The vans are unable to operate at certain locations that would benefit from a speed camera due to difficulties in finding a safe place to park up.  The new acquisition to the Partnership’s fleet of vehicles allows greater flexibility for deployment.  The Partnership will now be able to enforce speed limits at these problem locations like outside schools during peak traffic periods.

The new motorcycle, a Honda Deauville, is specially adapted to operate the same equipment that is used in the vans.  The LT1 20/20 Ultra Lyte laser speed detection camera is mounted on a pole attached to the back of the motorcycle, while a video recorder and battery are stored in the bike’s panniers.  The fully liveried and conspicuous bike will enforce the speed limit from fixed locations, full details of which can be found on the Partnership’s website: www.safetycamera.org.

Safety cameras have proved an extremely successful means of improving road safety.  Since 2002 safety cameras in South Yorkshire have reduced the number of people killed or seriously injured by 33% per year in the vicinity of camera sites and reduced slight injury casualties by 18%.  The new motorcycle will hopefully reduce casualty numbers on the region’s road even further.

Julian Cotton, Communications Manager for the Partnership, said: “Typically the vans are not able to enforce in specific built up areas where local residents are desperate for action to be taken to slow traffic down or on narrow stretches of road notorious for collisions.  In this new motorcycle, we now have the right tool for the job.  The bike will help the Partnership to continue to improve safety on roads across the region and will be welcomed by local communities where it operates.”

Mary Clayton, Lollipop Lady at St Bede’s Roman Catholic Primary School, was extremely pleased to see the new bike in operation.  “Wortley Road is very busy especially when the children are arriving for school in the morning and as they leave in the afternoon,” she said.

“Vehicles seem to fly round the corner and down the hill making it difficult for the children to cross the road safely.  The new bike already appears to be slowing the traffic down which will make my job easier and prevent the children from being put in danger,” she concluded.

Contact: JULIAN COTTON     Tel: 0114 296 1228

Notes to editors

Fleet of Vehicles

The Partnership operates a total of 12 vehicles.  These include seven mobile enforcement vans, one mobile enforcement motorcycle, two service vans and two unmarked cars for the enquiry section.

Photograph

Children from St Bede’s RC Primary School pictured with the new enforcement motorcycle