New Speed Cameras

They are among nine locations across West Sussex earmarked for cameras by the new Sussex Safety Camera Partnership, which was given Government backing last year to focus on more sites where lower speeds could help to cut the number of deaths and injuries.

The Hammerpot camera will be beside the A27 dual carriageway between Dappers Lane and New Place Farm, and the Rustington one will be sited at Station Road.

Income from fixed penalty fines is paying for the new camera housings, which will be painted bright yellow and clearly signed to approaching motorists. They will be operational from the end of March.

Lieut Col Tex Pemberton, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for strategic environmental services, said: "My aim, through a wide variety of road safety measures, is to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads and safety cameras play a major part in that.

"Government research has shown that if you reduce your speed by just one mile per hour, you can expect to reduce the risk of being involved in a serious crash by up to five per cent. That is a huge reduction and a great incentive for something as simple as keeping an eye on the speedometer."

Eight pilot safety camera projects across the country have been hailed as a success, following an 18 per cent cut in the number of people killed and seriously injured.

The Sussex Safety Camera Partnership is made up of West and East Sussex county councils, Brighton and Hove City Council, Sussex Police, the Highways Agency and magistrates' courts.

lEx-Gazette journalist's new safety message see p21.