Hundreds of drivers targeted by speed cameras to make up for spending cuts, says report

Hundreds of drivers from Brighton and Hove are to be targeted by speed camera operators as they try to balance the books after government spending cuts.

The total target for Sussex is 8,000 extra speeding drivers a year.

The aim is to generate £70,000 more in profit from the speed awareness courses run by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership in conjunction with Sussex Police.

There are fears that camera operators will opt for easy pickings rather than genuine accident black spots.

The strategy is set out in a report to members of Brighton and Hove City Council by the council’s road safety manager Phil Clarke, a former Sussex Police traffic officer.

At the same time, he warns that cuts of less than half a million pounds could cost more £40 million as more people are killed and seriously injured on the roads.

The speed awareness course, according to Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, is aimed at those who have been caught speeding as the result of a “lapse in concentration”.

In a leaflet sent to speeding drivers it says that the £105 course is: “Your chance to reassess and improve your driving skills after being caught speeding as an alternative to receiving a fine and points on your licence.”

It tells drivers: “If keeping a clean licence or avoiding additional points matters to you, then you should seriously consider attending a speed awareness course.

“By attending and completing a speed awareness course you will not receive a fine or points on your licence.

“At a cost of £105, this may even represent a saving when the elevated cost of your insurance premium is added to the £60 fine.”

The strategy was devised at a meeting attended by senior members of Sussex Police and the Courts Service and council road chiefs from Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.

£400,000 gap

The meeting, held in Shoreham on Tuesday 13 July, was called to decide how to handle a big cut in funding.

Those present were told that the government grant given towards the cost of running the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership would be cut by 58 per cent.

As a result there would be a “£400,000 gap between the latest business plan and the funding available”.

The organisation had originally budgeted to spend £3.315 million for the current financial year, which started in April.

Cuts have reduced that sum by more than 40 per cent to £1.87 million.

Mr Clarke includes the figures in his report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s Scrutiny Panel on the Societal Impact of the In-Year Grant Reductions.

His report to the panel, which meets at Hove Town Hall tomorrow, says: “The methodology employed to bridge the £400,000 gap, with police support, was to utilise the anticipated speed awareness course surplus from this year.

“This figure is based upon the surplus from 2009-10 and is estimated at approximately £200,000.

“Additionally, the strategy sub-group agreed to widen the scope of the courses, raising the potential for another 8,000 clients per annum.

“When the normal ratio of accepted offers is applied, it is estimated that will translate into an additional £70,000 surplus.”

He appears to caution that the funding cuts may make it hard for the speed camera organisation to catch the extra targeted drivers.

Mr Clarke’s report says: “There is also some jeopardy to the great opportunity, through referral, to educate drivers, via the speed awareness courses.

“Last year 7,000 people benefited from this form of driver education in Sussex.

“This is vital in trying to educate drivers and changing the culture regarding speeding to make it socially unacceptable viz a viz ‘drink driving’.

“Education is as important as enforcement and any further reduction in the current budget would mean a severe impact on delivery of schemes.”

Rise in deaths

Mr Clarke also tells councillors that the cuts could mean more people will die as a result of road accidents.

His report says: “The savings of the latest round of cuts will compound the already significant impact on road safety being promoted by the partnership.

“Any reduction in camera activity, including the long-term effect of maintenance cuts, could lead to an increase in vehicle speeds, which in turn could lead to more serious injuries and road casualties.”

The report states that the cost of the predicted rise in deaths and serious injuries would be about £42 million a year – a sum 100 times more than the latest £400,000 savings.

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership is funded by government grants given to the highways authorities in Sussex – Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council.

The organisation’s other partners include Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, the Highways Agency and the Courts Service.