Emergency Services Warns of Enforcement Cameras

The growing use of traffic enforcement cameras on UK roads is causing drivers to act more reluctant to pull over for emergency services say personnel.

PC Steven who sits on the Oaten Police Federation’s National Roads Policing Group, has noticed drivers were less likely to edge past red lights at the Croyden interchange, than a junction with no cameras.

The Cardiff based police officer said this situation only causes minor delays however this could change when Cardiff’s North Road when cameras are installed and facing bus lanes and junctions.

“If you’re on a trip and you’ve got motorists who are reluctant to move out of the way for fear of a notice, it’s definitely going to impact on your response time,” he said.

Cardiff council argue that drivers would not be fined if footage found the driver moving into an illegal space with an emergency vehicle present.

The Department for Transport said: “If a motorist commits a traffic offence while moving out of the way of an emergency vehicle, the driver can seek to use the CCTV evidence to have a local authority or tribunal overturn any penalty charge issued.”

However Derrick Crouch, general secretary of the British Fire Services Association is adamant that drivers will not want to go through the process of appealing penalty notices and would therefore be reluctant to move out of the way.

He said: “The situation has been exacerbated because of automatic cameras. People are cautious. They may have been caught on a yellow box [previously]. It would make you reluctant.”