Thursday, 19 August 2010 14:06

Following recent announcements regarding the future of safety cameras across the country, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership is issuing this statement to clarify the situation within Sussex.

As has been well publicised, the coalition Government has stated that it will no longer be supporting the installation of new fixed safety camera sites from central Government funding.  The responsibility for installation of safety cameras has now been passed to local highway authorities – in Sussex’s case, East & West Sussex County Councils and Brighton & Hove City Council.

All decisions made on the future status of safety cameras in Sussex will be made by the SSRP Leaders’ Group, composed of cabinet members from each local highway authority.  At present, there is no indication of any plans to remove any fixed or mobile safety camera sites from Sussex. 

All safety cameras are installed according to a strict set of criteria which can be downloaded from this website. 

The county’s network of safety cameras can demonstrate significant reductions in casualties since their installation and also provide, through the Speed Awareness Course, an important educational opportunity for motorists.

The Speed Awareness course offers individuals who have slightly exceeded the speed limit in a 30mph or 40mph zone the opportunity to undertake practical and workshop based sessions to educate them on the dangers of speed and to give them strategies to avoid exceeding the speed limit.

Uptake of the Speed Awareness Course has grown over the past twelve months and customers are particularly appreciative of the practical coaching that the course provides.  It may initially appear to be expensive at £105, but the consensus is that the benefits far outweigh the cost.  It is not a driving test, but an assessment with friendly advice on improving a driver's awareness of road dangers, which have often been forgotten since initially passing the driving test..

The volume of fines issued over the past eighteen months has decreased from previous levels not only due to increased compliance with speed limits but also due to the Speed Awareness Course.