Traffic cameras in Chiswick - are they working?

New data shows whether or not they have reduced casualties

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In an effort to convince motorists that traffic cameras are there to save lives and not raise revenues the Government has published detailed figures on their impact.

These show on a camera by camera basis how effective speed and traffic light cameras have been in reducing serious accidents.

In the table below we have provided data for cameras in and around the Chiswick area which you are likely to drive past.

Although the Government claims that on a overall basis sites with cameras have seen a sharp decrease in serious accidents since installation the impact of local cameras is less clear.

A316 south west of Chiswick Bridge had been the scene of two serious accidents prior to the installation of a speed camera in 1996. In the year to March 2003 there were no serious accidents. Similarly the camera by Netheravon Road on the A4 appears to have eliminated accidents in which victims were killed or seriously injured.

The picture for traffic light cameras is more mixed. The trap at the junction of A316 Great Chertsey Road / Stavely Road has seen an increase in accidents there since installation as has the one further up by the junction with Hartington Road. The camera on the A4 Sutton Court Road junction appears to have reduced accidents, at least in the period analysed.

Slightly further afield the junction of the A40 and Old Oak Common saw 6 serious accidents in one year after installation compared to an average of 2.3 prior to installation.

It has to be stressed that the limited time period under analysis makes it difficult to reach firm conclusions about the effectiveness of individual cameras.

London (Metropolitan & City) Safety Camera Partnership
Sites and Casualty Data for the Chiswick area
Sites in operation from full year 2002-03.  Casualty data available for full year 2002-03
Fixed sites, at which cameras are in operation continuously or from time to time
      Basis for site's initial establishment
Site and location Speed limit at location (mph) Established Killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties before and full year after site's initial establishment Personal injury collisions - PIC per km in 3 years prior to site's initial establishment Average annual KSI casualties over 3 years before site's establishment 'After' - KSI casualties (2002-3)
A316 north of Hartington Road 40 18-DEC-1998
1
5
0.3
0
A316 southwest of Chiswick Bridge  40 06-MAR-1996
2
9
0.7
0
A4 Great West Road by Netheravon Road 40 15-OCT-1992
2
12
1.3
0
A406 Gunnersbury Av by Manor Gardens 40 15-OCT-1992
6
23
2.0
0
A4 Great West Road by Penwerris Ave (Osterley br) 40 15-OCT-1992
1
6
0.3
0
A4 Great West Road by Thornbury Avenue (o/s Osterley Ct) 40 15-OCT-1992
1
8
0.3
3
A4 east of A312 Roundabout junc Hazelmere Ave 40 15-JAN-1997
1
12
0.3
0
A40 Western Av east of Swakeleys Road 70 15-OCT-1992
3
22
1.7
0
A40 Western Av o/s the Hoover Building 40 09-MAR-1999
1
6
0.3
0
A40 Western Av west of Kathleen Av 40 15-OCT-1992
5
16
1.7
2
A40 Western Avenue east of Long Drive 50 29-APR-1999
2
10
0.7
1
A40 Western Avenue oposite Lynwood Rd 40 15-OCT-1992
7
18
2.7
0
A40 Western Avenue west of  Lynwood Road 40 06-MAY-1997
4
21
1.3
0
A40 Westway by Bloemfontein Road 40 30-MAR-1994
2
9
0.7
0
A406 east of the Park Royal Onslip 50 01-JUL-1997
3
19
1.0
0
A406 Hanger Lane near Chatsworth Rd 40 15-OCT-1992
7
38
2.7
1
A406 Hanger Lane south of Beaufort Road 40 08-FEB-1999
9
41
3.0
1
A30 Great Southwest Road opp Terminal 4 50 15-OCT-1992
1
2
0.7
0
A316 Chertsey Rd o/s Winning Post PH 40 15-OCT-1992
1
2
0.3
1
M4 east of Osterley Lane Overbridge 60 06-AUG-1999
1
2
0.3
0
M4 Elevated Section on Lionel Rd onslip 40 15-OCT-1992
6
20
2.0
0
M4 nr Boston Gdns, start of Elev. Section 40 15-JAN-1997
0
4
0.0
0
M4 west of Grand Union Canal Bridge 60 06-AUG-1999
2
3
0.7
0
M4 west of Junction 3 50 06-AUG-1999
2
18
0.7
1
Red light sites - Traffic lights at which cameras operate continuously or from time to time
A4 Great West Rd / Thornbury Rd n/a 18-DEC-1998
6
30
2.7
0
A316 Great Chertsey Road / Hartington Road n/a 30-MAR-1994
0
5
0.0
1
A316 Great Chertsey Road / Stavely Road n/a 30-MAR-1994
3
8
1.0
2
A4 / Sutton Court Road  n/a 25-OCT-1999
6
39
2.3
1
A4 Great West Rd / Boston Manor Rd n/a 03-MAY-1991
8
40
4.3
3
A4 Great West Rd / Vicarage Farm Road n/a 02-MAR-1994
6
23
2.0
3
A4 / Sutton Lane (SoG test site)  n/a 12-JUL-1995
4
40
1.3
1
A40 Western Avenue / Wales Farm Road n/a 21-JAN-1999
4
24
1.3
1
A406 Hanger Lane / Uxbridge Road n/a 19-OCT-1999
7
55
2.3
1
A40 Western Av / Old Oak Common Lane  n/a 24-AUG-1999
7
35
2.3
6
A40 Westway by Hilary Road n/a 17-NOV-1994
0
6
0.0
1
A406 Hanger Lane / Queens Drive n/a 02-SEP-1998
4
13
1.3
0
Bishops Bridge Road / Westbourne Terrace  n/a 28-JUN-1999
3
13
1.0
0
Shepherds Bush Green / Uxbridge Rd n/a 08-FEB-1999
8
46
2.7
1
Shepherds Bush Green - Pre Signals n/a 24-NOV-1993
2
14
0.7
0
A4 Great West Rd / Wood Lane n/a 01-JUL-1997
1
13
0.3
1

Source: Department of Transport web-site

June 16, 2004