Hull City Council, Humberside Police and Safer Roads Humber will be undertaking a programme of education and enforcement activity at an East Hull junction, this September, to help reduce accidents and improve safety.
Earlier this summer, four red light enforcement cameras were installed on the approaches to the Holderness Road and Mount Pleasant junction, using £240,000 of funding from Safer Roads Humber.
The scheme is expected to reduce crashes at the junction, which is consistently in the top five worst-performing junctions within Hull for recorded personal injury collisions.
Over the past five years there have been 23 recorded collisions, eight of which were because of “disobeying automatic traffic signal”.
While securing the necessary Government licences as well as minor snagging work on site and testing and calibration of the equipment has meant no enforcement over the past two months, the presence of the cameras has already reduced incidents.
The technology also incorporates ‘speed on green’ enforcement to tackle drivers who travel through the junction in excess of the speed limit.
Enforcement will now begin on Monday 16 September. The council, working in partnership with the police and Safer Roads Humber, is also planning a series of roadside education and enforcement events near to the junction to advise cyclists of the need to adhere to, and obey, traffic signals and ride in accordance with the law.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways at Hull City Council, said: “Working with our partners, the council is committed to improving road safety in the city for the benefit of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and all members of the travelling public.
“These new cameras will enforce traffic rules and deter people from running red lights and putting themselves and others at risk. It is very important that all people, no matter what mode of transport they are using, follow the Highway Code when out and about on the city’s network.
“Installing red light enforcement cameras on dangerous junctions is an effective way to reduce the number of collisions and injuries on the road and will make the junction safer for everyone as well as supporting the council to deliver on the objectives within its community plan, including developing safe and welcoming neighbourhoods.”
Ian Robertson, partnership manager at Safer Roads Humber, said: “The partnership is pleased to work closely with Hull City Council on this project and has provided the funding for the new cameras.
“Motorists need to always obey traffic lights and, where possible, we will try to offer education courses to those detected on the camera equipment to help them understand the importance of this.
“Drivers who go through a red light or speed on a green light are risking the lives of other road users and this is not acceptable.
“In addition, the neighbourhood policing team will be speaking to cyclists at the roadside and just like the motorist they will be offering education or, where necessary, enforcement for those going through a red traffic light.
“We urge everyone to drive safely and appropriately at all times, as we all have a part to play in reducing the number of people injured on our roads.”
Installation of the technology was completed in June by a specialist contractor who will continue maintenance and calibration of the equipment for a further six years.