Average speed camera plan for Middleway corridor
Plans are being drawn up to install average speed enforcement cameras along a stretch of road in Birmingham where six people lost their lives last year.
Birmingham City Council will install the cameras along a 2.8km stretch of the A4540 Middleway corridor from the Five Ways roundabout to Haden Circus, covering Islington Row Middleway, Lee Bank Middleway and Belgrave Middleway.
The Belgrave Middleway underpass was the scene of a fatal collision in the early hours of 17 December 2017, in which six people died.
Following the accident, thousands of people signed a petition calling for safety measures on that stretch of road. Council Leader Councillor Ian Ward received the petition earlier this year, although the council had to wait for the outcome of the police investigation and subsequent coroner’s inquest before it could consider what road safety measures might be required.
It is anticipated that the cameras, which will enforce the existing 40mph speed limit, will be in place and operational by the autumn. The scheme is likely to cost around £90,000, funded by the council from money set aside each year for road safety measures.
The council will also be looking at what other road safety measures could be put in place.
Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This was a terrible accident which shocked the city and, given the long and complex nature of the resulting police investigation, it was important that we understood what had contributed to this truly heartbreaking loss of six lives before considering what safety measures could be put in place.
“Following the inquest, it has now been officially recognised that excessive speed was a key factor in this collision so, with the support of our colleagues at West Midlands Police, we are now moving forward with plans to install average speed cameras along this stretch of road as well as looking at what other measures might improve road safety in this location.
“The consequences of this awful collision will remain with the relatives of those who died for the rest of their lives and will also stay with the emergency services who attended the scene. We don’t want anyone else in our city to have to go through what these families and individuals have experienced.”
Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “Safety on Birmingham’s busy highways network is paramount, so these cameras will play an important role in helping to keep our city moving safely.
“However, while road safety measures are important, they are not a solution on their own – we all have a responsibility to our fellow road users.
“Whether you are on four wheels, two wheels or even on foot, I would remind everyone using our city’s roads to show consideration to others at all times.”
Superintendent Dean Hatton, head of Central Motorway Police Group and West Midlands Force Traffic Unit, said: “We welcome the introduction of any measures that improve safety on our roads.”
