How moving traffic offences are enforced across the Bradford district is changing. Bradford Council has been granted new powers by central government under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act to introduce traffic cameras to monitor problem areas and issue fines to drivers caught making illegal manoeuvres. The restrictions councils are now able to enforce are in addition to the enforcement of bus lanes, which they have had the power to enforce for some time.  

The council is not introducing any new traffic restrictions as part of this programme. Cameras will only be used to enforce existing signed restrictions.

Cameras will be installed in selected locations to enforce existing moving traffic restrictions. When a vehicle is recorded breaking a signed restriction, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued to the registered keeper. However, for the first six months that enforcement is in place at a new location, warnings will be issued in place of fines to give the pubic the opportunity to adapt to the new camera enforcement.

Most drivers follow the rules, but in some locations moving traffic rules are being repeatedly broken, leading to:

• Near misses and collisions

• Congestion and delays that affect the majority of people travelling

• Blocked junctions that affect buses and emergency services

Not only do restrictions need to be enforced, but it isn’t fair on the vast majority of drivers who do observe the rules if a minority of people who break the rules continue to do so. Camera enforcement will help to improve compliance where there is clear evidence of ongoing problems, making journeys safer and more reliable for everyone.

Cameras will be installed at specific priority junctions where enforcement of existing rules is needed to improve safety and traffic flow. They will only be used at problem locations, not across the whole road network.

The first locations that will see camera enforcement are:

• Shipley Airedale Road / Leeds Road – Cameras will enforce the existing no right turn restriction at this busy route between Bradford, Shipley, and Leeds.

• Godwin Street / Sunbridge Road – Cameras will enforce the correct use of the yellow box to prevent vehicles blocking the junction in the city centre.

Additional locations will follow, subject to consultation, and will be implemented after the initial two locations.

Potential locations will be identified each year using collision data, traffic flows, and on site assessments. Locations are scored and ranked. Those with the highest score will be recommended for further evaluation. A decision will then be made about how many of these sites will be taken through to the public consultation stage of the process. The remaining sites that score highly will be held on a reserve list, these may be brought forward at a later date.

The consultation phase will consist of a 6-week public consultation. Details of the proposed location and purpose of cameras will be shared directly with residents and businesses in the area. Details will also be made available to the wider public through the Future Bradford website.

Any objections received during the consultation period will be investigated and responded to before taking the process any further. Once the team is satisfied that any objections have been investigated and addressed, or if there are no objections, permission to proceed with camera enforcement will be sought from the Chief Constable of the Police.

If approval is granted, the decision will be publicised along with details of the necessary physical works to be carried out to install the cameras. The public will be notified of plans to begin enforcement in advance of cameras being installed, with notices placed on site and letters to residents. The decision will also be made available 24/7 on the Future Bradford website.

Funding for the installation of the first set of cameras comes from existing council budgets for highways and enforcement services. Once operational, funds generated through penalty charges will be used to maintain the camera network.

The law stipulates that any funding left over has to be reinvested back into transport and highway improvements in Bradford District.

In line with other traffic enforcement schemes in the Bradford District, (once the initial six-month warning period for fines issued at a new camera location has expired) a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £70 will be issued to drivers caught contravening signed restrictions. Fines must be paid within 28 days of the issue of the PCN. This will be discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days. However, if not paid within 28 days, and no appeal has been raised, this will increase to £105.

Money generated from fines will be used to fund the operation and maintenance of the camera network. This means there will be no additional cost to the council or council taxpayers. As required by law, any surplus will be reinvested in transport and highway improvements across the district such as road maintenance, safety schemes or sustainable travel initiatives. It cannot be used for unrelated council services.

No, the purpose of enforcement is to improve safety and reduce congestion and delays. The negative impacts of persistent breaking of these highways rules by a few, impacts negatively on everyone. Cameras are used only where there is clear evidence of a problem. If a high level of compliance is maintained over a 12-month period, cameras may be removed.

Part 6 powers do not enable enforcement of speed limits which would remain solely the responsibility of the West Yorkshire Camera Partnership and West Yorkshire Police.

Before cameras are installed, notices will be posted at the relevant location and letters will be sent to residents and businesses in the vicinity to provide advanced notice. Information will also be available online at www.future-bradford.co.uk/moving-traffic-enforcement. Once cameras are operational, road signs will notify road users that they’re about to enter an enforcement camera zone.

Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of all drivers to comply with legal restrictions, regardless of whether cameras operate or not. These restrictions are already clearly signposted, and it’s part of the evaluation process before cameras are installed that these signs are confirmed as being fit for purpose.

No, for the first six months that each new enforcement camera is in operation, a first offence will trigger a warning notice to be issued. However, second offences after a first written warning, irrespective of when it is issued, will result in a PCN being issued. 

The restrictions that will be enforced by camera at each location should already be observed by all drivers and should not be ignored. The issue of a warning for a first offence within the initial six months of operation is a gesture of goodwill by the council, as our aim is to prevent anyone breaching the highway rules in the first place. However, if someone commits an offence repeatedly, it is reasonable that they receive a PCN.

Traditionally, the police were responsible for enforcing these offences. However, it’s not feasible for police officers to continually monitor locations. By allowing the council to enforce these offences using cameras, we can consistently target dangerous driving behaviours and improve road safety. Police remain responsible for more serious offences, like dangerous or reckless driving.

The cameras are in place to encourage safer driving and reduce rule breaking. All sites will be monitored continuously. If a high level of compliance is maintained over a 12-month period, cameras may be decommissioned.

An Implementation Board is responsible for the identification, assessment and implementation of new camera enforcement sites. This board will report to the council’s Highways Services Finance Board and the Chief Executive. Oversight of the management of moving traffic enforcement will be provided by the council’s Regeneration & Economy Overview and Scrutiny committee on an annual basis, with meetings of the committee held in public.

Yes, for each new camera that is proposed there will be a 6-week public consultation, hosted on the Future Bradford website.

No, both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must follow the same restrictions as all other road users and will be issued a PCN if they’re caught on camera making illegal manoeuvres.

There will be a rolling annual programme of new camera enforcement sites across the district. Sites will only be considered if evidence supports the need. Any future cameras would go through the same scoring and consultation process. Cameras may be removed after a sustained, 12-month period of high compliance.

No, cameras are only being introduced to enforce existing moving traffic restrictions. The aim is to improve adherence and deter drivers from ignoring signed restrictions and making dangerous, illegal manoeuvres. There are no plans to introduce new traffic restrictions as part of this programme.