The number of drivers caught speeding by Suffolk’s permanent cameras remained almost constant last year – even though one was out of order for the first four months of the year.
The figures, just published by Suffolk Police, show that 13,694 speeding motorists were caught on the average speed cameras on the A14 Orwell Bridge and A12 between East Bergholt and the Essex border in 2018.
In 2017 the figure was 14,063 – but the cameras on the westbound carriageway of the Orwell Bridge were out of action between January and April last year and later in the year they were catching between 100 and 200 motorists a month.
The figures frustrated Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore who said it showed motorists were still not taking the dangers of driving too fast seriously enough.
He said: “I find these figures shocking and really don’t know what else to say. Despite all the publicity about the Fatal Four there is still a significant minority of motorists who continue to have a cavalier and total disregard for road safety
“I will continue to direct resources into helping our Roads Policing unit to keep the highways safe
“I have not a shred of sympathy for those who are caught driving dangerously so the answer is very simple – stick to the limits then there will be no problem.”
The “Fatal Four” defined by police are: speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seat belt, and drink/drug driving.
The figures were revealed on the day that Ipswich driver Sandu Lenuta, 31, of Speedwell Road in Ipswich was banned from the road for six months after being convicted of speeding on the Orwell Bridge twice in successive days last summer.
She did not appear in court, but was convicted of a number of motoring offences in her absence by Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.
Among these were driving westbound over the Orwell Bridge at 97 miles an hour on June 8 last year and driving at 69 miles an hour on the same carriageway the following day.
Lenuta was convicted of a total of 12 offences, including driving without insurance, without a licence and failing to give information to the police when required. She was fined a total of £1,980 and ordered to pay £255 costs and £85 victim’s surcharge.
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