Skip to main content

Road safety award for average speed scheme

A route enforcement and casualty reduction scheme on the strategic A14 in the UK has won a prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. The A14 route between the Midlands and East Anglia operates at the national speed limit of 70mph as a dual carriageway with central reserve and no hard shoulder. The average annual daily traffic figure is 74,000 and with no motorways or other high standard diversion routes along this corridor, journeys can be seriously delayed when congestion or collisio
November 28, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
A route enforcement and casualty reduction scheme on the strategic A14 in the UK has won a prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.

The A14 route between the Midlands and East Anglia operates at the national speed limit of 70mph as a dual carriageway with central reserve and no hard shoulder.  The average annual daily traffic figure is 74,000 and with no motorways or other high standard diversion routes along this corridor, journeys can be seriously delayed when congestion or collisions occur.  To the east, the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich result in a high number of heavy goods vehicles; these having an impact on speed differentials and traffic flow.

There were a large number of collisions and casualties along this route, even after the installation of eight fixed spot speed camera sites in 2001.  The 503 Highways Agency therefore decided to install average SPECS speed enforcement cameras between Spittals Interchange and Girton, a 22 kilometre control section.

The SPECS cameras have been operational since July 2007.  Analysis of the two year post installation stats19 data shows that killed and seriously injured (KSI) collisions have dropped by 68 per cent, which equates to an average annual saving to the economy of US$6.8 million.  In addition, anecdotal evidence suggests that journey time reliability has improved, providing smoother flows, reduced close following, less aggressive driving and better fuel consumption.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Kapsch flows free in France
    December 2, 2022
    New toll system on A79 set to process 15,000 vehicles per day along 88km stretch
  • Highways Agency plans to increase capacity of M4
    March 19, 2014
    The UK Highways Agency is holding a series of public exhibitions to inform road users, local residents and businesses about proposals to transform the M4 into one of the longest stretches of ‘smart motorway’ in England by 2021. The improvement, on a 32-mile stretch between junction 3 at Hayes in London, and junction 12 at Theale in Berkshire, would increase capacity, improve journey reliability and maintain safety. The proposals are part of the Government’s investment into England’s motorways and majo
  • Debating a cost-effective means of road user charging
    July 20, 2012
    Does GPS/GNSS-based technology provide a cost-effective means of charging or tolling on a national or international level, or are the issues pertaining to effective enforcement an obstacle. Here, leading equipment manufacturers debate the issue.
  • Smart motorways 'not safer in every way' says UK gov
    March 13, 2020
    Smart motorways are not always as safe - or safer - than conventional motorways, the UK government has acknowledged.