TfL says the introduction of at least 50 new enforcement cameras – to enforce civil traffic rules at junctions – will play ‘a vital part’ in helping to meet its Vision Zero ambition.
Each year more than 4,000 people are killed or seriously injured on London’s roads and 76% of collisions happen at junctions – many of which involve moving vehicles contravening decriminalised road traffic rules, according to TfL.
The new cameras, which can be moved around the road network to where they are most needed, use ‘cutting edge’ technology to enforce banned turns, bus lanes, yellow box junctions and weight restrictions.
The deployable cameras can be adapted for each new location, ensuring that the rules for each particular junction can be enforced ‘fairly and efficiently’, with separate cameras for each traffic rule.
A trial of the cameras carried out in 2020 saw an improvement in compliance of up to 60% in six months.
The ability to relocate the cameras also means that they can be used to target non-compliance ‘hot-spots’. This capability ensures that TfL can target junctions with the most dangerous driver behaviour and can remove cameras from locations where enforcement activity has been successful in cutting danger and making drivers’ behaviour safer.
TfL says improving enforcement at junctions will also help to cut congestion, by keeping junctions clear and ensuring traffic can move through them as intended.
The new cameras will be introduced to the TfL road network from this autumn and TfL will be closely monitoring how successful the cameras have been at cutting road danger, reducing congestion and improving bus journey reliability.
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “Most collisions on London’s roads happen at junctions and it’s absolutely vital for everybody’s safety that we can enforce effectively against the minority of drivers who break the rules.
“We’re determined to meet our Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury and these innovative new cameras will give us much-needed extra capability to tackle danger hot-spots on our road network.
“We’ll be closely monitoring the success of this new technology and will continue to work closely with the police and others to keep our road network safe, efficient and sustainable for everybody in the Capital.”
04 August 2021