Last week I was invited to give a presentation  at a session on Active Travel of the West Midlands Strategic Police and Crime Board. One of the most important aspects for vulnerable road users is the speed of motor vehicles, so I used the opportunity to present the benefits of a wider, citizen-led approach to speed management and enforcement using the Speedcam Anywhere app.

The transcript of my 5 minutes presentation follows:

How Brexit could become the new killer on Britain’s roads

Jacob Rees-Mogg says we should ignore an EU push for speed limiters in cars - but it has the potential to save more lives than seat belts

A new app has been developed that enables any member of the public with a smartphone to gather video evidence of speeding for submission to police for processing and enforcement. This paves the way for wider enforcement and allows police and authorities to align with community demands for speed limit compliance.

Residents want the freedom to choose how they travel. 20mph on our streets brings that choice. People, particularly the elderly, fear the intimidation from high speeds on residential streets and in town and village centres.

Intelligent Speed Assistance - What it is and how it will affect compliance on speed limits

A briefing by Rod King for the Welsh Government 20mph Task and Finish Group - 30^th December 2019

A nearly universal aspiration in communities is to make traffic speed compatible with community life and human survivability.  A 30mph limit is no longer fit for purpose for urban and village streets. Lower default limits are being set. Choose 20mph.

20mph Community Speed Watch on Heslington Road York

Recently, Anna Semlyen started acting as a volunteer in the local Community Speedwatch in York.

Here is her experience of volunteering.

Local Authorities don’t need to rely on the police to prosecute speed limit offenders

Legislation provides scope for Local Authorities to institute criminal proceedings for offences such as speeding.  As well as bringing private prosecutions, where they wish to protect the interests of their residents, Local Authorities can also act as a “Public Prosecutor”, if authorised by the police.

Local Authority as Private Prosecutor

Local Authority as Public Prosecutor

Which offences could Local Authorities prosecute?

Enforcement provisions that need further police authorisation

Where further proof is required, such as speed camera records, vehicle registration details or driver identification, the police would need to authorise.

Summary

In order to successfully prosecute speeding drivers or where the registered keeper of a vehicle withholds information on the driver, Local Authorities need to have authorisation from the police to act as “Public Prosecutor” as well as having appropriate internal processes.

Thanks to Adrian Berendt of our 20's Plenty for Kent campaign for putting this together from our more technical briefing sheet.

By collaborating with their police force, local authorities could institute public prosecutions for non-compliance with 20mph limits to transform community streets.

In areas where the council has adopted wide-area 20mph limit the ideal is for drivers to see how voluntary compliance is best for all. A new social norm develops - e.g. drink driving is no longer accepted. Developing a social consensus involves joint working between agencies - Council, public health and police. Driver education, signs, lines, narrowing, telematics, pacer vehicles, speedwatch volunteers, warnings, fixed penalty notices, cameras, speed awareness courses and court summons all amplify and reinforce compliance. Humps add to pollution and so are a last resort.