Labour councillors at Warwickshire County Council (WCC) are pushing for more speed cameras across the county as deaths on Warwickshire's roads increased last year.

Data from the Department of Transport show the number of people killed on the area's roads rose from 15 in 2021 to 22 in 2022, which is almost a 50 per cent increase.

Cllr Sarah Feeney, deputy group leader of the WCC Labour Group and candidate for Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner said: "We were horrified to see that there were 1,145 casualties reported on Warwickshire roads in 2022 – up from 1,126 the year before. 

"We know that the RAC have analysed the use of average speed cameras. 

"The research claims that the use of average speed cameras has generally been found to cut the number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury by more than a third.

"This Tuesday we will put forward a motion to WCC to report back on a trial of average speed cameras as a matter of urgency to examine what the cost would be to install average speed cameras across the county."

In November 2022 a speed camera trial was going to start in four locations across the county to see how effective they could be in reducing speed and accidents. 

Due to technical difficulties this has been delayed and is being rolled out now and was due to be assessed in twelve months. 

The Warwickshire Labour Group will be introducing a motion to full council on Tuesday (19 December) to urge the council to report back on the issue within sixth months rather than twelve and to start to examine costs for more average speed cameras across the county.

Cllr Feeney, who is moving the motion added: "There is clear evidence that speed cameras save lives and reduce accidents. 

"We know other surrounding local authorities have a number of these cameras and they have proven to reduce the number of accidents and speeding. 

"We believe it is time for our county to act on the concerns residents have been raising about this serious issue."