One of the UK’s biggest cities has revealed it will begin enforcing traffic regulations at four problematic locations from Monday, March 17, with drivers warned of fresh penalties for breaking the rules.
Bristol City Council was granted moving traffic enforcement powers across the city in July 2023 by the Government, with the authority now choosing to use it to make the region safer.
Traffic cameras will be put in place across the impacted areas to monitor where restrictions are repeatedly ignored, supporting police who retain their enforcement powers.
The four initial locations have been selected due to their history of traffic contraventions, complaints, and damage caused by drivers ignoring road rules.
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During the first six-months of the traffic scheme, the council will issue a warnings to drivers
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The council said that for the first six months, first-time offenders will receive warning letters rather than immediate penalties.
The four locations being targeted include a banned turn on Hockeys Lane and Fishponds Road junction in Fishponds, where violations lead to conflicts with pedestrians and damage to infrastructure.
In Redland, cameras will monitor a no-entry area onto a one-way road on Lower Redland Road, where drivers have been found to repeatedly ignore the one-way system.
Similar enforcement will take place on Furber Road in St George, where drivers contravene the one-way system despite infrastructure installed to direct traffic along Raeburn Road.
The fourth location is Bath Bridges Roundabout in Lawrence Hill, where drivers making prohibited right turns onto Cattlemarket Road create conflicts with pedestrians and other vehicles.
The six-month grace period will run until September 15, giving motorists time to adjust to the new enforcement measures.
However, repeat offenders will face a penalty charge notice of up to £70 if they break the same rule again at the same location. Any driver breaking the rules from this date will automatically receive a penalty charge notice without a prior warning.
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “Up until now, the police have been solely responsible for moving traffic contraventions on Bristol’s roads. With these new powers, we can work alongside the police to focus on areas of concern to improve road safety locally.
“By ignoring the rules of the road, drivers are endangering themselves and others. Taking on these new powers will mean we can play a more active role to tackle dangerous and anti-social driving.
“As these powers are new, we will learn from these six initial locations and consider whether to expand the programme.”
The council aims to improve road safety by targeting locations where motorists create potential dangers to pedestrians and other road users.
Official council documents stated: “If the Council determines to enforce the moving traffic contravention, the Penalty Charge shall be set out in a Penalty Charge Notice which shall be served by post.
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“If payment of the relevant Penalty Charge is made within 21 days of the date of service of the appropriate Penalty Charge Notice, the amount required to be paid is reduced by 50 per cent and the Discounted Penalty Charge specified in the Second Schedule to this Notice shall apply.”