Police speed camera vans have issued hundreds of speeding tickets to drivers on Eachelhurst Road in Sutton Coldfield, one of Birmingham's most affluent areas, according to freedom of information data obtained by BirminghamLive.
The marked vans move between locations to observe traffic, meaning motorists never know exactly where they will be or when. Officers return to certain hotspots on a weekly or monthly basis, catching drivers who are speeding or who have gone over the limit without realising.
558 Offences Recorded in Six Months
Cameras at this location were among the busiest anywhere in the city, with a total of 558 speeding offences recorded in the first half of the year. That was the third highest of any location, behind only Fort Parkway and Heartlands Parkway.
Eachelhurst Road runs through one of the most affluent parts of the city, with leafy streets running off it, and Range Rovers and other luxury cars are likely to pass the speed camera van here. The busy road takes traffic towards the M6, Aston Expressway and Birmingham city centre.
Mobile Cameras Prove Effective
The mobile cameras often prove to be more effective as they allow officers to observe normal traffic conditions. If motorists are aware police are sometimes around in the area, it may encourage more of them to slow down.
Drivers caught by the vans face being hit with fines and penalty points. The data suggests Eachelhurst Road is known to have issues with speeding.
Speed Limit Changes Across Birmingham
Most main roads in Birmingham were cut from 40mph to 30mph earlier this year. The city council has also announced plans to eventually reduce speed limits on all smaller, residential roads to 20mph.
