§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what authorities are responsible for installing speed cameras(a) on motorways and (b) on other roads; what measures his Department takes to ensure that the appropriate police authorities have time to prepare prosecutions; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this means of curbing speeding. [13041]
§ Mr. BowisHighway authorities are normally responsible for installing the equipment in which the cameras are housed: these are the Highways Agency for motorways and trunk roads, and local authorities for other roads. The police are normally responsible for the purchase and operation of the cameras.
Section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 requires that a summons or notice of intended prosecution must be issued within 14 days of the commission of a speeding or other road traffic offence. It is for individual chief constables to make arrangements to ensure that this requirement is met.
A study by Price Waterhouse of the costs and benefits of traffic light and speed cameras, commissioned by the Home Office, reported in August 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library.