Red Routes
Every road in Northamptonshire has been surveyed and the 49 most dangerous are categorised as Red because of the number and severity of collisions in the past three years.
The Red Route system is constantly monitored and reviewed annually using collision date for the whole year.
Education
Road Safety Officers are involved in all aspects of the study of a Red Route from a road user behaviours point of view. Where appropriate, a Red Route leaflet will be produced, to warn identified road user groups of the hazards and how best to deal with them.
Enforcement
Whilst Northamptonshire was one of the eight Police forces involved in the pilot scheme for Safety Camera cost recovery, we have never believed that cameras alone are the answer to reducing casualties.
Red Routes are subject to speed enforcement by the mobile safety camera unit, and fixed site cameras are installed where necessary.
Further enforcement work is carried out by the Road Policing Unit under Operation STEP (Selectively Targeted Enforcement Programme) - Red Routes receive patrol visits by Traffic Officers and particular attention is paid to seat belt wearing, mobile phone use etc.
Engineering
After a thorough study by traffic engineers, a programme of work is agreed for each Red Route. All engineering work is assessed against the estimated first rate of return and only schemes which will realistically justify their costs are included. This way we ensure that we make the best use of limited funds.
Other schemes
Minor schemes
Whilst the bulk of Casualty Reduction work is carried out on Red Routes, sites with high numbers of slight injury accidents are also identified in our regular monitoring of county roads, and a minor works budget is set aside to pay for schemes.
All proposed schemes must provide an acceptable estimated first rate of return.
Mass Action Schemes
Some hazards have been identified throughout the County, and an ongoing programme of work has been established.
Joint Funding
Other schemes (for example Safer Routes to School) will sometimes receive a contribution from Casualty Reduction funds, in this way we can achieve the best value for money.
Funding for Casualty Reduction Schemes will also be obtained from other sources, for example developer funding, where possible.