History of the Partnership

Speed and red light cameras have been in operation in South Yorkshire since 1993.  In those early days, the cameras and street equipment were all provided and paid for by the local highway authorities out of their own budget.  South Yorkshire Police operated the cameras, both fixed and mobile, and prosecuted offenders. 

The cost of this operation was borne out of the general police budget, and officers were abstracted from other police duties to carry out ‘speed reduction’ duties.  In those days, there was little or no publicity about the presence of the cameras and all fines imposed were paid through the courts to the Government.

There was growing concern at the high level of road collisions and casualties where speed was a factor and, following on from consultation and Government research, in the year 2000, eight areas in the UK were selected to ‘pilot’ a new scheme to be called the ‘Safety Camera Partnerships’.

The partnerships comprise Local Authorities, Highways Agency, Magistrates' Courts, and Police.  The difference with the new scheme was that, to allow for the provision of additional staff and equipment to operate the scheme without it becoming a financial burden for the partners, all authorised operating costs and expenses could be claimed back from the Government out of the fine revenue ("Netting Off").  The results from these pilot areas was astounding – across the board at camera sites, they recorded a reduction of persons killed or seriously injured by 35%, a reduction of 14% in personal injury collisions, and a drop in average speed by 10%.  It was therefore decided to ‘roll out’ the scheme to other areas of the UK.

Thus, in April 2002, the South Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership was born.  The number of fixed cameras, and areas where mobile cameras operate was increased, but everything possible was done to persuade the motorist to drive within the speed limit - the fixed speed cameras were painted yellow and positioned so that they could easily be seen, and signs were erected identifying areas where cameras were operated.  The mobile units, although clearly marked, were made even more visible to raise the profile of the Partnership.  Of course, cameras should be a last resort after other engineering and traffic calming measures have been considered.  There is no intention to raise revenue, as some would believe.  A camera that slows traffic down and detects no offences but reduces casualties is a successful one.  The Partnership also educates the public with high profile communications campaign intended to encourage motorists to drive or ride safely.

From April 2007, the Partnership was no longer be funded by ‘Netting Off’ revenue from local speeding and red light fines.  Local authorities receive additional funding for road safety through the Local Transport Plan process.  It’s this additional funding which is used to finance the Partnership’s operations.  The new financing arrangements mean safety cameras become better integrated into the county’s wider road safety issues.  It also, once and for all, removes the myth that cameras are only placed on roads to catch people and raise money – the number of fixed penalty notices issued has no bearing on how the Partnership operates. 

Safety cameras simply operate on roads where there is a history of serious road collisions.  Speeding is a major contributory factor in road casualties on South Yorkshire’s roads and accordingly cameras act as a preventative measure encouraging motorists to travel at the appropriate speed.

The majority of the public support the scheme because, road collisions apart, speeding vehicles are a constant source of danger and annoyance to everyone.

Every year inappropriate speed kills or injures over 100,000 people... Know your limits.

SLOW DOWN - DRIVE SAFELY - SAVE LIVES