TfL rules out extra camera traps on road where speeding remains commonplace, reports James Cracknell

Speeding car (credit Benjamin Lehman/Unsplash) — *credit Benjamin Lehman/Unsplash*

Transport for London (TfL) has admitted there are “no immediate plans” for more speed cameras on the A10.

Average speed cameras were installed last year on a section of the dual carriageway between Southbury and Bullsmoor deemed to be the worst-affected by speeding motorists and, while this move was deemed a success, TfL has faced repeated calls to install more cameras further south where dangerous driving is still a common occurrence.

The dual carriageway has long been blighted by speeding motorists. Where no permanent speed cameras have yet been installed, TfL and the Metropolitan Police have instead funded a special policing unit to carry out regular patrols.

Last month it was revealed the roads and transport policing command (RTPC) had issued 350 traffic offence reports to drivers since January, with the majority said to have been caught committing “dangerous or anti-social driving”. As a result, 87 vehicles have been seized.

The figures were revealed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in a written response to a question from the London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, Joanne McCartney, as he agreed to continue looking at ways to improve road safety on the A10.

Khan said: “The A10 corridor in Enfield continues to be a priority deployment for RTPC. Since January 2021, RTPC officers have issued over 350 traffic offence reports along the A10 section in Enfield for road traffic offences, with the majority issued for dangerous or anti-social driving.”

The mayor added that a meeting had taken place in August between TfL, the Metropolitan Police and Enfield Council officers to “discuss issues and possible interventions for dealing with speeding and other criminal road user behaviour along the A10 in Enfield”.

Joanne is demanding more action be taken. She said: “Bush Hill Park residents have approached me with their concerns about an increase in road racing on the Enfield section of the A10.

“I have been highlighting the issue of speeding, dangerous driving and illegal use of bus lanes on this stretch of road for many years and I don’t want to see these issues get worse again.

“Alongside the installation of speed cameras last year, it has been positive to see that regular enforcement action is being taken by the RTPC and to receive reassurances from the mayor that the corridor will continue to be a priority for them.

“I am now keen to see what other options will be put on the table to clamp down further on this.”

Bush Hill Park councillor James Hockney has also written several letters to City Hall demanding more speed cameras are installed. He told the Dispatch: “There were many years of calling for action and one of the reasons I stood for the council was the A10 issue because you just have to look at the statistics – there has even been a 134mph speeding incident.

“When they put cameras in they only did the top half of the A10. We need it all the way down to Great Cambridge Roundabout. It does change driver behaviour – there is a big difference between the areas where the cameras are.”

One particular hotspot for speeding is a bridge in Bush Hill Park that goes over a railway. Cllr Hockney said: “I spoke to one man who had been knocked off his moped because of someone speeding and residents living on the other side of the bridge have had cars smashing into their properties.

“We have made progress, but I am still getting residents complaining to me about ongoing speeding. The only way it will be dealt with is the average speed cameras. It is very frustrating when we were told average speed cameras were going to be put in place but only for half the road.”

Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment officer, said: “We’re determined to reduce road danger caused by speeding in Enfield as part of our ‘vision zero’ commitment to eliminate death and serious injury from the transport network. We know speeding is a major concern for people in the area, which is why we installed an average speed system on the A10 in March 2020 which is in addition to the spot speed cameras being used.

“Although we have no immediate plans to install a safety camera system between Southbury Road and Great Cambridge Roundabout, the A10 corridor is a priority for the roads and transport policing command, which continues to be deployed to the area to deal with a range of criminal and antisocial driving offences.”

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