
West |
|
|
Fixed camera enforcement locations |
14 |
34 |
64 |
|
Fixed speed cameras |
7 |
18 |
23 |
This technology was deployed across a range of trunk and local roads. Fixed cameras are proven to encourage improved driver behaviour and levels of speed limit compliance which has led to a reduction in the number of injury collisions when compared to the respective 3 year base period.
This is demonstrated by the fixed camera site which has been deployed at A741 Renfrew Road, Paisley since May 2019. There has been a significant reduction in vehicle speeds, from 36.8mph to 30mph. This has helped lead to there being no injury collisions in the past three years (2020-22) compared with seven in the three years prior to a camera being deployed at this location. In addition, it is worth noting the successful dormancy of a long term fixed site in the North, A90, Fraserburgh to Peterhead. This site has observed a sustained reduction in eighty-fifth percentile speeds since 2017 and no further collisions since 2019.
Mobile Cameras
Similarly, mobile camera deployments across the Units were informed by casualty and collision history. In line with the Programme Handbook, deployments reflected collision and speeding profiles. During 2022/23 mobile deployments took place seven days a week.
|
North |
East |
West |
|
|
Mobile camera enforcement locations |
236 |
46 |
48 |
|
Mobile camera enforcement vans |
9 |
9 |
3 |
|
Route Strategies |
18 |
11 |
3 |
Note: A Route Strategy is for those routes, or sections of routes, that have a history of personal injury collisions and speeding. Route Strategies may also encompass individual sites.
This technology was deployed across a range of trunk and local roads. Mobile cameras are proven to encourage improved driver behaviour and levels of speed limit compliance which has led to a reduction in the number of injury collisions when compared to the respective 3 year base period.
This is demonstrated by the mobile camera which has been deployed at A721 Bellshill Road, Motherwell since December 2019. There has been a significant reduction in vehicle speeds, from 38.3mph to 33mph. This has helped lead to a fifty-six percent reduction in injury collisions with there being seven in the past three years (2020-22) compared with sixteen in the three years prior to a camera being deployed at this location. In addition, it is worth noting the successful conclusion of a longer term mobile site in the North, A93 Aberdeen to Aboyne, operational since 2002. This site was placed into dormancy following a sustained reduction in speeds and collisions since 2020.
At the start of 2022/23 the overall number of vans servicing camera sites in each Unit was consistent with previous years. However, through the reporting period a number of vehicles became problematic to maintain due to age and/or mileage. Through the Programme’s Fleet Management Strategy it had been identified that a number of these vehicles would need to be replaced and 14 vehicles were procured. However, delays with the conversion of these vehicles to bring them to operational standard has resulted in the vehicles awaiting operational deployment. This is a primary driver in the failure to meet target enforcement hours for mobile camera deployments (Key Performance Indicator 2).
Looking ahead, the Programme’s Fleet Management Strategy should continue to guide vehicular investment in future years.
Permanent Average Speed Camera (ASC) systems
A range of existing permanent ASC systems were operational in Scotland through 2022/23. Across the trunk road network these were deployed on the A77, A9, A90, and the A82/85 and on the local road network on the A7 at Old Dalkieth Rd in Edinburgh, on the A713 at Polnessan and on the A730 at Mill St in Rutherglen.
These ASC systems have consistently shown that they help to encourage improved driver behaviour and levels of speed limit compliance which have led to a significant reduction in the number of serious and fatal casualties at these locations when compared to the respective 3 year base period.
This is demonstrated by the average safety camera system deployed by the East Unit on the A82/A85 at Lix Toll since March 2020. There has been a significant reduction in vehicle speeds, which has helped lead to a reduction in injury collisions in the past three years (2021-23) of four compared with twenty-one in the three years prior to the average speed camera system being deployed at this location.
Roadworks Enforcement
Temporary Average Speed Cameras at Roadworks (TASCAR) systems are considered as a way to contribute towards road worker, driver and other road user safety or improve traffic flow. TASCAR is considered where there are high traffic volumes, and/or particular road works-specific safety risks are identified. There was TASCAR deployment on the M8 between junctions 24 and 26 in 2022/23 between mid-March and mid-July 2022 and on the M74 at junction 6 between mid August and mid November 2022.
Red-Light Cameras
A number of red-light camera-types were deployed through the Programme in 2022/23, including those with 24/7 capability.
|
North |
East |
West |
|
|
Red Light Sites |
N/A |
7 |
7 |
|
Dual Red Light and Speed on Green |
N/A |
4 |
1 |
Site Selection
In addition to existing camera deployments, a comprehensive body of work took place across 2022/23 to ensure the Programme continued to maximise its casualty and collision reduction potential. As part of that, a national safety camera site selection exercise was undertaken making use of site prioritisation criteria.
This robust process, involving Safety Camera Unit Managers (West, East and North) working in collaboration with 32 local road authorities and Transport Scotland as the trunk road authority and Police Scotland, identified 1,792 sites based on the previous five years of collision data in Scotland. Following discussions with stakeholders, a number of speed surveys were commissioned across all 3 Unit areas together with consideration of a number of sites which were being assessed for dormancy and/or abandonment. Progress was also made on the delivery of the following sites which were identified as part of previous safety camera site prioritisation exercise. Those sites included:
|
Unit |
Site Name |
Camera Type |
|
East |
Main Road, Cardross |
Fixed |
|
Crookston Road, Rosshall, Glasgow (northbound) |
Fixed |
|
|
Dubbs Road, Mid Achenleck, Port Glasgow |
Fixed |
|
|
Regent Street, Greenock |
Fixed |
|
|
Atlas Road/ Keppochhill Road - A803 - Springburn Road, Springburn |
Red light |
|
|
Bearsden Road, Glasgow |
Fixed |
|
|
A6106 Duddingston Park |
Red light |
|
|
The Wisp, Dalkeith |
Mobile |
During 2022/23 work was undertaken to conclude the delivery of a range of fixed camera sites. This followed a tender award in October 2021 for the supply, installation and maintenance of fixed spot speed enforcement systems at sites with a known and evidenced injury collision and speeding profile. The supplier of this camera technology was Jenoptik UK. The spot speed camera type is known as Vector SR; as these cameras are new it is too early to say what long-term effect they are having on driver behaviour.
Two sites were identified for red light enforcement as part of the 2021/22 site selection process. There was a delay to procure this equipment due to changes in procurement procedures, staff changes and internal approvals. Although there are a number of existing red light enforcement sites, their operation and performance relies upon inductive sensors, piezo loops and hardwired connections to traffic signal controllers. The equipment is susceptible to defective road surfaces, where repairs can cost between £5,000 to £7,000. It was considered more cost effective and efficient to procure new technology systems, using video analysis and tracking radar; neither of which are reliant on road surface conditions. The procurement process will be progressed during 2023/24.
The two sites are located at:
- B812 Auchinairn Road, East Dunbartonshire
- B773 Parkhouse Road, Glasgow
Enforcement Hours
Performance reporting against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for fixed, mobile and red light enforcement in each Unit is set out at Annex A. This performance is measured against targets contained in the Operational Plan submitted by the three regional safety camera units to the Programme Office along with actual performance from 2022/23.
Target national enforcement hours for fixed camera deployments totalled 375,663 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2022/23 was 70% of the targeted level. This target was not met in the West (67%), in the East (74%) or in the North (69%) Units. Defective road surfaces have been cited by the East Unit in each of the past 5 years as impacting on performance. It should also be noted that delays in procurement due to procedural changes impacted on the award of maintenance contracts across all three units, impacting calibrations, maintenance and repairs and the delay to live enforcement at the eight new Vector SR enforcement sites, seven of which are in the west have all impacted on fixed camera enforcement sites in 2022/23
Target enforcement hours for mobile camera deployments was 24,012 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2022/23 was 63% of the target. This was not achieved in any of the East (82%), North (64%) or West (40%) Units. This was due primarily fleet issues and staff availability in the earlier part of the year. Although fourteen replacement vans were procured during 2022/23, many were delivered late; this was then compounded by delays in procuring both fit-outs and on-board camera enforcement kit.
Target enforcement hours for mobile cameras during hours of darkness was 5050 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2022/23 was 63% of the targeted level. Regional targets were not met in the East (72%) North (70%) or West (43%) Units due to the reasons outlined above.
Target enforcement hours for mobile cameras during weekends was 6,122 hours. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2022/23 was 64% of the targeted level. Regional targets were not met in the East (72%), North (78%) or West (38%) Units due primarily to the reasons outlined above.
Target enforcement hours for red light camera enforcement was 179,344. The actual number of enforcement hours for 2022/23 was 75% of the targeted level. While there are no red light cameras deployed in the North Unit, this target was not met in either of the East Unit (67%) or the West Unit (83%) due to ongoing maintenance issues also impacted by delays in procurement as detailed above.
Conclusions
- 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.