This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
STATES OF JERSEY
MOBILE SPEED CAMERAS (P.91/2020): AMENDMENT (P.91/2020 AMD.) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 17th September 2020 by the Minister for Infrastructure
STATES GREFFE
2020 P.91 Amd.Com.
COMMENTS
Road Safety is an important subject, and inappropriate speed is a contributory factor in numerous collisions each year. Over the most recent 5 years of data, collisions where speed is likely to have been a factor have injured over 120 people, leaving some families to deal with life-changing consequences. It has also cost the economy over 8 million pounds; by any measure this is unacceptable. The risk of killing a pedestrian at 40mph is roughly twice the risk at 30mph and 5 times that at 20mph.
Like the Connétable of St John, the Minister for Infrastructure receives numerous complaints about speeding traffic. When these concerns are investigated, the problem frequently lies with a small number of motorists driving excessively fast whilst the vast majority try to stick to the rules. Traffic Engineers support the police, where possible, with data and analysis to aid enforcement; however, often the speeding is spaced out over the day or nomadic moving around to avoid enforcement, making targeting police time impossible. Regrettably, enforcement cannot currently be more focussed and is perceived to target those drivers who momentarily drift over the limit unintentionally rather than addressing the real problem.
Introducing speed cameras will be challenging. It is understood that it is not the intention of this proposition to bring in Fixed Penalty Notices to deal with the vast numbers of drivers who could be identified speeding. There will need to be measures to ensure the limited capacity of Parish Hall Enquiries is used to target the most dangerous drivers travelling far in excess of the speed limit. Legislation will also need to be updated so that registered owners of vehicles are required to inform the police who was driving at the time the offence was detected. If this proposition is supported, these measures can be developed and the required legislation brought forward.
Whilst the Minister for Infrastructure administers the law, he does so on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs and the parishes who are responsible for carrying out enforcement. Thus if those responsible for enforcement now wish to have the ability to use Speed Cameras in their work, the Minister for Infrastructure is happy to support them.
Financial and resource implications
Agreeing the wording of any new law will take law officer time. Financially the cost of purchasing and operating cameras will fall to the police forces using them.
Page - 2
P.91/2020.Amd.Com.