The camera itself is carried in a police van and is used to enforce both directions of the 40mph dual carriageway between the QMC roundabout and Dunkirk flyover.
One taxi driver, Mark Limb who works for Cloud Cars, in Arboretum Street, Nottingham, said the speed trap was well known to drivers who use the route regularly. "The camera is normally there as you go over the flyover near the slip road for the QMC. Considering how busy the road is I am surprised people get the chance to speed. There are normally traffic jams in that area. I think it is just money-making because the speed limit changes on top of the flyover from 50mph to 40mph. The camera itself has been there for six or seven years and it is well known but I don't think it is needed because it is a dual carriageway and they are usually 60mph anyway."
These figueres were taken from insurance company LV who a few days ago released a list showing the top 10 highest earning speed cameras in the UK. LV had asked Nottinghamshire Police and Nottingham City Council how much money the speed camera generated but they both said they could not say how much cash the Clifton Boulevard camera made. The estimate of over £100,00 is made because the camera below it in the list (eighth place) operated by Surrey Police, caught 4,530 drivers and made £126,260. The most lucrative camera is on the M60 and operated by Greater Manchester police, that camera made £189,140.
The research showed that police forces across the country handed out almost 400,000 fixed penalty notices for speeding and 73,944 court summons last year, meaning motorists paid £22 million in fines. This figure doesnt even include those who got the chance to take a speed awareness course to avoid paying a fine or receiving points.
General secretary Keith Peat, of East Midlands-based Drivers' Union, said: "When you get a high-offender site like this something is wrong with the road – such as the speed limit being incorrect or the layout is wrong. The police believe that we are all actually naughty boys and girls but that is not true, you have to look in more detail. Not many people go out to purposely break the law but what causes speeding is when the limit is incorrectly set for that road." The Institute of Advanced Motorists agrees that there is an issue with the road but has a slightly different view on why. Head of driving standards Peter Rodger said: "Speed cameras well used are a good thing but with so many people being caught like this it tells us there is a problem here. Because so many are being caught the camera is not working and something else needs to be done to slow down the traffic. Something else should be done whether it is changing the road or something else."
Dave Nichols, spokesman for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "It is shocking to see so many Nottingham drivers taking needless, dangerous risks by speeding on the A52. Evidence shows that speed cameras are a highly effective way to reduce speeding traffic, which is crucial in making our roads safer and preventing needless tragedies. We urge all drivers to stay within the limits, and if you don't speed, you won't get caught or fined."
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "There are fixed speed cameras along that stretch of road and because drivers know to expect them, they are effective in keeping speed down. This mobile camera is stationed outside of that zone and there are drivers who have gone past the fixed cameras, speed up again in anticipation that they will get away with it, which is why this particular camera has caught so many. Speed limits are the legal limit, not a guideline. By breaking the limit, you break the law. We don't want people slowing down to pass the cameras before racing off."
Source NottinghamPost
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