Frodsham and Helsby’s speed camera on the A56 has been shifted ever so slightly – and it catches fewer than two drivers every week.
An ‘effective deterrent’ to speeders according to police, the trap has moved a matter of metres up Chester Road as it goes through a digital upgrade.
A Freedom of Information request submitted to Cheshire Constabulary found it caught 78 motorists between April 2014 and April 2015.
The camera, which enforces the 40mph speed limit, was recently moved by council officers and now stands just past the Helsby sign near Helsby High School.
Cheshire West and Chester Council said this was because it was being upgraded from wet film to digital and so could no longer be placed on a bend.
Cheshire Police said they were pleased with the ‘relatively low’ number of people caught by the camera and the figures supported it working as a deterrent.
A spokesman said: “Speed cameras are an effective tool to encourage motorists to slow down and adhere to the speed limit of the road.
“They are not placed on any road, but on those that would benefit the most and improve safety for all road users.
“In the case of the camera on the A56 it is encouraging to see the figures are relatively low, and this indicates that the camera is doing its job as an effective deterrent to speeding.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure habitual compliance on all of the county’s roads, and motorists are reminded to adhere to the speed limits at all times.”
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Records dating further back despite the A56 camera’s longer life could not been found because of a ‘system change’ at Cheshire Police.
The constabulary also recently purchased 16 mobile speed enforcement devices. Officers and PCSOs have been running speed checks using the new equipment on other roads in Frodsham and Helsby as well as the wider borough.
Drivers caught speeding face a minimum £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence, with money generated paid to the courts system and government.
Cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure councillor Brian Clarke said: “Safety cameras have been shown to play an important part in helping to achieve reductions in road casualties.
“The investment covers the cost of buying new cameras and upgrading or replacing the existing poles and housings, as well as improving the systems needed to process the detected offences.
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“The new digital system will ultimately reduce costs but, more importantly, will improve reliability, which means they’ll contribute further towards keeping our roads safe.”
The Cheshire Road Safety Group are in charge of the camera, which was initially installed because the a stretch of road had a ‘history of recorded injury collisions, evidence of excessive speed’.
What do you think of this story? Do you think the speed camera on the A56 is effective? Let us know in the comments below.
