Councillor renews calls for GM mayor to tackle local dangerous driving

Councillor John Taylor has written once more to the Mayor of Greater Manchester about local occurrences of dangerous driving – a year after first raising the issue.

The Wardle, Shore and West Littleborough ward councillor first wrote to the Mayor of Greater Manchester in June 2021, also sending copies of the letter to the Minister for Transport and the Chief Constable of GMP.

The original letter requested an urgent review of criteria for using speed cameras and traffic light cameras on Halifax Road due to an increase in reckless driving behaviour.
 

Read more: Councillor writes to police, GM Mayor and Transport Minister about dangerous driving locallyPublished: 15 June 2021

He has now renewed these calls as “road safety remains a serious issue,” urging the Mayor to take “more positive and tangible action.” He says many of the points raised 12 months ago remain unanswered.

Councillor Taylor, himself a former policeman, said: “The dangerous use of our roads remains a topic of constant conversation and complaint. It is one many, many residents speak to me about.

“In particular, I have raised questions about the review of DfT circular 1/2007 regarding the use of speed cameras and red-light cameras. I understand the circular has been under review for twelve months and I am keen to know when revisions will be implemented.

“I still wonder why our neighbours in Lancashire are able to deploy cameras far more effectively than we are – a point highlighted in June 2021.

“I have previously questioned city centre enforcement when compared to Rochdale, another point that remains unanswered and I now read how Manchester issues more penalty notices than anywhere else nationally over the last twelve months – in terms of proactive enforcement capacity, why is there such a disparity between Manchester and Rochdale?

“Another fatal accident occurred very recently in Littleborough, another tragedy that serves only to remind me of how intervention at a strategic level is needed most urgently. I appreciate how the pandemic has been a priority over recent times, however, that is no longer the case and it is now time to address the dangerous use of our roads by a mindless minority.”
 

Read more: Man arrested following the death of a woman in Littleborough crashPublished: 16 May 2022

“Huge amounts of money has been spent to fund ANPR CAZ cameras, I do not raise this as a political point but as an opportunity to use those cameras for road safety enforcement purposes. I recognise the need for long-term education through initiatives such as Safe Drive Stay Alive and community speedwatch. However, their impact upon the hard-core criminals who are intent on endangering others or at the very least reckless to it will be negligible at best.

“As a retired police officer I recognise the police role in addressing this. Local officers do all they can to affect change, but change is also required at a strategic level and it remains in your gift to work with Chief Constable Watson to implement those necessary changes.

“Locally within the council, we have a cross-party Road Safety Group with a collective ambition to make our roads safer. We speak with a united voice on the requirement to make a difference through initiatives such as “Twenty is Plenty” and we will continue working together for the good of our communities on this very serious matter.

“Despite this, I cannot overemphasise the urgent need for action at a strategic level.

“The final point I make relates to plans for active travel, I support those plans and see the potential benefits across our communities. However, surely road safety must be addressed first before actively encouraging greater road use through cycling.

“I will continue to do all that I can in tackling this dangerous and unwelcome use of our roads.”