The use of SEA Red Light Safety Enforcement (RLSE) cameras has been credited with reducing driving offences by 86% and increasing safety at level crossings across Sussex.
First switched on in 2015, the cameras have been ‘activated’ more than 10,000 times and one device has seen the number of penalties notices it issues drop by 86% since its installation. This significant decrease in driving offences, which equates to a drop from 450 in 2015 to just 68 in 2020, highlights how effective the technology has been as a deterrent for breaking the level crossing Highway Code.
Commenting on the data to ITV News Meridian, Michael Farley, Sussex route level crossing manager at Network Rail, said that they had seen the steepest fall in misuse at crossings from “regular users who live locally”.
Martin Kelly, complex systems division director at SEA said, “The impact that our Red Light Safety Enforcement system has had in Sussex is testament to its ability to positively change driver behaviour to reduce offences and improve safety surrounding level crossings. As a fixed and highly-visible deterrent, we hope that our safety technology will continue to encourage drivers to stop when the level crossing lights and barriers are activated.”
During his interview with ITV, Michael Farley also reinforced the key safety message behind the SEA Red Light Safety Enforcement system – to improve safety and help save lives. Highlighting the aim of the cameras, Michael said, “Network Rail doesn't receive any money from these cameras, so it's not a money-making process for us as a company. What we are trying to do is reduce the risk at these level crossings.”
The Roadflow system is currently installed at 22 railway crossings in Sussex, and 53 Network Rail crossing sites across the UK. Discussing the positive impact that the systems have had in Sussex, Inspector Becky Warren, British Transport Police, told ITV News Meridian: “We’ve found that the reoffending rate is so low because they (drivers) learn about the impact of their actions.”
SEA RLSE cameras have also more recently been installed in Kent, where data has found that penalty notices have increased by 49% since 2019.
For more information on the impact of SEA Roadflow systems in Sussex read more on ITV News Meridian here: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2021-04-08/safety-cameras-working-to-stop-motorists-ignoring-level-crossing-red-lights-and-barriers
