The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, have secured overwhelming support from 33 senior leaders across policing, local government and road safety partnerships to call for an urgent review of the UK’s speed enforcement system.
In a joint letter issued to Government this week, leaders are demanding a West Midlands led trial that would see all road safety related fixed penalty fine revenue retained locally to be reinvested directly into preventing and tackling careless, dangerous and reckless driving and reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Currently, millions of pounds from road safety related fixed penalty fines go straight to the Treasury, diverted away from the area where the crime is committed.
Meanwhile, local police, councils and road safety partnerships are left to shoulder the cost of installing, running and enforcing speed camera schemes. Many of these are running at a loss – despite evidence that they prevent collisions, reduce the number of people being killed and seriously injured and deliver major community safety benefits.
Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said:
“Preventing and tackling careless, dangerous and reckless driving and reducing the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads is a top priority.
“The current system is broken and unsustainable. That is why the Mayor and I, together with 33 other leaders across policing, government and road safety partnerships, are calling on the Government to allow local areas to use road safety related fixed penalty fine revenue, to be reinvested back into making our roads safer.
“Offenders – not law-abiding drivers and taxpayers – should bear the cost of enforcement. This is about saving lives, preventing and tackling crime, careless, dangerous and reckless driving and building safer communities for everyone.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, is also backing the PCC’s call to Government, adding:
“Too many lives are lost or ruined on our roads which is why improving road safety is a priority for me.
“The money collected from speeding and other motoring fines should be reinvested right here in the West Midlands to save lives. Let’s keep those funds local and put them toward making our roads safer and creating a transport system that works better for everyone.”
The joint letter, signed by PCCs, Combined Authorities, Chief Constables, council leaders and road safety organisations, makes clear that the current enforcement model is unsustainable.
(Pic: Yay Images)
