No one is likely to be very pleased at the news that around one million speeding tickets are expected to be issued in London every year, once the expansion of 20mph limit roads takes place, as well as the roll-out of new speed cameras in the capital. Transport for London is to supply the Met with five “LASERcam 4” devices that combine a speed gun and video camera – enabling footage to be collected that can be used to issue fines at new “hot spot” locations, including at night.
The Met recorded 362,731 road traffic offences in six months between last April and November, up 34 per cent, or 92,519 offences, on the same period in 2020. However, the income from speeding tickets - which cost at least £100 - goes to the Treasury rather than TfL.
TfL is seeking to treble the number of main roads limited to 20mph and says that lower speeds are “key to reducing both the likelihood of a collision occurring and the severity of the outcome”.
Provisional data shows there were 74 road deaths and 3,434 serious injuries in 2021, down on previous years but “still unacceptable”, according to TfL’s safety chief Lilli Matson.
What do you think about the proposals? Will they make London’s roads safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below for the chance to be featured on the ES website tomorrow.