THE number of drivers caught speeding by the new enforcement camera on Ashburton Road in the first half of November can be revealed.

Submitted by the Mid-Devon Advertiser, the Freedom of Information (FOI) request shows that between November 1 and 14, 800 drivers were issued with a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) for exceeding the 30mph limit.

The FOI request also shows the total number of NIPs issued since the camera was installed: 1,251 in August, 3,465 in September and 2,621 in October.

In total, the camera has been activated 8,137 times.

Some motorists were caught twice, even thrice, by the camera in the same day, with many criticising the lack of warning signs when the device was initially installed.

The bi-directional camera which, in addition to speed, can detect seat belt and mobile phone offences, was installed in August.

It is one of two new camera sites, the other being in Plymouth, that have been installed as a temporary free trial of new camera equipment.

And the camera could become a permanent fixture as Devon County Council says it will consider retaining it once the trial period is over.

A Devon County Council spokesperson said: ‘The speed enforcement camera has been located on the A383 Ashburton Road site due to its injury collision history and following the results of subsequent traffic speed surveys.

‘Between 2019-2023 there were nine recorded injury collisions, including three serious collisions.

‘Seven of these collisions, including all three serious collisions, involved injuries to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

‘Surveys identified that typical traffic speeds on this road overnight, from 10pm to 7am, were between 40mph and 53mph.

‘During the busy daytime period over 100 vehicles per hour were found to be travelling at high speeds within this 30mph limit.

‘This camera on Ashburton Road is one of two new camera sites in Newton Abbot and Plymouth that have been installed as a temporary free trial of new camera equipment.

‘Following this trial, we will consider the option of retaining it as a permanent safety camera enforcement site’.

In the wake of the camera being installed, frustrated motorists took to Facebook to vent their anger, creating the page ‘A383 Ashburton Road Speed Camera Victims’.

The group, which has close to 2,000 members, was set up ‘in protest of the gross misspending of public money, targeting and criminalising innocent motorists going about their day to day business’.