Case Study: Tektrans Speed and Red Light Enforcement Solution in Bolton
Delivery Partner: Tektrans
End User: Bolton Council
Region: UK – Bolton
Background
In Bolton, concerns have been raised by local communities regarding a small proportion of motorists who consistently exceed speed limits and frequently engage in dangerous driving behaviour. These individuals, often driving at excessive speeds during quieter night-time hours, pose a significant challenge to enforcement efforts. Although they represent no more than 2% of motorists, they are perceived as the primary source of concern for local residents due to their persistent and reckless driving on familiar routes within their communities.
Project Overview
Bolton Council, in partnership with local safety and traffic camera supplier Tektrans, has developed an innovative approach to address this issue. To target these persistent offenders, the council has installed eight cameras in one of the deprived areas of Bolton:
- Speed and Direction Monitoring:
- Six cameras have been deployed to record vehicle speed, direction, and number plates.
- Red Light Enforcement:
- Two additional cameras have been installed to capture red light running offences.
The captured data is processed by Tektrans’ back office software, Overwatch, which filters out the repeat offenders who regularly exceed speed limits or run red lights. The system allows for setting thresholds for speed and red light violations, as well as specifying the timeframe for monitoring, to produce a top 10 list of anti-social drivers in the area.
This number plate data is then passed on to Greater Manchester Police, who engage directly with the registered keepers of the vehicles. The goal is to encourage these motorists to modify their driving behaviour and to make them aware that their actions are being closely monitored.
Challenges
The challenge in Bolton has been the persistent nature of these high-risk drivers who, despite their small numbers, have a disproportionate impact on road safety and community well-being. Traditional methods of enforcement were not sufficiently effective in curbing this behaviour, particularly during off-peak hours when these drivers are most active.
Solution & Implementation
Tektrans provided a targeted enforcement solution that enabled Bolton Council to:
- Identify and monitor repeat offenders through sophisticated data analysis.
- Collaborate with Greater Manchester Police to directly address the driving behaviour of these motorists.
- Utilise Overwatch software to manage and process large volumes of data, ensuring that enforcement efforts are focused on the most problematic drivers.
How Success is Measured
The success of this initiative is measured through three primary metrics:
- Monitoring Repeat Offenders:
- The number of repeat offenders and subsequent visits by Greater Manchester Police are tracked, with the expectation that these figures will decline over time.
- Automatic Traffic Count Data:
- Automatic Traffic Count (ATC) data is collected before and during the scheme to monitor changes in traffic patterns and volume.
- Collision Data:
- Analysis of collision data is conducted in the first and third years of the scheme to assess its impact on road safety.
Since the project became operational in April 2024, the initial results have been very encouraging. There has been a 76% reduction in the number of motorists who, after receiving engagement from Greater Manchester Police, have continued to engage in anti-social driving behaviour.
Conclusion
This project exemplifies Tektrans’ ability to deliver targeted, data-driven enforcement solutions that address specific community concerns.
The collaboration with Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Police has led to a significant reduction in dangerous driving behaviour, enhancing road safety and improving the quality of life for residents in the area. Tektrans remains committed to supporting local authorities in their efforts to create safer communities through innovative technology and strategic partnerships.
Joe Fox, Network Manager for Bolton Council “Bolton Council in collaboration with Tektrans and with support from Greater Manchester Police have developed an innovative way in which we can tackle anti-social driving. Currently, we have 8 cameras which monitor speed and red light running in one of Bolton’s most deprived areas. Using this data we can produce robust targeted data of individual motorists who persistently flout the traffic laws.
Greater Manchester Police have developed several methods for driver engagement, such as home visits, which have seen some encouraging initial results in altering driver behaviour. It is hoped that this trend will continue particularly when the project details are shared formally with the local community.
Bolton Council has worked together with Tektrans and we have new projects in the development stages such as red light running compliance checks, pedestrian crossing conflict analysis and cloned number plate monitoring. The partnership really demonstrates the value of public and private sectors working together and making Bolton’s Roads safer for everyone”.
