Latest news with #MatMacDonald
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New speed camera scheme to be rolled out
New cameras are set to be installed across speeding hot spots in the West Midlands. A deal has been reached by West Midlands Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and West Midlands Combined Authority to help target more speeding drivers. The Joint Working Agreement will aim to help the bodies reach their targets to halve the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 2030 to zero by 2040. The agreement will be discussed by members of the WMCA's Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6 May. Mat MacDonald, West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, said average speed enforcement is a "critical tool" in getting the most dangerous drivers off the roads. He said: "Rolling this technology out will without a doubt prevent collisions, save lives and make journeys less dangerous for everyone who uses our road network." The new agreement will enable: • New cameras to be installed in the places where the risk of death or serious injury on roads is greatest • Cameras to be better maintained • Better use of existing cameras • Other types of camera enforcement, such as "spot cameras" that use the latest technology to more easily capture images of speeding cars, and red-light cameras • More fines to be issued which leads to more drivers going on speed awareness courses, to encourage more people to stay within the speed limit Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker, said the scheme will help bring more offenders to justice. "It's a tragedy that so many lives are lost on our roads each year – the impact on victims' families is truly heartbreaking," he said. "Unfortunately, speeding and dangerous driving is blighting our region which is why we are cracking down on those who are determined to use our streets as a racetrack." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Widespread speed camera use unaffordable - council Force to double its fleet of speed camera vans Call for speed-check vans on 20mph roads
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
West Midlands set to see new speed camera scheme rolled out
New cameras are set to be installed across speeding hot spots in the West Midlands. A deal has been reached by West Midlands Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and West Midlands Combined Authority to help target more speeding Joint Working Agreement will aim to help the bodies reach their targets to halve the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 2030 to zero by agreement will be discussed by members of the WMCA's Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6 May. Mat MacDonald, West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, said average speed enforcement is a "critical tool" in getting the most dangerous drivers off the said: "Rolling this technology out will without a doubt prevent collisions, save lives and make journeys less dangerous for everyone who uses our road network." 'More fines issued' The new agreement will enable:• New cameras to be installed in the places where the risk of death or serious injury on roads is greatest• Cameras to be better maintained• Better use of existing cameras• Other types of camera enforcement, such as "spot cameras" that use the latest technology to more easily capture images of speeding cars, and red-light cameras• More fines to be issued which leads to more drivers going on speed awareness courses, to encourage more people to stay within the speed limitMayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker, said the scheme will help bring more offenders to justice. "It's a tragedy that so many lives are lost on our roads each year – the impact on victims' families is truly heartbreaking," he said."Unfortunately, speeding and dangerous driving is blighting our region which is why we are cracking down on those who are determined to use our streets as a racetrack." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Midlands road safety and travel commissioners in new roles
Two people have been appointed to new roles to improve road safety and increase cycling and walking across the West Midlands will work with a new transport task force being set up through the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).The roles have been created after campaigners called for action due to the number of deaths on roads and speed limits to be new road safety commissioner is Mat MacDonald, an NHS doctor with experience supporting victims of road collisions. Beccy Marston, who has worked with charities, communities and councils, becomes the active travel commissioner. They will be expected to work one day a week and be each paid £10,000, which is about £200 per day, for their month, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he was "blown away" by the standard of applicants, and had received about 300 pair will work towards making roads in the region safer while encouraging more people to choose cycling and walking for shorter journeys, improving the environment and reducing traffic congestion, Mr Parker key target, set out in the WMCA's Regional Road Safety Strategy, was to reduce the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by half by a protest in Birmingham last July, campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham said at least 23 people had died on city roads in a year and called for speed limits to be lowered. 'Future generations' Mr MacDonald, a former chair of the campaign group, said being appointed to the new role was a privilege and he looked forward to working towards that target. "Achieving this vital objective is the least we owe – not only to the victims of the tragic crashes on our streets, but also to the future generations of the West Midlands, whose safety and happiness is critical to realising the exceptional potential of our remarkable region," he region's Local Transport Plan has set a target for everyone to be able to safely reach a range of local destinations on foot, in a wheelchair or on a bike or scooter, with the aim of at least half of all trips being made by active travel by 2030, Mr Parker Marston said: "By working hand-in-hand with communities and grassroots organisations, we aim to bring our new infrastructure to life and help individuals experience the practical benefits of walking or cycling for everyday journeys."She added that she understood walking and cycling may not work for everyone but it was their "collective responsibility to make these options safer, more accessible, and easier, helping them become the natural and preferred choice for short journeys". Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, who chairs the West Midlands Road Safety Strategic Group, welcomed the appointments, adding reducing number of people "tragically and avoidably killed" remained a priority. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
