How long do the penalty points stay on my licence?
They are only valid for three years but it is a DVLA requirement for them to remain on the licence for four years due to any outstanding proceedings.

What can I do - I cannot surrender my licence, as it is at DVLA (or lost) but you have returned my payment?
To meet the conditions of the fixed penalty procedure a valid licence must be surrendered - a payment cannot be accepted without a licence. If a licence is lost then a duplicate must be obtained urgently from DVLA in time to accept the penalty.

Can I have an extension of time - as I cannot afford to pay?
The Fixed Penalty Office cannot grant an extension of time. Although an instalment facility is not available within the fixed penalty procedure, there is a month’s payment period with many alternative methods of payment.

How long does it take to process my licence and when will it be sent back?
It is our policy to process Conditional Offers on the day of receipt. When this is not possible, due to unforeseen circumstances, it is usually within a week.

Where is my licence – it hasn’t been received back?
After two weeks has elapsed from the surrender of your licence, it is advisable to contact the Fixed Penalty Office. If it has gone astray then we may request a replacement licence from DVLA for you, if it is within three months of the loss.

I wish to dispute this fixed penalty – how do I go about this?
You should contact Essex Police on 01277 636610 with any disputes regarding the issue of the fixed penalty.

How can I tell if it’s a 30 mph area?
The 30 mph limit applies to all traffic on all roads with street lighting in England and Wales, unless signs show otherwise, and to Class C and unclassified roads in Scotland. When in doubt, stick to 30 mph.

The limit is the maximum safe speed in the best road conditions. (For more details see the Highway Code www.dft.gov.uk)

Why can’t I speed up at night when no one else is on the road?
All speed limits are mandatory 24 hours a day, every day of the year. And you might think you’re the only one on the road at night, but you’d be wrong.

The number of pedestrians increases when pubs are closing, and at just about any time of the night you could encounter shift workers going to or from their jobs, people walking their dogs, or cars broken down awaiting assistance. There could also be unknown dangerous road conditions ahead.

So, why take the chance of injuring yourself or someone else?

I couldn’t stop safely for a red light because the vehicle behind me was too close and I might have caused an accident. Why should I be fined?
The view captured on camera can prove whether or not there is a following vehicle. In 95% of cases where this is queried there is no other vehicle.

Remember – you should always be driving at an appropriate speed in anticipation of a light change. Good driver reaction should allow ample time to stop safely.

You might find it useful to look at the typical stopping distances chart in the Highway Code, (www.dft.gov.uk)

Why aren’t police officers out catching real criminals instead of persecuting innocent motorists?
Safety cameras do not detect innocent motorists - only offenders.

Speed limits are set by law. If you exceed the limit, you’ve broken the law. It’s that simple.

In terms of catching ‘real’ criminals, the information gathered by safety cameras in Essex has contributed to a number of convictions for serious offences including armed robbery, drug trafficking and a worldwide credit card fraud. This is, of course, in addition to their role in reducing road crashes and casualties.

How can you prove that the camera is accurate?
The camera is a precision instrument that is checked by technicians on a regular basis. In addition, where there are fixed camera sites there will be secondary check road markings, from which the vehicle speed can be calculated accurately. These markings are not required for mobile camera operation.

I’ve been driving for many years. Why isn’t a good driving record taken into consideration?
Safety cameras don’t discriminate. Everyone who offends is treated equally, regardless of age or driving record.

How are new camera locations identified?
New safety camera sites are identified by the accident history and level of the speeding problem along a stretch of road. For more information click here.

Where are the locations of the safety cameras in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock?
Click here to see where the safety cameras are.

Where can I find out the accident history of a camera location?
This information is published on this web site - click here to view.

Why is the term 'safety camera' used rather than 'speed camera'?
The term safety camera is used to encompass both speed and traffic signal enforcement cameras; there is significant evidence that they do have highly beneficial effect on road safety.

How are safety cameras funded?
Local authorities receive a grant for road safety through the Local Transport Plan process. This road safety grant can be spent on safety camera enforcement or on any other road safety measure according to local priorities.

There is no link between the expenditure on the provision and use of cameras and the fine revenue collected. All fine income from safety cameras goes directly to HM Treasury.

Why use safety cameras?
Research shows that safety cameras in Essex have helped to reduce the frequency of personal injury collisions by 22% at camera locations.*

Safety cameras have also helped to reduce the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 31% at new locations in Essex.*

*Source - National Safety Camera Programme, Four Year Report (December 2005)

To view the report click here.

Why is the speed at which you travel so important?
Click here for further information on the speed issue.

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Click here for the latest statistics in your area