Agenda item

Anyone who works or lives in the Thames Valley can ask a question at meetings of the Police and Crime Panel, at which a 20 minute session will be designated for hearing from the public.

If you’d like to participate, please read the Public Question Time Scheme and submit your questions by email to tvpcp@buckinghamshire.gov.uk at least three working days in advance of the meeting.

Cllr Andrew Gant of Oxfordshire County Council asked the PCC the following question:

Thames Valley police action on road safety appears to be behind what we see from other forces and are hearing from other local authorities. Other police forces seem to be more willing and able to implement continuous operation and average speed camera enforcement.

Other forces are using cycle and bus patrols to detect and deter mobile phone use and illegal or fake number plates. It is generally recognised that stopping drivers for driving and vehicle offences often uncovers other serious crimes, and that third party reporting is well encouraged. This can help improve overall driver behaviour and road safety.

It is understood that resources are limited, but inaction will cost more than action in the long run. The PCC was asked for TVP to act against this increasing trend of dangerous driving before there are more tragic consequences. The specific request was for closer collaboration with local authorities, both collectively across the Thames Valley area, and individually to help achieve improvements to road safety.

The PCC was asked to acknowledge the benefits and value of lower speed limits, especially the 20-mph scheme, and to support local authorities by enforcing them. In addition to appreciate the advantages of average speed camera enforcement and to cooperate with Oxfordshire County Council, especially on sections of the A34, A40, A420, and A417.

There should also be a crackdown on anti-social driving behaviours such as driving and parking on pavements.

Response

[The PCC replied that he agreed with most of the points raised and recognised, that sadly, that there are often more road accidents at this time of year due to the weather. This year has been particularly bad, with another incident on the A420 last month.

There is often a gap between those factors that can lead to some of the worst casualties and some of the measures that are simple and popular today. Reference was made to not taking enough action on pavement parking, which is a problem in most places now. The PCC said that unless the pavement parking was causing obstruction, it was up to local authorities to deal with pavement parking.

He was meeting in the next week or so with South Oxfordshire Council and residents regarding pavement parking.

The PCC referred to the 13 deaths on road accidents which were tragic. Two were caused by fallen trees on the road, five cases were due to mental health issues and one driver had a heart attack.

Of course, there was the need to address many of the other cases related to drug and drink driving and those particular issues.

Reference was made to a review which was taking place to determine where road policing resources were best placed. There was access to the Road Safety Fund, which is the money generated from the speed awareness courses, funded by speeding drivers.

There had been no final decisions made on much of that funding, as this was being looked at in conjunction with the savings proposal from the Joint Operations Unit.

The PCC referred to more recruitment taking place in the Criminal Justice Team in relation to roads policing and the investigation of third party reports.

There were benefits and challenges of using average speed cameras to enforce speed limits and reduce road accidents in Oxfordshire and other areas. Average speed cameras are more effective than fixed cameras at maintaining traffic flow and preventing drivers from speeding up after passing a camera.

Average speed cameras needed to be installed in locations where speed is a major cause of accidents, and not just where there are high volumes of traffic. Some local authorities have implemented 20mph zones, but there is no funding or suitable technology to enforce them with cameras.

The PCC said he is working with councils and other partners to develop a road safety strategy that will include the use of average speed cameras where appropriate.]