‘It’s not a money making exercise’ – police chief’s warning to Orwell Bridge and A12 speeders
Will the A14 Orwell Bridge shut in Storm Ali winds? Picture: ARCHANT - Credit: Archant
Cracking down on speeding is not a money making exercise – that’s the message from police as it’s revealed thousands of motorists are still being clocked by cameras.
More than 2,000 speeding offences were logged on the Orwell Bridge from January to July, with almost 7,000 recorded by the A12 average cameras.
The number snapped speeding on the bridge is despite the westbound cameras being out of action for four months of 2018.
Now, as the figures continue to climb, a top roads policing officer has dismissed claims from the public that speed cameras are just there to make money.
“In a way I understand the public’s view that it’s just a money making exercise.
Average speed cameras on the A14 by the Orwell Bridge Picture: SIMON PARKER
But in reality, it’s nothing like that,” warned Inspector Ben Hollands, from the recently re-branded roads and firearms unit.
“We see it all, from serious injuries to deaths on the roads – they don’t see that every day.
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“We are trying to reduce road casualty figures in Suffolk, but we need the public’s help to do that as well.
He added: “The quicker you go, the less time you have to react – that’s the bottom line.
Average speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary. Picture: GREGG BROWN - Credit: Gregg Brown
“We see the entire process from the speeding motorist to the fatal accident, from start to finish.”
Explaining that speeding is part of the ‘fatal four’ – a series of factors most likely to cause serious or fatal crashes, alongside drink and drugs, mobile phone use and not wearing a seat belt – Inspector Hollands said his message to the public is to drive to the road conditions.
“Nowadays life has so many distractions – the pace of life is faster and drivers are always getting distracted”, he added.
“By going too fast, they could seriously hurt or kill someone.”
Average speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary. Picture: GREGG BROWN - Credit: Gregg Brown
He also dismissed the effectiveness of an on-the-spot £100 fine for going 1mph over the limit – an idea reportedly raised by a national police chief earlier in the year.
“It’s all about driving to the conditions,” Inspector Hollands added.
“People get preoccupied by limits and that’s why we’re trying to educate people, and making them realise the true consequences of speeding.”
So far this year, a total of 6,819 offences have been processed by the A12 average speed cameras between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary from January to July.
On the Orwell Bridge, 2,288 have been logged.
