A new speed camera, which has the ability to monitor drivers in both directions, has caught almost 700 speeding motorists in its first full week of operation.

The bi-directional camera, which detects cars on both sides of the road, has been installed on the A394 at Longdowns.

The camera, which has been funded by the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, went live on Tuesday, February 8 – and in the first week it has detected 681 speeding vehicles on the 30mph road.

Of those caught by the camera:

  • Five cases have been referred to court (where the excess speed is such that it is beyond out of court disposal options)
  • 72 cases have received a conditional offer of a fixed penalty and points on their licence
  • 604 cases have been sent the option of a driver awareness course

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Cllr Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transport, said: “I’m shocked to learn how many drivers have been caught as a result of the new camera, particularly in such a short space of time.

“This should provide a stark warning to road users – the camera is working and nearly 700 drivers will receive a letter through their door very soon.

Falmouth Packet:

The new camera caught almost 700 drivers in its first week

“Speed limits are in place for a good reason, sadly too many people are injured on Cornwall’s roads. In 2020, 20 people lost their lives and 230 were seriously injured, some with life changing injuries.

“Cornwall Council is a committed member of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership which has set the ambitious target of reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030.

“Everyone can make a positive impact by driving within the speed limit, and these cameras are a valuable tool in educating drivers to slow down.”

Supt Adrian Leisk, strategic lead for roads policing and chairman of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership’s enforcement subgroup, said: “I hope this goes some way to reassuring people across Devon and Cornwall that our speed cameras are fully operational and we are taking action against drivers who break the law.

“Across our two counties we operate more than 80 active speed cameras which includes a mixture or traditional cameras and average speed detection systems. We also have 12 dedicated Speed Detection Officers (SDOs) who can operate at mobile locations throughout the region, as well as a network of over 600 Community Speed Watch volunteers who work tirelessly to keep their communities safe.

“We know speed cameras work to reduce speeding and that speed is a contributory factor in many collisions. Travelling too fast not only gives drivers less time to react, it also increases the likelihood of injury in the event of a collision.

“Cameras such as these, which have been installed with the full support of the local community, not only enable us to prosecute those driving at dangerously high speeds, but importantly allow us to refer the vast majority into driver education training.

“This is offered as an alternative to prosecution because we know it changes behaviour and reduces the risk of an offender subsequently being involved in a collision.

“Enabling sustained behavioural change is at the heart of our approach to monitoring and enforcement of high-risk driving behaviour.”

The next site due to be upgraded is the camera at Tregolls Road, Truro, which is likely to be operational during April 2022, and will capture both red light offences as well as speeding drivers.