Lib Dem pressure followed by action on road safety

Birmingham Liberal Democrats welcome the announcement that work is now to finally  start on installing Birmingham's first three sites for moving traffic offence cameras. This  announcement came after the submission of the Liberal Democrat Motion for Full  Council last Thursday calling for this much delayed plan to be delivered. However, they  argue that more needs to be done and at a much faster pace.  

The moving traffic offence camera trial was approved by Birmingham's Labour Cabinet  in December 2022. Since then, and despite 82% support from a Be Heard Council  consultation, and the subsequent declaration of a Road Safety Emergency over a year  ago, nothing was done.  

This lack of action for over 2.5 years was called out in the Lib Dem Motion for September's  Full Council. Just a day later the plans to implement the trial were finally announced, but  with a reduction of sites from 6 to 3. 

Birmingham Liberal Democrats recognise improving road safety as one of the top  priorities for the people of Birmingham. Speeding and dangerous driving remains a major  problem in the City and progress since the declaration of a Road Safety Emergency, has  been way too slow. This has been highlighted by the work of Better Streets for  Birmingham. A study they ran in September 2023 at 21 junctions in the City showed red  lights were run early one in three times the lights changed to red, or once every 4 minutes  and 41 seconds. Moving traffic offence cameras could have been used to help tackle this  issue, but the past two years have been wasted. 

Birmingham Lib Dem Group Leader Roger Harmer said: 

“The Council needs to introduce bold and effective steps to address the Road Safety  Emergency at scale and without further delays. Sadly, as opposed to the original plan  adopted in 2022 to introduce 6 sites, only 3 locations are now proposed. In a City the size  of Birmingham this is way too few and more sites need to be developed as a matter of  urgency.”