The high-tech vehicles are also on the lookout for individuals flouting seatbelt laws or using mobile phones while driving.
Four new vans will be deployed in the West Midlands, with the capability to operate 24/7. Each costs approximately £47,000, and comes brimming with cutting-edge technology designed to clamp down on irresponsible motorists.
Equipped with potent cameras, these vans can snap crystal-clear images of drivers handling their mobiles from a mile off, as well as provide proof of substance-impaired driving.
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has approved a notable investment of £188,000 for these four vans for West Midlands Police.
Conveying his commitment to road safety, he said: “Speeding is a major factor in road collisions, and it’s something I and West Midlands Police are determined to tackle.
“This investment, via the Safer Streets Fund, will significantly enhance our ability to catch speeding drivers and make our roads safer for everyone.
“There is no place for dangerous, reckless driving in our region.”
Reflecting on the tragic consequences of speeding, he added: “There have been far too many innocent lives lost as a result of those speeding above the limit.
“I look forward to seeing the vans out in action knowing the huge impact they will have to help improve safety on our roads.”
The new mobile cameras will aim to catch drivers in the midst of the ‘fatal four’ violations: speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a mobile phone while driving.
There has been an alarming rise in road casualties in the West Midlands, with a record 1,149 people killed or seriously injured in 2023 compared to previous years.
With eight new speed camera vans, the local force is determined to slash road deaths by half come 2030.
Superintendent Gareth Mason, who leads the Roads Policing Unit, warned: “Our message is clear: if you speed, you will be caught.
“These additional vans allow us to be more visible in communities and at known speeding hotspots, sending a strong message that speeding is unacceptable.
“Doubling the number of speed enforcement vans is a real game changer – this will dramatically strengthen our capacity to enforce the law across our road network.”
Expressing gratitude for the investment, he added: “I’d like to thank the PCC for securing this level of investment as we all work together to help dramatically drive down speeds in our region.
“Our aim is to change the mindset of motorists. Drive safe and don’t put others at risk.”
