EXPERTS at Siemens in Poole have finished installing the UK’s biggest permanent system for enforcing average speed limits.

The scheme in London includes more than 120 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at 80 sties on key routes around the capital.

Siemens used its SafeZone technology for the scheme, which is part of Transport for London’s (TfL) Vision Zero approach for tackling danger on the roads.

Luke Normington, head of enforcement solution at Siemens, said the SafeZone system was running on some of the busiest roads in the UK.

“The collaboration between TfL and Siemens in the design phase of the project was of utmost importance to the success of the project to ensure the system was deployed efficiently and safely, with minimal impact to the road users, often meaning installation and commissioning being carried out late at night to minimise congestion.”

Siemens holds a 10-year maintenance contract to ensure the system continues to operate effectively around the clock.

Lilli Matson, TfL’s head of strategy and outcome planning, said: “We are strongly committed to reducing danger on London’s streets, especially that caused by drivers exceeding the speed limit.

“Ensuring all drivers act responsibly is vitally important and we’re using the latest average speed camera technology, developed by Siemens, to do so. Ensuring speed compliance along a more extensive length of road, rather than just where a camera is located, can make a big difference in cutting the number of tragic unacceptable collisions, saving more lives and improving air quality.”

Siemens this year launched Sicore II, its latest ANPR camera platform, based on more than 30 years’ experience in vision detection and analytics.

Sicore II was designed to enforce average speed limits, low emission and clean air zones and Siemens says it is a “step change in performance” from traditional ANPR cameras.

James Riley, Siemens’ global product marketing manager for enforcement products, said the system represented the future of enforcement.

Siemens marked the 50th anniversary of its plant in Poole, formerly Plessey, last year.

It employs 500 people and is the centre of the multi-national company’s work in traffic signalling and enforcement camera systems.