Enforcement against moving traffic offences

Opportunity lost

I think the Press has lost a good opportunity to educate the public on the implications of enforcement of these so called 'new' offences. I did not hear anyone say that these contraventions have always been the responsibility of the police. I do not remember reading anywhere what 'decriminalising' means in this context.

In one London borough where cameras have been tested for piloting enforcement, drivers ignored a    'No Entry' point during the school runs on a regular basis, bringing danger to the road. It was not so much about saving themselves a long detour if they were to follow the road signs - it was more about the fact they were consistently late in dropping their children. The police turned up and fined or cautioned a few motorists each day and that was the end of the matter. There is a problem here.

No one has responded publicly to my challenge in the last but one post about the logistics and economics of enforcement against moving traffic offences. I have had a few private emails. I respect the fact that public sector staff are not allowed to write to the Press. As a result, I have to offer free advice on what I see as the principal challenges for local authorities in enforcing against moving traffic offences.

Watch this space - the challenges are not about technical solutions relating to cameras or how to produce reliable evidence. The challenge lies in how a local authority treats its residents and other motorists driving through their boundaries.

Comments

[newport driving school]

The challenge lies in how a local authority treats its residents and other motorists driving through their boundaries . There were a lot of visible law enforcement officers . I hope that this information will assist you in your endeavors to improve safety…

[Carl Patten]

Maybe the signs need to be moved to somewhere visible, so that the drivers won't ignore them. Another factor would be the suggested alternate routes. The drivers could feel that these alternate routes could take a lot longer than the usual, and that going through the supposed "No Entry"-zone is the best way to their destination.