The Traffic Management is the scheme for improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on motorways.

Safety Cameras
Congestion Charging
Parking

SAFETY CAMERAS

Safety cameras play an important role in helping to keep the country's road network safe.

THE STATISTICS
On average, nine people are killed and 85 injured each day on the UK's roads. Without safety cameras to reduce speeding and make the roads safer, around 100 more people would be killed each year.

TYPES OF SAFETY CAMERA
Safety cameras include speed cameras and traffic signal (red-light) cameras. Speed cameras can be:

* fixed
* mobile
* average speed (time-over-distance)

Most safety cameras in England and Wales are run by local partnerships. These partnerships are usually made up of the local authority, the police and the courts.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR SAFETY CAMERAS?
The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers decide how safety cameras can be used.

The Department for Transport (DfT) produces a leaflet, 'Use of speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement: guidance on deployment, visibility and signing'. The leaflet explains where cameras can be used and how they should be displayed and signposted. However, if a safety camera does not meet this guidance you can't use this as a defence if you are caught speeding or jumping a red light.

Safety cameras are generally installed on roads:

* with a history of road traffic collisions and
* where there is evidence of a speeding problem or
* where there is local community concern

The police may also use cameras to enforce speed limits. In this case the rules about cameras being visible do not apply.

SPEEDING FINES AND PENALTY POINTS
If a vehicle is caught speeding or jumping a red light by a safety camera, the registered keeper will be sent a form called 'Notice of Intended Prosecution' within 14 days. Part of this form asks the registered keeper to identify the driver at the time of the offence.

If you are the driver, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of a fixed penalty. This means you will not have to attend a court hearing if you pay the fixed penalty.

The minimum fine for speeding or running a red light is £60 and three penalty points added to your licence.

You may need to go to court if ...
... the offence is a serious one or if you already have a certain number of points on your licence. In this case you will not be offered a fixed penalty and will have to go to court.

You can choose to go to court if ...
... you wish to challenge the penalty or there are mitigating circumstances you think should be taken into consideration. If you tell the police you wish to go to court they will normally issue you with a summons. You can give reasons for disputing the speeding fine on the summons, plus any evidence you want the court to take into account.

Appearing in court
If you appear in court the magistrates will decide on your fine and penalty points. They have the power to increase both the fine and the penalty points, and you may also be ordered to pay court costs.

All fines go to HM Treasury. Neither the police nor local councils profit from fines.

CONGESTION CONTROL

One way of reducing traffic congestion is to charge drivers directly for road use. London and Durham already have road charging schemes in place and other towns and cities are considering introducing them.

HOW THE CONGESTION CHARGE WORKS
The Congestion Charge is run by Transport for London (TfL). It operates Monday to Friday between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm, excluding public holidays.
The daily charge is £8 if you pay before midnight on the day you travel or £10 if you pay before midnight the following charging day. Payments on the following charging day can be made via the call centre or website only.

THE CHARGING ZONE
The charging zone covers central London, including most of the boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea, which were added in February 2007.
The charging zone is clearly marked, and there are road signs on all roads approaching and leaving the zone. The TfL website has details of the area covered and the times at which the charge applies.

PENALTY CHARGES
The penalty for not paying the LCC is £120, but this is reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days. If you do not pay the penalty charge within 28 days it is increased to £180.

DISCOUNT AND EXEMPTIONS
Not all drivers have to pay the LCC. There are discounts and exemptions for certain people and types of vehicle. You may be entitled to a discount or exemption if you:

* are a Blue Badge holder.
* live within the congestion charging zone.
* drive an alternative fuel or electronically propelled vehicle.
* drive a vehicle with nine or more seats.
* drive a roadside recovery vehicle.
* represent an accredited breakdown organisation.

PARKING

Congestion is a growing problem, especially around city centres, and car parking spaces are often limited. Many local areas have introduced a range of parking schemes to help.

WHO's RESPONSIBLE FOR PARKING
Local traffic authorities (usually local councils) together with private companies are responsible for managing parking.
Managing parking involves:

* creating parking spaces
* operating car parks
* creating controlled parking zones - where parking may be reserved for permit holders or restricted to certain times of day.

WHO ENFORCES PARKING REGULATION?
This depends on where you live. In many areas, including London, local authorities have the power to enforce parking restrictions. In others, parking is a criminal matter, enforced by the police and dealt with through the magistrates' courts.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS
You must pay for parking in most controlled parking zones and car parks. Parking without paying or exceeding the period allowed means you may be issued with a penalty fine.
There are two types of parking controls:

* restrictive parking - for waiting and loading only
* designated parking - identifies where vehicles can be left and under what conditions and includes residential parking zones

There are also areas where parking or waiting is banned:

* double yellow lines - parking is banned, although there may be specific exceptions for loading
* single yellow lines - parking is banned at specified times
* red routes - a single red line usually bans stopping and parking during working hours, while a double red line bans stopping and parking at any time

In England and Wales, private companies may clamp vehicles that are parked on private land. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) now licenses such companies.

PARK AND RIDE SCHEMES
Many towns and cities run Park and Ride schemes to encourage drivers to park on the outskirts rather than drive directly into the centre. The schemes are a combination of a car park on the outskirts of the town and public transport system, often a bus, which takes passengers directly into the centre.
Park and Ride schemes vary depending on where you live. Some schemes only operate on certain busy days while others operate all week. Fares also vary. Some schemes only charge the bus fare while others charge for both car parking and bus travel.
Some schemes allow children to travel free or operate 'carload' tickets, whereby a number of people who arrive in one vehicle can travel on a single ticket for one price.

OTHER PARKING SCHEMES
There are other parking schemes which aim to make it easier for certain groups of people to find a parking space.
These include:

* residents parking schemes - allow residents of areas with limited parking a permit to park
* the Blue Badge Scheme - offers free or reduced parking and access to convenient parking bays for disabled people with severe walking difficulties in vehicles they use either as drivers or passengers.