Traffic to be Improved By Number Plates Scheme

Many areas of the UK have begun installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras in an effort to combat crime. However, police in West Sussex have begun installing the high-tech number plate-snapping cameras for another reason - to monitor traffic congestion.

The council's aim is to help people avoid traffic jams, or at least give drivers an idea of how long journeys are likely to take. The new cameras will record motorists' car registrations in order to calculate average speeds.

The council plans to publish its findings on its website in the travel information section. Here, there will be details about estimated journey times and areas to avoid and at what times of the day.

A spokesman for West Sussex council explained that the information found will be helpful to both the council and the public. He went on to stress that the information recorded will be purely for monitoring congestion and will not be used for enforcement purposes or passed on to a third party. He said, "The operator is not given any other information. Not the car registration number of the vehicle, or any information about the driver."

It is hoped that the cameras will provide the council with the necesary information to make improvememts to traffic congestion, such as altering traffic signals' timers.

Sussex police has installed 35 cameras so far to record number plates, and will continue to add more in order to provide information to drivers all over the county.

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