03 May 2007 - Northern and NESCAMP get together to launch new biker initiative.

A joint road safety initiative between two Safety Camera Partnerships is aiming to save the lives of motorcyclists across the north of Scotland.

Northern Safety Camera Partnership and North East Safety Camera Partnership (NESCAMP) have both invested in state of the art technology which will allow them to detect motorcyclists driving over the speed limit.

The ‘Commander’ system works alongside the existing mobile cameras to provide 360 degree vision around the safety camera unit. The system is designed to assist in the identification of motorcycle offenders by recording images when the bike passes the camera van.

Over the last two years (2005 and 2006), across Highlands and Grampian, collisions involving motorcyclists have resulted in 490 casualties, including 31 fatalities.

Across Scotland, over the same time period, the total number of biker casualties was 2070, including 75 fatalities*.

*Ref: Scottish Executive, Road Accidents Scotland 2006, Table 23 (web site)

Inspector Derrick Cronie, Northern Safety Camera Partnership Manager, said: “Each year we welcome thousands of bikers to this area who come to enjoy the freedom of our open roads. This new equipment will help ensure that their trip is a safe one. Our aim is not to detect bikers speeding and we certainly don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of our roads. What we want is for bikers to keep within the speed limit and drive safely. If we can reduce the number of collisions involving motorcyclists it will go a long way to reducing the grief and suffering caused by injuries and fatalities on our roads.”

Chris Hume, NESCAMP Manager, said: "This is about a relatively small minority of motor cyclists that seem to think speed limits do not apply to them, and as a result put lives at risk, and do a disservice to the majority of riders that act responsibly. This new equipment will help us to put irresponsible riders off the roads and make them safer for all of us."

The aim of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme is to promote safer driving and help reduce the number of people killed or injured on our roads by changing driver behaviour and by ensuring that motorists are aware of the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speeds.

Safer motorcycle riding tips:

Beware of the bends – slow down before going into them to give more room for manoeuvring.
Research has found many drivers have difficulty judging the speed of a bike – remember you and the bike are likely to come off worst in a collision.
Snap overtaking decisions are dangerous! Overtake with care where you can see what’s going on around you.
Be aware of road surface hazards and allow yourself the time and space to see what is ahead of you.

Above all keep within the speed limit – it’s there for a reason.

26th January 2006 - 'The Real Penalty for Speeding' Campaign

A anti-speed campaign, funded by the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, was launched last week.

The campaign comprises TV, radio and petrol-pump ads, backed by billboard posters, designed to highlight the true human cost of speeding.

Three different TV ads will be screened during the campaign, which will run for eight weeks. One shows a car that has been involved in an accident being pulled out of water, and then focuses on the 'Baby on board' sticker on the window.

Another features a young man in his car with a birthday card and flowers, as if he is off to visit his girlfriend - but he is then shown at a graveside.

The third shows a mother tidying her daughter's clothes away, as if she is cleaning her room, but gradually it becomes clear she is in mourning.

Each carries the tag line, 'The real penalty for speeding'.

Justice minister Cathy Jamieson said speeding was often not taken seriously enough. "Of all the major driving offences, speeding tends to be perceived as one of the most socially acceptable and incurring least stigma.

"Speeding motorists tend to be over confident and believe that the adverse consequences of their behaviour are unlikely to happen to them. However, excessive speed is frequently a significant factor in crashes and speeding motorists are guilty of an offence that can have much wider implications than simply a fine or penalty points.

"This campaign aims to make speeding drivers more aware of the human costs associated with their driving behaviour."

5th May 2005 - Fleet Vehicle Campaign a Success

New campaign launched by the East Coast Safety Camera Partnerships proves a success

Monday 14^th March saw the launch of a unique three-week long radio campaign aimed at fleet operators and drivers emphasizing that ‘Nobody has Business Speeding’. 3500 information packs were sent out to businesses all over the Scottish East Coast and a Website was set up to accompany the campaign. This is the first time that partnerships in Scotland have joined forces.

During the first month of the campaign the Website attracted 2000 visitors and the comments were generally highly positive. One visitor commented; “Great campaign, we all need to know the limits and keep with them. Keep up the good work”.

The partnerships received, on average, one request for more information every day, sending out thousands of extra leaflets and packs to interested parties all over the UK. NESCAMP, the North East Safety Camera Partnership, had requests for around 1000 extra information leaflets for Employees from companies in the Grampian area.

A spokesperson for the four partnerships explains;
“We initiated the campaign when finding that on average over 100 drivers of company vehicles are detected speeding across the partnerships’ areas each day. This equates to potentially over 40,000 speeding detections a year. When comparing the statistics, two months after the start of the campaign, we have found a steady decrease with 11% in the North East and 7% in Lothian and Borders.”

25th July 2004 - Equipment Purchased for Third Mobile van

Equipment has been purchased for a third mobile van, this includes an LTI camera, video equipment and the van itself. After delivery of the equipment, which we estimate to be in the next month, the van will be transformed by adding the highly visible NESCAMP graphics to the exterior and installing the camera and recording equipment to the interior.

All expenditures are funded by the partnerships 'cost recover' system and we hope the introduction of our third van will increase the effectiveness of the partnership at reducing road casualties.

19th July 2004 - New Liaison Officer Appointed

The position of NESCAMP Liaison Officer has recently been filled by Julie Milne. Julie will take over the communication side of the partnership which has previously been the responsibility of Doug Main, who will concentrate on his role as Operations Manager.

Julie, who is 24 years old, has 2 years experience working within Grampian Police and a degree in Corporate Communications.

The main aim of Liaison Officer is to 'communicate a strategic casualty reduction approach, thereby proactively encouraging a change in driver behaviour through an effective communications and media programme'.

14th April 2004 - School Safety Project

A recently introduced scheme designed to protect primary school children on their way to and from school has been hailed a success by those involved.

Primary school pupils are particularly vulnerable and at higher risk as they are often poor at identifying the speeds of vehicles approaching them. Although many parents now transport their children to and from school, increasing traffic flows in the area, many children still walk to school and require to cross busy roads.

Aberdeen City Council have upgraded the signing and road markings at many of the School Crossing Patrollers points and re-introduced Zebra Crossings. Theses measures have been complemented by the introduction of the safety cameras outside the schools.

To effectively target at the appropriate times the safety cameras will be specifically used at the following times ;

8.30am to 9.30am ; 12.00pm to 1.30pm ; 2.45pm to 4.00pm

The locations selected are all located on "red routes" and encompass:

Scotstown Primary / Danestone Primary / Kingsford Primary
Quaryhill Primary / Westerton Primary / Beechwood Primary
Mile End Nursery / Causewayend Primary / Bucksburn Primary

For the first few weeks staff utilised the vehicle activated "smiley face" sign at these locations in an attempt to educate motorists about the speed they were driving at past the schools.

Douglas Main, Communication Manager said " This received widespread media attention, was received well by both motorists and parents alike. It certainly had an effect on those exceeding the speed limit. This educational tool is an excellent way of getting the massage across and we will continue to use it throughout the North East.

If you know of an area of concern please advise NESCAMP by email and the necessary research will be carried out.

Safety Camera Staff will concentrate on being highly visible and using the latest speed detection equipment outside the above named primary schools on days when pupils are in the vicinity.

If a pedestrian is struck by a car travelling at 20mph, 19 out of 20 will survive. If a pedestrian is struck by a car travelling at 40 mph, only 1 in 20 will survive.

Over a period of time it is envisaged that by regular enforcement motorists will change their behaviour nearby to schools and that this will lead to a safer and healthier environment.

30th March 2004 - New Safety Camera Manager for NESCAMP

Graeme Duncan has recently been appointed as Safety Camera Manager and is now in post. He is to take over the running of the partnership from Inspector Brian Shanks who is has moved to take up a new post in London.

Graeme who is 42 years old, previously worked for Aberdeen City Council in the capacity of a Technical Officer, dealing with Street Occupations/Traffic Management.

Graeme says, "I am delighted to take up this post as Safety Camera Manager and hope to make a positive contribution to road safety. During the years 1999 to 2003, the North East area saw an average of 43 fatal collisions each year, resulting in an average of 47 persons being fatally injured each year.

"Excessive or inappropriate speed has been identified as a contributory factor in around one-third of all road accidents in the UK. This campaign is helping to educate the motorists that in reality speeding could cost you far more than a £60 fine and three penalty points, it could cost you your life or the life of someone else you may or may not even know. "

"In addition to this, the cost to the local economy (which includes the local authorities, health service, police and courts) is in excess of 58 million pounds a year.

I aim to continue the positive approach that Inspector Shanks adopted and look forward to serving the communities of the North East of Scotland."

7th July 2003 - Operation CARE Deeside

NESCAMP (North East Safety Camera Partnership) and Grampian Police South Aberdeenshire Division will be targeting all aspects of road safety this weekend, 5th and 6th July 2003, in the Deeside area.

The main road in the area, the A93 Braemar to Aberdeen road has seen 9 fatal and 20 serious road traffic accidents in the last three years.

Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) has already proved successful in Moray and on the A947 and A90 with 847 road users being reported to the Procurator Fiscal and 53 educated in relation to offences such as excessive speed, not wearing a seat belt and careless driving.

The operation will focus on both enforcement and education, with high visibility police patrols being deployed in the Deeside area.

Inspector Brian Shanks, NESCAMP Project Manager, said, “NESCAMP is committed to working with Grampian Police to ensure that all causes of road traffic accidents are targeted through Operation CARE. Our aim is to have an accident free weekend in Deeside.

"Operation CARE has proved to be successful in other areas. It is as much about changing driver behaviour through education as it is catching people breaking the law. It is the responsibility of every road users to ensure that they use our roads safely .We would urge drivers to remember that the most important safety device in their vehicle is them.”

13 May 2003 - Moray Traffic Operation Results

A motorcyclist was caught riding at 107mph on the A96 this weekend, as part of Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) in Moray. While the operation was taking place there were only two minor traffic accidents in Moray, neither of which resulted in injury.

NESCAMP (North East Safety Camera Partnership) and Grampian Police were working together on the operation, which focussed on changing driver behaviour through enforcement and education. The operation, which is the first of its type in Moray, took place from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May 2003 on a number of roads in the Moray area.

Eighty drivers were caught speeding during the operation. Although 107mph was the highest, the following speeds were also recorded over the weekend:

93 mph on B9040
83 mph on A96
79mph on A95
Motorbike at 85mph on A96
83mph on A96
A941 Van travelling at 71 mph (21mph over the 50mph limit)

As well as excessive or inappropriate speed, the operation targeted other aspects of road safety including the use of seatbelts and drink driving.

Twenty four breath tests were carried out, with four proving to be positive. In addition, one driver was caught without a seatbelt, one reported to the Procurator Fiscal for dangerous driving, two found to have defective lights, one with a defective exhaust and one with no documents.

Inspector Brian Shanks, Manager of the North East Safety Camera Partnership commented: "This is the first time we have conducted an operation of this scale in Moray. We were very pleased to see only two minor accidents in the area this weekend.

"It is obviously still disappointing to see people risking driving at excessive speeds, with one motorcyclist riding at over 100mph – over 40mph over the speed limit. Every driver who speeds is putting themselves and others at risk, and we will continue to conduct operations like this until the message gets through that speeding is not acceptable."

Group Captain Steve Hillier, Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth wholly supports all road safety initiatives. Of the 2,500 plus personnel employed at the largest fast-jet base in the Royal Air Force, a large proportion commute daily both from nearby and further afield. He said, "There is a direct read-across from the emphasis that we put on Flight Safety in the RAF. An unremitting campaign of education emphasises that in flying, safety always comes first, with the aim of reducing accidents to the absolute minimum. The need to treat road safety in just the same manner is completely clear to me."

8th May 2003 - Moray Road Safety Operations Announced

Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) will be running on various roads in Moray between Friday 9th May and Sunday 11th May 2003. The operation will be conducted by NESCAMP (North East Safety Camera Partnership) and Grampian Police's Moray Command Area, with education support from Grampian Police Road Safety Unit.

The roads which will be targeted are:

A941 Lossiemouth to Rothes
B9011 Kinloss to Roisele
B9040 Lossiemouth to Burghead
A96 Huntly to Forres
A98 Fochabers to Cullen
A95 Keith to Banff

All aspects of road safety will be targeted including seatbelts and excessive or inappropriate speed. The operation will be focused on enforcement along with education to change drivers behaviour. High visibility traffic patrols will be carried out in these areas during the campaign.

This operation forms part of the work with 'red routes' and local communities to reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads every year. Red routes are roads identified as roads where at least two people have been killed or seriously injured in the previous three years on a 5km stretch of the route.

NEWS ARCHIVE