'Big Brother' CCTV to stop Bristol drivers breaking Highway Code
MOTORISTS could soon be given fines for minor offences – if the city council receives permission to introduce Big Brother-style road junction cameras.
The authority, which already fines car drivers who use bus lanes, could be given the power to punish motorists who stop in keep-clear yellow box junctions, perform illegal U-turns or carry out banned turns at traffic lights.
-
If the government grants the city's request, CCTV cameras would be used to enforce the Highway Code at key junctions and accident blackspots.
The council said drivers were ignoring instructions and insisted the beefed-up measures were needed to protect pedestrians and ease congestion.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
But motoring groups said drivers could be penalised for "innocent mistakes" and said the powers could be used by the council to raise funds.
Bristol is one of a handful of local authorities to have asked the government for the new powers. At the moment, only councils in London have them - and handed out 800,000 fines last year.
In Bristol, the police currently issue fines for Highway Code infringements.
The council would use CCTV cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to track drivers, with fines likely to be set at about £70.
City council spokeswoman Kate Hartas said: "Bristol is one of the authorities seeking powers to protect yellow box junctions, and to enforce the regulations for banned turns.
"It is doing so in order to ease serious traffic congestion around box junctions and protect pedestrians from accidents caused by unexpected and illegal manoeuvres at dangerous corners."
The council pointed to the junction between Church Road and Blackswarth Road in St George as one trouble-spot.
Ms Hartas said: "Too many motorists ignore the banned left turn out of Blackswarth Road, and, on turning, drive over a green pedestrian crossing. It is extremely dangerous. If the council could stop this happening without imposing fines through camera enforcement, it would do so."
Another trouble spot mentioned was a banned right turn into Marsh Street from Baldwin Street.
Ms Hartas said lots of drivers try to make the turn, not realising that it causes big tailbacks.
She also pointed to some box junctions the council may want to enforce with cameras, including those on the St James Barton, Old Market and Hicks Gate roundabouts.
She insisted the council would not profit from any new powers, saying any cash raised would be put back into improving safety.
Under the Highway Code drivers must not enter a yellow box junction unless the exit is clear or if they are turning right but need to wait in the box because of oncoming, moving traffic.
Paul Hunt, of the Bristol Advanced Motorists group, said the design of some road junctions would mean many cars unable to avoid stopping in the yellow box at certain junctions.
He said: "We will have to see whether it is to improve road safety, traffic flow or to raise money.
"Look at the parking issue – a lot of councils are introducing parking orders against public opinion.
"Because people have to move about, it might be an easy way to generate money."
Comments
by Tiny_Steve
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 9:46PM
“OK, harryreg_uk, I'll take your non-answering of my question and your lack of evidence of conspiracy at face value.
I have no doubt that all your friends and aquaintances agree with your point of view. After all, that's what friends are for.
And do keep the red arrows flying!”
by DM_Fishponds
Monday, September 03 2012, 7:36AM
“Many people have been concerned about the safety of a number of the council's recent traffic & transport 'improvements' especially under the guise of GBBN. Ms Hartas and Cllr Kent's comments and failure to provide a workable solution demonstrate how little they care about some of these council-created dangers when they are prevented from further penalizing the motorists.
Since members of the council's Executive have been very vocal on this site about other issues, their lack of a solution regarding this problem is conspicuous.
The banned turns could be easily and cheaply be re-instated by the council to resolve the problem if they wanted to!”
by harryreg_uk
Friday, August 31 2012, 8:12PM
“@Tiny_Steve, I bet "data" the council produced after the Fishponds fiasco showed a fantastic success.
I asked if you drove because if you do, you're the only driver I've heard that thinks things are better. Can't disagree with less traffic due to the recession, which in my Eyes, actually makes it worse!
That's my opinion anyway, you obviously think the opposite, I guess we'll just have to agree to differ.”
by Tiny_Steve
Friday, August 31 2012, 7:47PM
“Thanks harryreg_uk. Not disputing that you think your journeys take longer. Just pointing out that the data shows that traffic is less congested. I suspect this is mainly due to the recession. I would assume from what you say though that you do believe the four local authorities have conspired together to pull the wool over the eyes of central government by falsifying the data. Have you any hard evidence to back up your conspiracy theory?
Not sure what the relevance is of whether I drive or not. If I told you that I do often drive, and that I think there is less congestion overall in the city than four years ago, what would that mean? If I told you that my business has increased over the last four years, would that disprove that there is a recession on? No, it would be just another pointless anecdote that counts for very little.”
by harryreg_uk
Friday, August 31 2012, 7:26PM
“@Tiny_Steve, and thanks for your comments, it takes me a lot longer to around this city than before, that's all the facts I need, seeing the mess with my own eyes.
Do I believe the Council wouldn't hesitate to massage the figures? absolutely, be amazed if they didn't, there are many figures and claims the council brandishes around that I do not believe a word of.
Just so you know, up the road from me in Fishponds is the recent hilarious & catastrophic multi-million £ road "improvement" fiasco - politicians telling me how much better it is, just doesn't wash, when I actually drive around quicker, I'll believe it!
You didn't say if you drive?”
by Tiny_Steve
Friday, August 31 2012, 5:41PM
“@harryreg_uk thanks for your comment and to the eleven people for the red arrows (or should that be thanks to one person for eleven red arrows?)
I guess it's down to a contest between your anecdote versus the facts, and I fully understand you value your beliefs more than the facts as published by the four local councils and accepted by the Government in the latest traffic report (section 8):
http://tinyurl.com/9gbaetw
I imagine you would say that the Councils have conspired to fabricate the figures and duped the Dept for Transport... or perhaps you think they're in with the conspiracy too?”
by krankenhaus
Friday, August 31 2012, 2:09PM
“GOOD! I hope they watch the crossing in front of Temple Meads, I've lost count of the times me and others have nearly been ran over by impatient cretins who seem to think running the red will take time off their journey. Not only that but they end up parked on the yellow hatched box thus obstructing traffic trying to get out of Temple Meads station.”
by harryreg_uk
Friday, August 31 2012, 8:56AM
“@Tiny_Steve "Average traffic speeds in Bristol (and most urban areas) have increased" - the last report I read was that Bristol had the "slowest" average traffic in the UK, even worse than London!
Sounds like you don't drive, I have never seen it this bad and as already pointed out countless times, the majority of problems are caused by the council's random, un-coordinated and ill-thought out traffic schemes!”
by DM_Fishponds
Friday, August 31 2012, 7:55AM
“@KA12345 – "To say it bluntly: This council is only good for increasing congestion, making journey times longer, causing more inconvenience and havoc to all and wasting our tax money."
The council spokesperson has finally admitted, on the council's behalf, that the recently introduced, banned turns are dangerous.
Tim Kent has admitted that the DfT has prevented Bristol City Council from using cameras to enforce them.
Therefore the dangerous banned turns will remain unenforced until the council does something (else) to resolve the problem.
What a shame, especially with the forthcoming election in November, that none of the current LibDem Executive Members have commented on what they intend to do about the 'dangerous' banned turns.
Many people have been concerned about the safety of a number of the council's recent traffic & transport 'improvements'.
Since some of the Executive Members have been very vocal on this site about other issues, their lack of reassurance regarding this problem is conspicuous.
Perhaps @KA12345's comment is correct?
The banned turns could be easily and cheaply be re-instated by the council to resolve the problem if they wanted to!”
by Englander1942
Thursday, August 30 2012, 9:00PM
“If it keeps the council tax down and Bristolian's are happy to pay the fine's , whats the problem .”