The amount of people who have been caught speeding in the two months since the M4's 50mph zone cameras went live has been revealed. The average speed camera scheme on a Newport section of the motorway was implemented in the middle of November last year.
Figures released by GoSafe, the Welsh body that operates the cameras, show that in November and December a total of 1,648 drivers were caught going over the speed limit between junctions 24 and 28. That breaks down to 577 in November and 1,071 in December
The cameras were put in place more than a year ago as part of plans for 50mph speed limits at five locations across Wales to reduce air pollution in built up areas around the busy highways. The cameras in Newport have been active but not issuing fines while IT issues were revolved. But that changed on Thursday, November 17, when the cameras went live. For daily analysis on the big Welsh issues subscribe to Wales Matters newsletter here.
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GoSafe, a partnership organisation that aims to keep people safer on Welsh roads by reducing casualties and saving lives, said the number of offences detected was not a performance measure for average speed cameras. A spokesperson added: "We mark compliance with the speed limit as an effective measure as it means that the cameras are encouraging people to stick to the limit.
"Each of these offences may be dealt with by attendance at a speed awareness course (depending on speed travelled and eligibility of driver), by a conditional offer of fixed penalty, or by attendance at court."
All fines were returned to the Treasury and are not used by GoSafe, they said.
The other locations for reduced speed limits to 50mph in Wales are on the A494 between the Wales/England border and St David’s Interchange Deeside, the A483 between junctions 5 and 6 Wrexham, the M4 between junctions 41 and 42 Port Talbot, the M4 between junctions 25 and 26 Newport, and the A470 between Upper Boat and Pontypridd.
According to the Welsh Government, the aim of the 50mph speed limit is to manage congestion, improve journey times, reduce accidents and improve air quality.
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