Smart takes opportunity to push Greater Manchester on speed cameras

Greater Manchester’s vision of eliminating all deaths and life-changing injuries on our roads can only come about if the authority changes its approach to installing speeds cameras at known danger spots, says parliamentary candidate Lisa Smart.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is currently consulting on how to achieve its “Vision Zero” policy, and Lisa Smart responded to the consultation emphasising the need to change guidance that currently restricts speed cameras unless there have already been three deaths or serious injuries in a location.

Liberal Democrat candidate Lisa said: “I am sick and tired of being pushed from pillar to post, with neither Safer Roads Greater Manchester nor the Department of Transport being prepared to step up and change this approach, and each blaming the other.

“Over a thousand people signed the petition we submitted to both Safer Roads GM and the DfT last year – people know how important this is to keeping people safe, so why can’t the people in charge?”

Almost 10,000 people have been killed or suffered life-changing injuries on Greater Manchester’s roads in the last 10 years, and the consultation is open for residents to air their views until March 10.

Lisa continued: “Time and again when I talk to people who live around here, they raise road safety as something that really worries them. It really shouldn’t be difficult to say ‘this is a location where we’ve had too many near misses – let’s step in before someone is killed’.

“I hope this is a genuine consultation, and they listen to what people want.”