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VOTE: 1,825 trapped by speed cameras
9:00am Thursday 28th February 2008
Comments (71)SPEED cameras in Bolton raked in £109,500 in fines last year.
Figures obtained by The Bolton News show 1,825 motorists were caught by fixed or mobile speed traps in the borough in 2007.
The statistics also reveal there has been a dramatic increase in the number of motorists hit with fines since the turn of the century.
In 2000, 695 tickets were issued to motorists caught by fixed and mobile speed cameras, generating £41,700.
By 2005, that figure had peaked at a high for the decade of 2,004 fines being issued - a total cost to the motorist of £120,240.
A motor campaign group last night called for all cash collected from speeding fines to be used to cut road deaths by funding road safety schemes.
Currently, only a proportion is ploughed back into such initiatives.
RAC Foundation chairman David Holmes said: "We have never objected to speed cameras in principle, but we do think they should be visible and serve a clear road safety purpose. They should not be used just to make money.
"There are many parts of the road system where changes to the layout of the road would save lives. These are not being done because of shortage of cash.
"Revenue from speed cameras should be used imaginatively to fund projects of this kind."
The first speed cameras were introduced in the UK in London in 1992.
Since then they have become a regular roadside sight and earn the Treasury an estimated £82 million a year from fines from 5,000 speed cameras.
The Government passes a proportion of this cash back to a camera safety partnership - which is responsible for operating the cameras - to fund running costs.
Last year, the rules were changed so the income could also be used to promote road safety schemes.
Bolton got its first speed cameras in April, 1996, when one was installed in Bury Road, Breightmet, near Torridon Road; another in Chorley New Road near Bolton School, Heaton; and a third in Manchester Road, Kearsley.
Three more were erected in Blackburn Road, Egerton; Chorley New Road, Horwich; and Crompton Way, Astley Bridge, by the end of the year.
More cameras sprung up in Manchester Road near the Blackrod bypass in 1998, five cameras were installed to monitor the 50mph limit on St Peter's Way in 2000 and two were put up in Newbrook Road, Over Hulton.
The most recent camera installation in the borough was in 2006 in Wigan Road, near Hulton Lane, Deane.
Bolton now has 16 speed cameras, either fixed at the roadside, or on red lights.
Road safety experts say speed cameras have had an impact in reducing the number of people killed or injured on the roads.
In Bolton, it is estimated that in 39 per cent of all accidents speed is a factor.
Since 2001, the number of serious and fatal accidents in Bolton has been falling. In 2001, there were 84 serious accidents and 11 fatalities, but in 2007 there were 49 serious accidents and four deaths.
Bolton's principal road safety officer, Trevor Higson, said yesterday: "Although we are currently waiting for validation of the number of people killed or seriously injured on Bolton's roads last year, the figure appears to be the lowest for some 24 years, which reflects the success of the various safety schemes across the borough.
"We anticipate that for 2007 the figure will be 86 and our 2010 Government target is to reduce this to 82.
"Although the reduction is encouraging, we need to continue our top priority efforts to further reduce the number of casualties on our roads."
Bolton's grant from the Department of Transport, through the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership, for 2008-9 is £47,542.
This will fund a road safety officer in the council's road safety team and schemes about road safety education.
Where the cameras are
Fixed speed cameras in Bolton borough are at the following locations:
- Manchester Road near Blackrod bypass, Blackrod (two cameras), 1998, 40mph
- Chorley New Road at Lindsay Street, Horwich, 1996, 30mph
- Newbrook Road near Firs Road, Over Hulton (two cameras), 2000, 40mph
- Wigan Road near Hulton Lane, Deane, 2006, 30mph
- Chorley New Road near Somerset Road, Heaton, 1996, 30mph
- Blackburn Road, Egerton, 1996, 30mph
- Crompton Way near Seymour Road, Astley Bridge, 1996, 40mph
- St Peter's Way near Burnden Road, Burnden, 2000, 50mph
- St Peter's Way at Moses Gate, 2000, 50mph
- St Peter's Way opposite Rowena Street, 2000, 50mph
- St Peter's Way near All Saints School, Farnworth, 2000, 50mph
- St Peter's Way near Grosvenor Street, Kearsley, 2000, 50mph
- Manchester Road near Teak Drive, Kearsley, 1996, 30mph
- Bury Road near Torridon Road, Breightmet, 1996, 30mph
Your Say YourThis Is Lancashire
Rocky, Bowton says...
9:51am Thu 28 Feb 08
# Chorley New Road at Lindsay Street, Horwich, 1996, 30mph
# Newbrook Road near Firs Road, Over Hulton (two cameras), 2000, 40mph
# Wigan Road near Hulton Lane, Deane, 2006, 30mph
# Chorley New Road near Somerset Road, Heaton, 1996, 30mph
# Blackburn Road, Egerton, 1996, 30mph
# Crompton Way near Seymour Road, Astley Bridge, 1996, 40mph
# St Peter's Way near Burnden Road, Burnden, 2000, 50mph
# St Peter's Way at Moses Gate, 2000, 50mph
# St Peter's Way opposite Rowena Street, 2000, 50mph
# St Peter's Way near All Saints School, Farnworth, 2000, 50mph
# St Peter's Way near Grosvenor Street, Kearsley, 2000, 50mph
# Manchester Road near Teak Drive, Kearsley, 1996, 30mph
# Bury Road near Torridon Road, Breightmet, 1996, 30mph
And people slow down then speed up at every single on of them.
Nev,
If that's the case then couldn't the speeding ticket be thrown out?
As not being the correctly named place?
Gene Hunt, Stuck in 73 says...
10:16am Thu 28 Feb 08
Andrew, Bury says...
10:49am Thu 28 Feb 08
Sunfun, Astley Bridge says...
10:51am Thu 28 Feb 08
King Eric, says...
10:52am Thu 28 Feb 08
No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offences including SAF.
chas, suffolk says...
10:53am Thu 28 Feb 08
Rocky, Bowton says...
10:54am Thu 28 Feb 08
Andrew wrote:Snoop doggy.
If you don't like the fine, don't do the crime.
hey housies!!
bobbie, Bolton says...
10:55am Thu 28 Feb 08
Andrew wrote:I AGREE! how can people say there are too many speed cameras and that 'SPEED cameras in Bolton raked in £109,500 in fines last year' well dont speed and bolton wont rake in so much money??.. Thats like saying speeding is ok but speed cameras and fines are not ok... come on BN how silly..
If you don't like the fine, don't do the crime.
boris, west sussex says...
11:09am Thu 28 Feb 08
Do you still think Labour will win the next election EASILY????
Rocky, Bowton says...
11:11am Thu 28 Feb 08
chas, suffolk says...
11:15am Thu 28 Feb 08
Rocky, Bowton says...
11:16am Thu 28 Feb 08
Yes the agency that deals with road surfaces outside parks in Bolton Is the Highways Department isnt it?
Nationally its the higways agency.
RagReader, Horwich says...
11:24am Thu 28 Feb 08
King Eric wrote:Agreed, what's SAF?
Simple, don't speed. No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offences including SAF.
RagReader, Horwich says...
11:26am Thu 28 Feb 08
boris wrote:1,825 trapped by speed cameras
Erica Do you still think Labour will win the next election EASILY????
Relevance to the story above?
chas, suffolk says...
11:27am Thu 28 Feb 08
King Eric wrote:What about the Utd manager and players got off by Mr Loophole?
Simple, don't speed. No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offences
apple, says...
11:39am Thu 28 Feb 08
RagReader, Horwich says...
11:41am Thu 28 Feb 08
chas wrote:Well, what about them?
King Eric wrote: Simple, don't speed. No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offencesWhat about the Utd manager and players got off by Mr Loophole?
Perhaps you should read the comment you quoted.
chas, suffolk says...
11:44am Thu 28 Feb 08
That is why I am asking erica.
RagReader, Horwich says...
11:47am Thu 28 Feb 08
apple wrote:Do you approve of people speeding?
I thought that the cameras were there for road safety how about publishing the crashes on the roads to see if they are for safety or are they there to make money. Another stealth tax and easy money from the good old folk of Bolton.
Are you one of those drivers who think it's OK for you to speed because you are a better driver than other road users?
Can you explain how it's a 'stealth tax'?
kieanders, bolton says...
11:50am Thu 28 Feb 08
chas wrote:He actually included SAF in his quote, you obviously missed it Chas.
King Eric wrote: Simple, don't speed. No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offencesWhat about the Utd manager and players got off by Mr Loophole?
Apple, when they site a camera there have to be a certain number of indicators to justify the position of it. one of these is the number of deaths/injuries due to a specific road layout or piece of road. due to the freedom of information act, you can get this information easily just by asking the right people. i beleive GMP would be able to help, or at least point you in the right direction.
RagReader, Horwich says...
11:51am Thu 28 Feb 08
chas wrote:Eric ,not Erica , said 'No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offences'
Rugrat. That is why I am asking erica.
Obvious what he thinks about it.
RagReader, Horwich says...
11:54am Thu 28 Feb 08
RockyReturns, says...
11:54am Thu 28 Feb 08
kieanders, bolton says...
11:56am Thu 28 Feb 08
RagReader wrote:SAF is Sir Alex Ferguson Rag, obviously Chas doesn't know either, or maybe he does, probably why he forgot to include it when he quoted Eric.
King Eric wrote: Simple, don't speed. No sympathy for those who use technicalities to get off traffic offences including SAF.Agreed, what's SAF?
chas, suffolk says...
11:59am Thu 28 Feb 08
I didn't know, but what about the players?
RagReader, Horwich says...
12:00pm Thu 28 Feb 08
RockyReturns wrote:Why do you want to know,was it in Bolton?
Just what was the Excuse used by Sir Alex F for Driving down the hard shoulder?
Quote - ' SPEED cameras in Bolton raked in £109,500 in fines last year.'
WUMPKINS, bolton says...
12:01pm Thu 28 Feb 08
SPEED 38 mph
Fine £60 WHAT A LAUGH
chas, suffolk says...
12:04pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Who first mentioned SAF?
kieanders, bolton says...
12:07pm Thu 28 Feb 08
chas wrote:i reckon eric feels the same about them Chas, would be a bit foolish and time consuming to list them all on here though.
kieanders I didn't know, but what about the players?
Amir Kahn should have a speed camera following him around when he gets his licence back, they could scrap the revenue from the rest and make enough to retarmac all the roads in bolton.
omniscient, Crawley says...
12:08pm Thu 28 Feb 08
How are you???
chas, suffolk says...
12:21pm Thu 28 Feb 08
re Utd players. Why doesn't erica answer for himself?
Regarding SAF, rugrat complained about going off subject.
Miss M, Bolton says...
12:21pm Thu 28 Feb 08
chas wrote:Cars don't kill at all!!! The drivers in control of them do! The number of road deaths pales into insignificance when you compare it to the number of deaths caused by medical negligence in the NHS (approx 17000)per year! What should we do about this? Ban the medical profession from hospitals???
Cars kill. Tax them to the hilt and ban them from all public places.
cliff.hilton, Adlington says...
12:24pm Thu 28 Feb 08
I have never had points on my licence and have no sympathy for the huge numbers of poor drivers who habitually break speed limits they are such a danger to themselves and others.
Drive within the law! the number of speed cameras is irrelevant!
RockyReturns, says...
12:26pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Miss M wrote:HEAR HEAR.!!!!!!!!!
chas wrote:Cars don't kill at all!!! The drivers in control of them do! The number of road deaths pales into insignificance when you compare it to the number of deaths caused by medical negligence in the NHS (approx 17000)per year! What should we do about this? Ban the medical profession from hospitals???
Cars kill. Tax them to the hilt and ban them from all public places.
Someone ELSE who actually puts this nonsense into perspective.
Only we cant do stories on negligence in the NHS we don't want to scare the public.
RockyReturns, says...
12:30pm Thu 28 Feb 08
It would be interesting to see the ratio of deaths in relation to admittances in comparison with say 10 or 20 years ago.
I BET ITS GONE UP.
chas, suffolk says...
12:30pm Thu 28 Feb 08
What about car fumes?
kieanders, bolton says...
12:33pm Thu 28 Feb 08
cliff.hilton wrote:you should take a break before you fall asleep at the wheel. (sorry, couldn't resist)
I have been driving for over forty years and the pleasure in driving is sticking to the rules! I have never had points on my licence and have no sympathy for the huge numbers of poor drivers who habitually break speed limits they are such a danger to themselves and others. Drive within the law! the number of speed cameras is irrelevant!
omniscient, Crawley says...
12:35pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Miss M, Bolton says...
12:36pm Thu 28 Feb 08
omniscient wrote:There was nothing in my comment that was unpleasant - I was merely stating facts... Comments such as "cars kill - ban them" are totally ridculuous and not at all thought through. There are many people that do genuinely need to use cars as part of their daily lives...why should they be penalised with hefty taxes etc (provided they drive within the realms of the law)!
Miss M Please be nice.
RagReader, Horwich says...
12:36pm Thu 28 Feb 08
RockyReturns wrote:Thank you, that explains everything!!!!!!!
Rugrat. How much was the fine, Im was establish the cost of the fine for him being in a hard shoulder as EricA had made a point about him not agreeing with people WHO SPEED, Chas mentioning that SAF as reffered to in ERICAS post was Sir Alex fergons. MY POINT WAS SAF got fined for driving on the HARD Shoulder as I remember NOT speeding. FACT. not fiction. DOES EVERYTHING HAS TO BE EXPLAINED TO YOU? ARE DO YOU PANIC AT EVERY MENTION OF A CELEBRITY NAME JUST LIKE THE BOLTON NEWS DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off topic question, why do you keep using the name Rugrat, that is not my user name?
RockyReturns, says...
12:37pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Simple
davie, leigh says...
12:38pm Thu 28 Feb 08
One other offence that needs looking at again is the bloody mobile phone.
These totally selfish drivers should get an automatic 12 months ban.
omniscient, Crawley says...
12:39pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Can I call you Rugger's????
RockyReturns, says...
12:42pm Thu 28 Feb 08
I understood that he was fined so I retract my earlier comment.
I didnt realise he got off with it!!!!!!!1
"Such "special reasons" for breaking traffic laws can include even the most unlikely emergencies. Beckham's boss at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, was cleared of a traffic offence by explaining that severe diarrhoea and the need to reach a toilet prompted his driving on a motorway hard shoulder."
I beg to differ it anyone else had done it would they have been treated the same.
Like with Amir Khan.
kieanders, bolton says...
12:44pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Miss M wrote:i agree, and the fact that more people die from illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos, even though asbestos is now heavily restricted and controlled, than RTA's should show us what we're sealing with.
omniscient wrote: Miss M Please be nice.There was nothing in my comment that was unpleasant - I was merely stating facts... Comments such as "cars kill - ban them" are totally ridculuous and not at all thought through. There are many people that do genuinely need to use cars as part of their daily lives...why should they be penalised with hefty taxes etc (provided they drive within the realms of the law)!
stop drivers using mobiles, smoking, eating at the wheel, clamp down on tailgating, improve road surfaces, add another level of learner driver -(maybe a new driver stage) and enforce MOT/Insurance rules on all drivers before we look at dealing with speeding.
RockyReturns, says...
12:45pm Thu 28 Feb 08
"Diarrhoea is a good example of what a court might accept as a special reason for speeding, though not if you were going at 110mph," say Mr Miller.
Given such interpretations of the law, Mr Miller is convinced that "rushing to hospital with an organ" is a very sound excuse for speeding. "
So when we are all caught speeding if we all have Diarrhoea then its excusable.
Andrew, Bury says...
12:45pm Thu 28 Feb 08
davie, leigh says...
12:47pm Thu 28 Feb 08
RockyReturns, says...
12:50pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Andrew wrote:Yeah but maybe some need to learn their own names first eh!
Any chance of people acting their age - assuming you are not in fact primary pupils wagging off. It's pathetic.
chas, suffolk says...
12:53pm Thu 28 Feb 08
How can you be in full control of the car, when changing gear?
omniscient, Crawley says...
12:57pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Sun Tzu, says...
1:02pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Once motorists are aware of these cameras, they slow down for the trap before getting back up to speed and forgeting about the speedo. A motorist caught by a mobile speed trap will be wary on all roads and curb his speed. At least for a while until he forgets about the pain in his wallet.
omniscient, Crawley says...
1:04pm Thu 28 Feb 08
omniscient
Isn't amos frightened of creepy Crawlies?
That Burnley person is as well.
Andrew, Bury says...
1:15pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Sun Tzu wrote:I symapthise with that view to a point. The problem is that you simply cannot replace fixed cameras with traffic cops. Simply not practical. A mix of both seems the only way. Of course if people could drive responsibly....
Traffic cops armed with mobile speed cameras are far more effective than these permanently sited speed cameras. Once motorists are aware of these cameras, they slow down for the trap before getting back up to speed and forgeting about the speedo. A motorist caught by a mobile speed trap will be wary on all roads and curb his speed. At least for a while until he forgets about the pain in his wallet.
I'd like to see more cops on the motorways where stupid driving is more of an issue than speeding imo. Also in 20mph zones which they refuse to enforce presently.
chas, suffolk says...
1:26pm Thu 28 Feb 08
david partington, says...
1:39pm Thu 28 Feb 08
MICK, BOLTON says...
1:46pm Thu 28 Feb 08
We should have the best roads and public transport in the world.
apple, says...
2:35pm Thu 28 Feb 08
donmarg, devon says...
2:43pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Do you lot not think the motorist pays out enough without having to dodge speed cameras police traps ect,
You lot ever noticed a motorist never gets off an offence,
Yet a scrote can have 150 previous taken into consideration and still gets a slap on the wrist ,
This country is shi-- it no longer belongs to the english we have no rights,
Old enochs word echo true like he said it would,
But again no one likes the truth,
Who fought for this country not you lot of feckers it was your grandads and there grandads i bet they are turning in there graves listening to the likes
of rug longford and there cronies,
Roll on armegedon
tosh, says...
4:43pm Thu 28 Feb 08
RagReader, Horwich says...
4:51pm Thu 28 Feb 08
tosh wrote:Certainly not down Markets St.
Try speeding round Westhoughton, Thats why there are no cameras round here, total gridlock.
RagReader, Horwich says...
4:52pm Thu 28 Feb 08
omniscient, Crawley says...
4:53pm Thu 28 Feb 08
RockyReturns, says...
5:17pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Went to the pictures watched the Bank Job.. Good Film.
donmarg, devon says...
5:21pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Are other people not allowed there views apart from the ones from bury and horwich,
What was the saying,
He who is without sin let him cast the first stone,
plenty of you dogooders on here should think of that,
Myself i could not give two hoots what you think time will tell you reap what you sow.
Bill1, Lancs says...
5:23pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Contrary to popular belief, the camera DOES lie.
My father received a NIP saying he was travelling at 48mph in a 30 limit. How many drivers would assume the camera was right and part with their cash and a quarter of their licence? Most, I expect, given that you are not even entitled to see the evidence against you until court proceedings are issued (putting you at risk of additional expense).
My father did not give in, fortunately. The photos, in fact, when examined (once a summons was issued), showed he was doing 24-26mph.
How many other drivers were caught by this faulty camera and paid up?
It is incredibly naive to think that cameras are anything more than a cash cow. They don't catch the real dangerous drivers - all those under the speed limit, but driving blind, drunk, drugged, in dangerous vehicles, etc, etc. But they seem to have rplaced police on the roads.
donmarg, devon says...
5:36pm Thu 28 Feb 08
I myself got a summons for speeding by a speed camera,
What they did not know i have a tracking device which also registers your speed on production of this evidence i was infact only doing 32MPH not 42 as they said so yes they can be wrong,
RockyReturns, says...
5:36pm Thu 28 Feb 08
Bill1 wrote:Absolutely true.
You are assuming, of course that if the camera says you were speeding, then you definitely were.
Contrary to popular belief, the camera DOES lie.
My father received a NIP saying he was travelling at 48mph in a 30 limit. How many drivers would assume the camera was right and part with their cash and a quarter of their licence? Most, I expect, given that you are not even entitled to see the evidence against you until court proceedings are issued (putting you at risk of additional expense).
My father did not give in, fortunately. The photos, in fact, when examined (once a summons was issued), showed he was doing 24-26mph.
How many other drivers were caught by this faulty camera and paid up?
It is incredibly naive to think that cameras are anything more than a cash cow. They don't catch the real dangerous drivers - all those under the speed limit, but driving blind, drunk, drugged, in dangerous vehicles, etc, etc. But they seem to have rplaced police on the roads.
Those guns have been know to measure brick walls travelling at 12mph and bicycles at over 80mph.
Always challenge it.
RockyReturns, says...
5:37pm Thu 28 Feb 08
donmarg wrote:You mean a sat nav?
Bill1 good post the morons on here wont think that way,
I myself got a summons for speeding by a speed camera,
What they did not know i have a tracking device which also registers your speed on production of this evidence i was infact only doing 32MPH not 42 as they said so yes they can be wrong,
Lord Lucan, Somewhere says...
8:49pm Thu 28 Feb 08
This is the great speed camera justification myth. When the figures are properly analysed, typically two-thirds of accidents where "speed is a factor" are actually at speeds WITHIN the speed limit.
Next fact - around 50% of fines are NEVER collected! Why - because of unregistered and foreign drivers who can therefore speed with impunity and are mostly uninsured, taxed or MOT'd: great deterrent eh?
£109,500 revenue raised by 16 speed cameras in Bolton in 2007 alone
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Nev, Bradshaw says...
9:27am Thu 28 Feb 08