Average speed cameras are to be installed on Thorns Road in Quarry Bank, Dudley, following a long-running campaign for improved safety on the road, which has seen serious collisions including a fatal hit-and-run in September 2023.
Dudley Council has received approval for the new enforcement cameras, which are expected to be in place by March 2027. The authority will now work with the West Midlands Police Camera Enforcement Team to get them installed.
The road has a history of serious incidents, including the death of 27-year-old Salma Rafique, who was killed at a pedestrian crossing in September 2023. Campaigners and petitioners have been calling for action since then.
Existing safety measures on Thorns Road
Prior to the camera approval, the council had already introduced a range of safety measures. These included additional signage and road markings outside Thorns Primary, Thorns Secondary, and Old Park School, as well as an upgrade to the pedestrian crossing near the entrance to Stevens Park.
The council also worked with police to carry out regular mobile speed enforcement operations on the road. Thorns Road was previously included in the local safety scheme programme and was added to the capital programme in 2023.
Despite these steps, the council hopes the new cameras will bring a significant improvement in safety.
How the cameras will work
The average speed cameras will use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. This records when a vehicle passes two or more camera points and calculates its average speed over that distance.
Drivers who exceed the speed limit across the monitored section may face enforcement action, such as fines or speed awareness courses.
Success of similar cameras in Dudley
The decision follows the installation of average speed cameras on two other Dudley routes: the A4123 Birmingham New Road and the A458 Park Road/Drews Holloway. The council says these have proved effective deterrents.
So far in 2026, 3,554 speed offences have been detected across those two routes, with 2,546 drivers issued fines or asked to attend a speed awareness course.
On the A458, the three-year collision record has reduced from 26 injury collisions to seven in the most recent three years. Killed or serious injury collisions (KSIs) have dropped from seven to three.
On the A4123, despite disruption from Metro works, injury collisions over three years have fallen from 32 to 12, and KSIs from five to two. Overall speed compliance has improved on both routes.
Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: “We’ve been pushing for average speed cameras for this stretch of road for some time, and we’re so pleased to have got approval.
“We know this is a significant result too for the community campaigners who have been petitioning and working with us to build a case for the cameras.
“The installation of the cameras, alongside the existing road safety measures we introduced a few years ago will help to make this stretch of road safer and we hope will educate motorists to drive safely and responsibly for everyone’s sake.”
