Lightening the load on roads
New CCTV to enforce weight limits
HILLINGDON Council has become the first local authority to use specialist CCTV to catch HGV drivers who breach weight restrictions.
Cameras connected to an automatic number plate recognition system will be used to identify large vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes that are accessing roads in the borough contrary to weight restrictions.
The weight limits apply to the maximum permitted weight of vehicles, so even if the HGV is empty or partly-loaded, they’ll still be subject to the prohibitions.
Tim Daniels, sales and marketing director of Videalert, the system being used in Hillingdon, said: “This provides councils with a costeffective and efficient way to make weight limit restrictions really work.
“This fully managed service is highly flexible, allowing additional systems to be installed or existing ones removed to meet local needs without saddling councils with obsolete technology.
“It also enables councils, as and when legislated, to rapidly deploy enforcement of the full range of other moving traffic offences including banned turns, yellow box junctions, bus lanes and parking offences on keep clears outside schools.”
Contraventions are automatically captured at the time they occur and transferred to an external server without the need for using any council IT infrastructure or communications networks.
Evidence collected is remotely reviewed and processed by the council’s enforcement contractor staff using standard web browsers before confirmed offences are sent to the PCN back office system for processing.
Civil enforcement includes the planning, supply, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of on-street equipment, such as the latest digital cameras and all associated communications connectivity.
It allows the equipment to be moved and relocated as required to meet Hillingdon’s tactical requirements.
There will be a ‘whitelist’ to allow HGVs to access local shops, businesses and residential properties for deliveries and removals.