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There are clear guidelines covering where and how safety cameras should be placed, and measures to be taken to ensure drivers are aware of them. It is a responsibility of each safety camera partnership to ensure that the location details of fixed cameras are available to both the public and local media.
In December 2001 additional guidelines were introduced insisting that all safety cameras within the Safety Camera Funding Scheme should be bright yellow to ensure maximum visibility. Full details of the guidelines can be found in Press Notice 517 issued 3 December 2001.
Prominence of fixed site enforcement cameras (including digital cameras):
The camera housings in most circumstances should be yellow. No alternative colours will be accepted. However, if for any reason highway authorities consider that there are special circumstances, for example in areas of outstanding natural beauty, then exceptions can be considered.
Visibility of fixed site enforcement cameras (including digital cameras):
All camera housings (existing and new) should be visible to road users and not obscured behind bridges, signs, trees or bushes. The minimum visibility distance should be 60 metres where the speed limit is 40 mph or less and 100 metres for all other limits.
Visibility of Mobile enforcement sites:
Camera operatives at the mobile camera sites should wear fluorescent clothing and abide by all Health and Safety requirements. Vehicles should be clearly marked as camera enforcement vehicles with reflective strips (uniquely identifying them as speed camera enforcement vehicles). Covert operations can in exceptional circumstances be allowed but must be recorded by the partnership.
Signing:
Camera warning and speed limit reminder signs must be placed in advance of fixed or mobile speed enforcement taking place. Ideally these should be placed within 1 km of fixed camera housings and at the beginning of a targeted route for mobile enforcement sites. Signs must only be placed in areas where camera housings are present or along routes where mobile enforcement will be targeted.
Communications:
The location of both fixed and mobile cameras should be well publicised via local web-sites, public sector announcements on radio stations and in local newspapers.
Sign design:
Signs must comply with those specified in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions or specially authorised by DfT.
Site review:
Each site must be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that conditions on prominence, visibility and signing have not changed or do not require alteration.
The national Safety Camera Programme provides financial support for the operation of speed and red light cameras, from fixed fines paid by offenders.
Safety cameras help reduce collisions, casualties and deaths on the roads, by encouraging drivers and riders to keep within speed limits. Safety cameras are located at locations with known problems of speed-related collisions, and at traffic lights with known problems of drivers jumping red lights.
Safety cameras complement other measures to improve road safety, including physical measures to make roads safer, introduction of 20 mph and home zones, and public information programmes.
If your area is not listed below then there is currently no safety camera partnership for your region.
Association of British Drivers http://www.abd.org.uk/
Highways Agency http://www.highways.gov.uk/
THINK road safety http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
Brake - the road safety charity http://www.brake.org.uk/
RoadPeace UK National Charity for Road Crash Victims http://www.roadpeace.org/
RoSPA http://www.rospa.co.uk/
Institute of Advanced Motorists http://www.iam.org.uk/
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