Transport Crucible . com

Protagonists of road humps and other physical traffic calming measures had until now rejected or ignored claims over many years that such measures have serious adverse side-effects on emergency services response times and pollution in residential areas. See recent report on air quality damage here and BBC news of problems from 2003, including noise from humps . But the latest news re-asserts criticisms that were previously vigorously brushed aside – namely that road humps can; “kill hundreds of ambulance patients each year” , unnecessarily cut police response times and damage emergency service vehicles – and that noise and air pollution are increased as car drivers are forced into patterns of deceleration and acceleration to achieve average speeds of 20 mph. As Ben Webster of the Times reports, “The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found that air pollution rose significantly on roads with humps. CO2 increased by 82% and nitrogen oxide (NOX) by 37%”. Webster also reports the hitherto regularly ignored and rejected claim by the London Ambulance Service that “humps cost lives because its crews are delayed in reaching cardiac arrest victims”. However, TC notes that the latest ‘news’ of these old objections just happens to have coincided with ‘type approval’ for for the SPECS 3 average speed camera system which is a high-tec and potentially high revenue generating alternative to humps. The workings of which are explained here and the ‘advantages’ here . And the link between government approval of a penalty fine issuing speed camera alternative to road humps – and long resisted admissions of their shortcomings is established by erstwhile fans of road humps including Green Party GLA member Jenny Jones. Jones is now supporting the spread of average speed cameras to enforce 20 mph limits throughout most streets in London. But as Webster reveals, Jones now acknowledges that one advantage of the speed cams over humps is that they would “reduce emissions”. COST ISSUES The cost of these cameras systems is, nevertheless, the basis for a whole new set of concerns. Prices for a SPECS 3 camera start at £150K per pair. But TC is told that the sums required to cover large areas of residential streets – as envisaged by Jones & Co in the capital – could easily run into £millions. Nevertheless, TC also notes that there may be no need for local authorities to worry about such seemingly massive drains on their coffers. As Quentin Wilson reported recently, a ‘confidential report’ reveals that SPECS camera systems could monitor, “31,000 miles of road at a cost of £443million” (!) However, the report goes on to say that this could be recouped in two years – because just one pair of specs cameras in Notts generated an impressive £4.2million surplus in just five years. A penny for your thoughts, as they say!