You may be aware of that the installation of the new average speed camera scheme on the A583 Blackpool Road is now complete. We wanted to let you know that the cameras will go live, and be enforced, from Tuesday 6 March.

The cameras sit between Wrea Green roundabout, through Kirkham bypass to Newton-with-Scales, west of Clifton. It is the seventh of eight routes across the county to go live.

The Lancashire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) gave the go ahead for the scheme in 2016 and in January 2017 it announced the chosen routes in a bid to reduce road casualties and collisions. The Partnership decided to adopt the system of using average speed cameras as motorist compliance has consistently improved on a variety of road types using the system in other parts of the UK.

The cameras will use number plate recognition technology to detect vehicles and calculate their average speed by measuring the time taken to travel between fixed points of a known distance apart. We hope that the introduction of the system will positively influence driver behaviour and ensure that motorists comply with the set limits on roads, resulting in a safer environment for all road users.

There will be sanctions for anyone detected breaching the speed limits. Where eligible, they will be given the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course to learn about the dangers of speeding, accept a conditional offer of a fixed penalty (currently �100 and 3 penalty points) or for higher speeds the matter may be referred to court.

Further information about average speed cameras can be found on our website here www.lancashire.police.uk/help-advice/road-safety/average-speed-cameras/.

Victims have reported booking tickets via websites or a “popular” ticket broker, only to discover that after payment via bank transfer or electronic wire transfer, the tickets/booking references received are counterfeit. In some cases, all communications between the company or broker and the victim have been severed.

Fraudsters are targeting individuals who are seeking to travel to African nations and the Middle East, particularly those wishing to travel in time for popular public and religious holidays.

Prevention Advice:

• Pay safe: Be cautious if you’re asked to pay directly into a private individual’s bank account. Paying by direct bank transfer is like paying by cash – the money is very difficult to trace and is not refundable. Wherever possible, pay by credit card or a debit card.
• Conduct research on any company you’re considering purchasing tickets from; for example, are there any negative reviews or forum posts by previous customers online? Don’t just rely on one review – do a thorough online search to check the company’s credentials.
• Check any company website thoroughly; does it look professional? Are there any spelling mistakes or irregularities? There should be a valid landline phone number and a full postal address so that the company can be contacted. Avoid using the site if there is only a PO Box address and mobile phone number, as it could be difficult to get in touch after you buy tickets. PO Box addresses and mobile phone numbers are easy to change and difficult to trace.
• Be aware that purchasing tickets from a third party, particularly when initial contact has been made via a social media platform can be incredibly risky.
• If tickets to your intended destination appear cheaper than any other vendor, always consider this; if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
• Look for the logo: Check whether the company is a member of a recognised trade body such as ABTA or ATOL. You can verify membership of ABTA online, at www.abta.com.
• If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.