Plans to tackle speeding drivers in Birmingham come under fire - here's why

The Labour-run authority declared a road safety emergency last summer as deep concern over the number of people killed or seriously injured on the city’s roads continued to escalate.

Nine months after the emergency was first declared, the council recently shared its ‘road harm reduction strategy’ – described as a “blueprint for safer roads across Birmingham”.

“We need a new approach to respond to this road safety emergency, driving down harm and making our roads and streets safer for all users,” Councillor Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for transport, wrote.

He added that the city council would act by removing the majority of motor vehicles from local streets in residential areas while also investing in both neighbourhoods and certain road ‘corridors’.

There will also be reduced speed limits; greater focus on public transport and action to crack down on issues such as street racing and pavement parking.

Councillor Mahmood also said an investment of £10 million has been provisionally allocated towards the “consolidation and expansion” of average speed enforcement cameras in Birmingham, among other actions.

But the strategy makes clear that the “widespread use” of camera enforcement was not “affordable or practical”.

Road safety plan criticised

The council’s plan came under fire during a cabinet meeting yesterday, (Tuesday March 18), which saw opposition councillors argue that not enough is being done to address a particularly pressing problem.

Councillor Roger Harmer, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “In Birmingham, we have a particular cultural problem that it’s okay to drive at speed, that it’s okay to run red lights.

“That is a common experience – something you expect every time you go out on the road. We have to address that culture.”

Councillor Robert Alden, leader of the Conservatives at the council, echoed similar concerns, saying: “It’s a cultural issue where some people think it’s acceptable to ignore the rules of the road.

“This plan does not deal with that.”

He went on to claim that the strategy focuses on “targeting law-abiding motorists” through its plans to remove the majority of motor vehicles from local streets.

“It doesn’t focus on enforcement against the people who are actually placing lives at risk,” he said.

Coun Mahmood agreed that motorists running red lights is something that needs to be tackled and referred to the ‘Record, Report, Result’ campaign which was launched by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster.

It encourages residents to send police their footage of careless and dangerous driving in the region.

“I’m more than happy to have a conversation with [Mr Foster] about whether it would also be possible to also include reporting drivers who are going through red lights,” Coun Mahmood said.

He continued: “The bulk of the money within the report will be for the average speed cameras which is about tackling bad driving, including speeding.”

Coun Mahmood also said there has been “additional partnership enforcement” since the road safety emergency was declared.

He added that he would have preferred the report on the road harm reduction strategy to be published sooner but explained it had to go through a number of processes.

What does the strategy say about camera enforcement?

Coun Mahmood said in the strategy that enforcement needs to be targeted to busy classified roads and strategic locations.

“In all other places, reduction of vehicular traffic volume and speed will be key,” he said.

The ‘classified road network’ comprises of designated A and B class roads, which have the busiest traffic flows in Birmingham.

The strategy continued that the costs of camera enforcement typically exceeded the revenues generated by fines.

“In this context, the widespread use of cameras to enforce speeding and moving traffic contraventions is not economically viable,” it said. ” Even the most ‘active’ cameras require ongoing revenue support to remain operational.”

“Speed enforcement cameras will only be deployed on the busiest classified roads in the city, where evidence suggests speeding and other antisocial driving behaviours cause consistent road harm risk,” it added.

At all other locations, the council says it will invest in infrastructure and use the Healthy Streets Approach, which champions good street design and proactive maintenance.

Martin Price and Cath Palgrave, co-chairs of campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham, said the new strategy “replaces an antiquated approach to road safety that has not delivered for residents”.

”We are pleased that the council are investing a further £10m in actions such as additional enforcement cameras as part of their rollout,” they said.

“In addition to enforcement, every street in the city needs a rethink in order to make them safe for everybody. This is no mean feat.

”This strategy must be the line in the sand for our city – however, the proof will be in the delivery.”

Cabinet members agreed to adopt the strategy during the meeting on Tuesday, March 18.