'Smarter' speed cameras are set to be installed and turned on a number of roads in the region. Improved digital cameras fitted with cutting-edge technology are popping up on roads in Staffordshire, replacing older ones in an effort to make roads safer and catch more drivers.
An initial 20 cameras are being replaced or upgraded across the county, though Staffordshire Police has not yet disclosed the exact locations. New cameras have been spotted on main roads around Stoke-on-Trent.
A big change with the new equipment means they will no longer have to rely on road markings, as has traditionally been the case. Digital equipment will replace the current fixed safety cameras, making it quicker to capture and receive images of those who travel above the speed limit.
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Exact dates for new cameras to be switched on have not been announced but it's expected over the coming days and weeks. Locations to rollout the new technology have been chosen "based on long-term data which confirms that the cameras have been very effective in reducing road traffic collisions", senior officers say.
It will use a radar device to accurately measure the speed of each vehicle that passes the camera. The cameras will automatically send high-quality images of any vehicles exceeding the speed limit to the enforcement team.
The changes will serve as a warning to drivers when on Staffordshire's main roads. Inspector Mark Joynson, of the force’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Speed limits are really important for road safety as the speed a vehicle travels at is a major contributor to the outcome if someone is involved in a road traffic collision.
“The installation of the new technology will make it easier to check speeds across Staffordshire and we hope they will provide a visual reminder of the work we do every day to keep all road users as safe as possible.”
