24-7 enforcement of speed limits

2025.03.18

4.15   Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier of the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs regarding technology to provide 24/7enforcement of speed limits (OQ.57/2025):

Will the Minister advise what progress has been made on introducing the necessary technology to provide 24/7 enforcement of speed limits and what legislative changes, if any, would be required in order for it to be deployed?

The Deputy Bailiff :

Is there an Assistant Minister?

Connétable R.P. Vibert of St. Peter (Assistant Minister for Justice and Home Affairs -

rapporteur):

I thank the Constable of St. Helier for that question. The procurement process for the safety cameras has been complex but production is now underway with parts being manufactured in Australia and America and then assembled in Southampton. The equipment is expected to be delivered in Jersey and to be ready for deployment later this year. It is important to note that the purpose of the safety cameras and the current States of Jersey Police speed detection equipment is not for 24/7 enforcement but rather to enhance road safety and respond to specific needs. I understand that the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law as currently drafted would allow for the operation of this new speed detection device. It is a new innovation which has proved successful in other areas. If the operational requirements require 24/7 enhancement of speed limits at some point in the future, then we will work with our colleague, the Minister for Infrastructure, to ensure that the law is sufficient to permit that activity. Thank you.

1. The Connétable of St. Helier :

I am interested that the Assistant Minister does not believe that 24/7 enforcement is necessary. This is surely something that a lot of Islanders would not agree with given that the Island's roads are used as a speedway by a minority of drivers and would it not make sense to send out the message that: "We will catch you whatever time of day you choose to go at", whatever it is, 50, 60 miles an hour, around our Island roads?

The Connétable of St. Peter :

Thank you for that additional question. I think we should look at the success of the equipment that has been introduced before we consider 24/7 enforcement. It is targeted specifically at those drivers. I am not going into too many details about exactly how it operates because obviously that would give a clue to some of these drivers and they might try to avoid the detection devices. The equipment certainly will operate late at night and it will target those areas where we know this activity is undertaken.

2. Deputy I. Gardiner :

Would the Minister advise how much of the police time the safety cameras will save? The Connétable of St. Peter :

I am sorry, I do not have that information; this is not an area where I have delegated responsibility. I have some interest in this area but I am sure we can obtain that information.

3. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier North :

Would the Assistant Minister ask the Minister to supply this information to the Assembly, including how much time currently is spent by the police for policing roads?

The Connétable of St. Peter :

I am not sure that is relevant to the original question. It seems to be a deviation from what was asked. The Deputy Bailiff :

Yes, that is true.

The Connétable of St. Peter :

Therefore, I do not think it is necessary to answer that.

4. Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade :

I am fascinated that there is going to be an amnesty on speeding if you commit it during certain times and I look forward to finding out more about that. On the Five Mile Road this weekend I noticed that the police were out in force, both at Le Braye and at St. Ouen , and you could see them a mile off - probably, I am not saying 5 miles off - and it was also helped that the local bus driver was flashing people to let them know that there was a speed trap coming up ahead, at which point I had to increase my speed from 30 to 40 so I was not seen to be driving too slowly and maybe get pulled over. Given the fact that often people can see police checks a mile ahead, does the Minister think that it would be better to have probably mobile cameras which can be moved around so people do not always know where they are going to be and that ultimately this will be a saving, both in terms of efficiency, and hopefully a sufficient deterrent as well for speeding in future?

The Connétable of St. Peter :

That was a lengthy question; I thought it was a speech but maybe I was mistaken. There is no amnesty suggested at all in anything that I said and this particular equipment can be deployed at any time in a 24-hour period. As I have said, I do not think that we should provide details because it is an innovation. I believe it will be successful and I think we should wait to see the results.

5. Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf of St. Saviour :

As Members will be aware, I was caught speeding - and I am very sorry, I will be making an apology to the Assembly about that - but I realise now that speeding is an issue, a greater issue than perhaps I realised previously. I share the questioner's reason for asking this and the Constable's attempts to deal with something about it. Would he agree that drivers themselves can do something about their own speed limits, for example, having a bell in the it is available on G.P.S. (Global Positioning System) where you can - with the different speed limits across our Island, it is geofenced to the different roads - have a clear indication in your car that you are speeding and you can be alerted to those issues. Would he agree that that is the kind of also complimentary thing - notwithstanding the undesirability of people speeding at night at speed - people can do for themselves helpfully?

The Connétable of St. Peter :

Yes, I think anything that can influence motorists to reduce their speed should be taken up. I think many cars do provide you can have an audible or a message that tells you that you are speeding. Most cars I think would provide that anyway but of course it is up to the driver whether they use it or not. I think driver education, particularly for those people who have been caught speeding, should be useful. I know this is done in other jurisdictions where people have to go on a course after being prosecuted for speeding and I think that is something that we should consider.

[12:00]

6. The Connétable of St. Helier :

The Assistant Minister said "later this year"; it is quite a long way. Could he give us a bit more detail about when it will be deployed?

The Connétable of St. Peter :

I am sorry, but I do not have an exact date. As I say, parts for the manufacture of this have come from Australia and America and require assembly in Southampton. At this point, although I tried to obtain a date this morning, I do not have a definite date other than we can expect it to be deployed later this year.