Average Speed Cameras on A40

The request was refused by Transport for London.

Dear Transport for London,

This request is in regards to average speed camera on A40 between Perivale Lane UB6 to A40 A312 Church Road UB5.

In a previous FoI request published online, it was stated that the average speed cameras were set to 40mph to cover the area where the speed limit has been reduced. Namely where the barriers have been found to be unsuitable for higher speeds.

However, the location where the speed limit is reduced from 50mph to 40mph is in between two sets of cameras. This suggests it is impossible to accurately measure the average speed of vehicles relative to the two speed limits.

Therefore my questions under the Freedom of Information Act are as follows:

1. Can you confirm how these two speeds are measured?
2. How many penalties have been issued to drivers speeding in this section of the road in the past year?
3. What is the lowest speed at which a penalty has been issued?

Yours faithfully,

Brian Telford

FOI, Transport for London

Dear Mr Telford

 

TfL Ref: 0645-1920

 

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31
May 2019 asking for information about Average Speed Cameras on the A40.

 

Your request will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the
Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 

 

A response will be sent to you by 28 June.

 

We publish a substantial range of information on our website on subjects
including operational performance, contracts, expenditure, journey data,
governance and our financial performance. This includes data which is
frequently asked for in FOI requests or other public queries. Please check
[1]http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transpar... to see if this helps you.

 

We will publish anonymised versions of requests and responses on the
[2]www.tfl.gov.uk website. We will not publish your name and we will send
a copy of the response to you before it is published on our website.

 

In the meantime, if you would like to discuss this matter further, please
do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

 

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

 

 

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FOI, Transport for London

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Telford

 

TfL Ref: 0645-1920

 

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31
May 2019 asking for information about Average Speed Cameras on the A40.

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of
the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I
can confirm we do hold some of the information you require. You asked:

 

1. Can you confirm how these two speeds are measured? 2. How many
penalties have been issued to drivers speeding in this section of the road
in the past year? 3. What is the lowest speed at which a penalty has been
issued?

In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to provide the
information you seek regarding the average speed camera operations as this
information is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to
information under section 31(1)(b) and Section 31(1)(g), which exempt from
disclosure information which would, or would be likely to prejudice the
apprehension or prosecution of offenders or the exercise of functions for
the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with
the law.

A disclosure made under FOI is deemed to be a disclosure ‘to the world at
large’. Disclosing the information you are requesting, would provide
public knowledge on how the cameras operate which could undermine
compliance with traffic restrictions at those locations.

The purpose of enforcement is to deter drivers from contravening
restrictions that are in place and penalties are issued accordingly. Any
decrease in compliance creates a risk to the safety of all road users. 

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public
interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We
recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities,
but in this instance feel that balance lies in favour of withholding the
information to ensure that we are able to achieve Vision Zero of no-one
killed or seriously injured on London’s roads.  

With regards to your question about how many penalties have been issued to
drivers speeding in this section of the road in the past year, we don’t
hold this information which is held by the Metropolitan Police Service.
You can contact them at:
[1]https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/accessi....

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable
to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to
appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

 

 

 

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