THE new speed camera on Ashburton Road could become a permanent fixture as Devon County Council says it will consider retaining it once the trial period is over.

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

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.

The camera is fixed to a street light past the Bradley Barton junction, but before Here Park.

And Devon County Council says that, following the trial, it will consider retaining a camera at the site.

Devon County Council spokesperson said: ‘As members of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, we are committed to doing everything we can to halve serious and fatal collisions by 2030. We know speed is a major contributory factor in serious and fatal collisions.

‘It gives drivers less time to react and significantly increases the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash.

‘Anything we can do to encourage slower speeds and reduce the severity of injury collisions has to be a worthwhile endeavour.

‘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’.