Motorists could be penalised for traffic offences by Salford council - rather than the police. The council is entering into a six-week consultation on the plans, after which cameras would be installed at key locations to help crackdown on rogue drivers.
Councillors at a property and regeneration briefing nodded through the proposals without comment yesterday (September 12). The move follows the government's bid to 'de-criminalise these powers' and pass them to local authorities, similar to parking offences 20 years ago.
Last year, the council expressed an interest in seeing such powers transferred from Greater Manchester Police. The government has now started the legal process to make that happen. Proposals were presented to Parliament at the end of January and further guidance has been made available from the Department of Transport.
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Councils across England are being 'invited'to apply for the moving traffic offence powers with opportunities to apply in June 2022 and December 2022, with further opportunities in 2023. It will pave the way for town halls to issue drivers fines of up to £70 for offences including blocking box junctions and not complying with road signs.
A report presented to the briefing by Salford's head of highways and network management Robert Owen said in response to 'potential dangers to other road users including pedestrians and cyclists': "The council may be able to deploy a more robust manner of enforcement to reduce the casual disregard experienced at some locations, increasing compliance, improving road safety and driver behaviour."
An initial tranche of sites have been put forward with additional measures in place to increase safety. They are:
- The junctions of Chapel Street/Trinity Way and Regent Road/Oldfield Road where there will be a yellow box and "banned movements" to improve road safety, relieve congestion and boost bus reliability.
- Chorley Road/Civic Centre access, where there will be yellow box "blocking" to relieve congestion and improve bus reliability.
- Chapel Street/Oldfield Road/Adelphi Street, where there will be banned turns
Irwell Street/Trinity Way, where there will be a yello box and banned movements. - Blackfriars Street, near Chapel Street, and Blackfriars Street/Silk Street, where there will be a "cycle facility incursion".
- Mr Owen's report added: "Salford is one of the frontrunners across Greater Manchester for enforcement, already undertaking bus lane, bus stop clearway and school keep clear camera enforcement."
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