Organisation: Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership
Date uploaded: 22nd July 2010
Date published/launched: October 2009
The Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership's camera vans began enforcing mobile phone and seat belt offences in October 2009.
If a passenger is seen not wearing a seat belt the registered keeper will have to name the person committing the offence.
Boards have been erected at camera sites to give motorists advanced warning of the additional enforcement activity.
Anyone exempt from wearing a seat belt can state this on the request for driver information and, if relevant, send a copy of their exemption certificate.
The four main factors in collisions that end in serious consequences are speeding, being distracted (for example talking on the telephone), not wearing a seat belt and drink driving. The use of camera vans will help address three out of these four factors.
Roadside surveys carried out in Kent showed that one in 10 motorists were not wearing a seat belt, and around 1% of drivers were using a mobile phone (the actual figure is likely to be higher).
Independent market research found that 89% of Kent and Medway residents support safety cameras enforcing mobile phone and seat belt offences as well as speed.
This activity is in addition to the enforcement already carried out by Kent police officers.
For more information contact:
Katherine Barrett
Many partnerships now operate additional enforcement using mobile camera vans but Kent & Medway have gone one step forward by providing signage to highlight that additional enforcement is being carried out. This step adds to the general deterrence of enforcement and can only be a good thing. I would suggest that this is an area other partnership could replicate. Partnerships often get accused of only enforcing speed even though this is generally not the case. Kent & ‘Medway’s stance shows that to be wrong.