Night-vision drones helping catch dangerous drivers in London

Police in London have launched a ground-breaking new trial that uses drones to catch speeding drivers.

Officers claim the millitary grade drones that have night-vision capability, are able to catch dangerous drivers along some of the capital’s busiest routes.

According to Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police have been using drone technology in London skies from July – the first initiative of its kind in the UK.

The drone that cost a massive £80,000 is being used on major routes where speeding offences are more common, It has a top speed of 30mph and can follow cars for up to 50 minutes..

Police say the drone, which can work at both higher and lower altitudes, is being used to identify only those travelling at dangerously high speeds. The drone footage is then passed to officers on the ground, who will pull over the offending motorists and issue a penalty.

If the scheme proves successful, it could be rolled out along more of the capital’s roads, as well as across other regions of the country.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, head of the Met’s roads and traffic policing unit said the drones will deter dangerous driving through “intense enforcement.”
“This is one of many enforcement tactics being used,” he added. “We hope the message of ‘drive lawfully, stay safe and keep a clean licence’ is widely understood.”

He added: “Deterrence is sometimes best achieved through intense enforcement and that’s what this capability enables. The focus will be on dangerous drivers who are racing and those putting their lives and other people at risk.”


Source / Image: Express.co.uk

 

March of the 20mph camera enforced speed limits on busiest roads across Britain

Motorists face £100 fines as 20mph limits are imposed on some of Britain’s busiest roads.

Until now, the lower 20mph speed limit has been restricted to smaller roads in residential areas or near schools. However this is about to change with 20mph limits to be introduced on major arterial roads (policed by the latest digital speed cameras).

London Mayor Boris Johnson has revealed that eight pilot schemes will be run on ‘Red Routes’ – the main arterial roads that carry a third of the capital’s traffic. 

Other towns and cities including Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh say they also intend to introduce the new limits.

The minimum fine fore motorists caught breaking the 20mph limit will be £100 fine and three points on their driving licence.

The AA says the new limits are being driven more by ‘dogma’ than road safety. A spokesman said: ‘These 20mph zones are popping up like spring daffodils.

‘There is a lot of fear among drivers that, with 20mph being a relatively unfamiliar speed, widespread speed camera use will make them look more at their speedometers than at what is happening on populated streets in front of them.’

If the trials in London ( due to last 18-months)  are judged a success, the 20mph limits will be made permanent and imposed on 30 miles of key ‘Red Routes’ considered by transport bosses to be ‘more local road than motorway’. Some 175 miles of residential streets.

Under the new London scheme, the first road to convert to 20mph next month will be Commercial Street in Shoreditch, linking into plans for Tower Hamlets and Hackney to become 20mph boroughs.

Rod King, founder of the ‘20’s Plenty for Us’ campaign group, said: ‘The current 30mph national limit is being rejected as “unfit for purpose” for communities so we’re setting out a series of government actions required for a planned transition to a UK default urban limit of 20mph by 2020.’

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Research shows 20mph zones can save lives and this government has made it easier for councils to introduce them.

‘It is for local authorities to set speed limits and for the police to decide how best to enforce them.’

The spokesman added: ‘We are undertaking a three-year research project to better understand the effect of 20mph zones and their impact on local communities.’