Speeding is a major factor in road safety, contributing to 727 deaths in 2007.
Traffic calming measures are available to local highway authorities to reduce vehicle speeds on their roads. It is for the local authority to decide which measure would be the most effective in achieving safe and appropriate vehicle speeds in their area based on their knowledge of the local road network.
The Department for Transport provides guidance to local highways authorities on a wide range of traffic calming measures designed to reduce vehicle speeds in a variety of circumstances. The Department’s latest technical guidance on traffic calming, Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/07 Traffic Calming, was published in March 2007. This provides local authorities with advice on the design and use of traffic calming measures and brings together in one comprehensive document a summary of relevant research.
[holding answer 3 February 2009]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart) on 28 January 2009, Official Report, columns 537-38W. It should be noted that separate information for Southend is not held.
[holding answer 3 February 2009]: The Department for Transport has not assessed the effectiveness of speed cameras in improving road safety in Southend. However, cameras operated by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership under the National Safety Camera Programme which ended on 31 March 2007 have proved to be very effective. Fatal casualties decreased by an average of 43 per cent. at fixed camera sites and killed or seriously injured casualties decreased by an average of 51 per cent. At mobile camera sites fatal casualties reduced by 42 per cent. and killed or seriously injured casualties decreased by an average of 22 per cent.