Joint Letter Urges Government to Reinvest Fines in Local Road Safety Initiatives
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, has joined forces with 35 other senior leaders from across policing, local government and road safety partnerships to call for an urgent review of the UK’s speed enforcement system.
In a joint letter to Government, the signatories are backing a West Midlands-led trial that would allow all road safety-related fixed penalty fine revenue to be retained locally. The aim is to reinvest this funding directly into initiatives that prevent and tackle careless, dangerous and reckless driving, and reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Currently, millions of pounds collected from road safety-related fines are sent directly to the Treasury, rather than being used to improve safety in the communities where offences occur.
Meanwhile, local police forces, councils and road safety partnerships are left to fund the installation, operation and enforcement of speed camera schemes—many of which are running at a financial loss.
Despite this, evidence shows that speed enforcement schemes are highly effective in reducing collisions and improving community safety.
Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, said:“Keeping people safe on our roads is a key priority for Merseyside. Every life lost or changed forever due to dangerous driving is one too many.
“It is essential that central government considers options for how it can better support road safety partnerships, to enhance roads policing and road safety measures.
“Ring-fenced funding for road safety initiatives would enable police forces, highway authorities and cities to be innovative in their approach to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.”
The joint letter, signed by PCCs, Combined Authorities, Chief Constables, council leaders and road safety organisations, highlights the unsustainable nature of the current enforcement model and urges the Government to act swiftly to prevent the collapse of vital safety infrastructure.