Average speed cameras go live on the A1 at Great Ponton

Static cameras on the A1 at Great Ponton have been replaced with an average speed camera system which went live today.
RTA at Great Ponton. 966D ENGEMN00120140502094631RTA at Great Ponton. 966D ENGEMN00120140502094631
RTA at Great Ponton. 966D ENGEMN00120140502094631

Testing of the installation and systems has been carried out over the last four weeks and formal handover from the installation company has been completed. Today, the system went live and drivers exceeding the speed limit may be prosecuted.

The new system, consisting of eight camera gantries (four north and four south), replaces the two static Gatso type cameras that were installed in 1998 to reduce the amount of collisions that had occurred over the years. While there was a slight reduction after that installation in those killed or seriously injured (from 3.1 to 2.1 annual average) there were still a significant amount of collisions occurring and the decision, supported by data from Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, to install the average system was taken by Highways England.

All installation costs were met by Highway England, and the operating costs and subsequent maintenance will be met by Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.

There is no reduction in the national speed limit. The system transmits the offences in real time to a control centre where they are checked and compiled before being forwarded to the police Central Ticket Office where paperwork is produced and sent to the vehicle owners.

In the year previous to the two static cameras being turned off an average of 692 drivers per month were prosecuted for breaking the speed limit.

Drivers are more compliant with the average speed camera systems used elsewhere in Lincolnshire and the amount of prosecutions is expected to fall as will the number of collisions, incidents and, more importantly, casualties.

The A52 average speed camera system, installed nearly six years ago near Ropsley, has seen a reduction of more than 57 per cent in collisions and a reduction of more than 70 per cent in casualties since going live.