SAFETYCAM PROJECT

SafetyCam improves driver behaviour in local communities

A1 WENTBRIDGE VIADUCT

SafetyCam was deployed in several villages in West Yorkshire to minimise the effect of traffic leaving the strategic road network on diversion routes and rat-runs due to the nearby A1 Wentbridge Viaduct scheme.

Shortly after essential repairs to the Wentbridge Viaduct commenced in September 2023, National Highways began to receive complaints about additional traffic speeding through nearby communities. With queuing times of around 30 minutes at peak times to get through the contraflow, drivers were using their own initiative to make up for lost time.

Liaison with parish councils in the area revealed that extensive signage advising ‘local access only’ and ‘no access for HGVs’ was not solving the issue, and the police were unable to provide a comprehensive presence in the area, but a way of improving the behaviour of drivers using these routes was required. Something that would improve road safety and lessen the impact of works on local communities…

word Gets around

National Highways requested Carnell provide a SafetyCam vehicle to be deployed for 12 hours a day and rotated between seven villages. The effect of these conspicuous vehicles was immediate, with enquiries from local press, and social media posts created warning of ‘sneaky speed vans in Badsworth, Darrington and Thorpe Audlin’. One such post was shared more than 8,400 times, as word got around that you couldn’t speed through the villages!

Unlike static speed cameras which drivers can easily learn the locations, SafetyCam is able to set-up in several places in a shift, meaning drivers frequently using the local roads are more likely to slow down for their entire journey.

National Highways Project Manager John Stebbing received further requests from residents and parish councils for the presence of SafetyCam in their communities, with John saying, “It is a good deterrent, and residents are pleased with it.”

Collaboration with West Yorkshire Police (Safety Camera Partnership) and North Yorkshire Police provided a joint enforcement approach because of their “fear an RTC may occur with serious consequences due to the roads being unlit, lots of winding bends and the unknown locations to the drivers.”

Data collected by SafetyCam was shared, and the police were able to temporarily put their safety camera vans in hotspots and enforce speed and weight limit restrictions.

In total 3.4 million vehicles were recorded going past SafetyCam in between October 2023 and November 2024. The visual deterrent of SafetyCam providing compliance with the speed limits and a significant contribution to safer roads and communities.

Customer and Equality Impact Assessment

The use of SafetyCam on the A1 Wentbridge is a best-practice Customer approach which aligns with, and in some cases pre-empted, official National Highways guidance…

From 1 January 2025, all National Highways schemes must implement the new Customer and Equality Impact Assessment process. From Stage 0 all the way to scheme completion, the needs of customers should be considered by all partners.

Deploying SafetyCam on diversion routes and rat-runs provides benefits for at least three of the six key impact areas which are:

Impact of works on local community.
Impact of diversions / closures on local road users.
Impact of diversions / closures on non-motorised users.

Benefits

Safety

Reduced speed of vehicles travelling through the local communities.
Increased safety of non-motorised users.
Less stress for motorists adhering to speed limits.

Customer

Reduced noise and disruption for residents from speeding HGVs.
Developing better relationships. ‘Our [National Highways] customers, communities and stakeholders will know who we are and what we do. We will listen to them and understand what they want and need.’

Delivery

Bridge works undertaken without interruptions – Several National Highways schemes have been stopped due to interventions by local councils because of diversion route and rat-run issues.
Collaboration with police forces to make best use of public funding.

Carnell received dozens of calls and e-mails from drivers enquiring about the purpose of SafetyCam in the area, and several locals were pleased to provide feedback including:

“I had a very friendly encounter with [SafetyCam Operative] in Darrington, West Yorkshire today. Very friendly, happy to give information about the work they were doing in conjunction with National Highways. Very commendable attitude and a credit to your company”

Local Resident

“When the vans there it’s incredible how respectful the drivers are when coming through the village. Has a chat to the driver and he was very informative.”

Local Resident

“Really good to see these vans in Darrington. Far too many speed through the village Darrington and lorrie’s over the weight limit coming through too.”

Local Resident

Civil Engineering

Drainage Surveys

Technology & Lighting

Filter Drain Recycling

Safety Barrier & Fencing

SafetyCam Solutions

Bridges & Structures

SAFETYCAM PROJECT

SafetyCam improves driver behaviour in local communities

word Gets around

Collaboration with West Yorkshire Police (Safety Camera Partnership) and North Yorkshire Police provided a joint enforcement approach because of their “fear an RTC may occur with serious consequences due to the roads being unlit, lots of winding bends and the unknown locations to the drivers.”

Data collected by SafetyCam was shared, and the police were able to temporarily put their safety camera vans in hotspots and enforce speed and weight limit restrictions.

In total 3.4 million vehicles were recorded going past SafetyCam in between October 2023 and November 2024. The visual deterrent of SafetyCam providing compliance with the speed limits and a significant contribution to safer roads and communities.

Customer and Equality Impact Assessment

Benefits

ABOUT CARNELL

OUR INNOVATIONS

OUR Capabilities

FIND OUT MORE

OUR POLICIES & CERTS