New average speed cameras coming to the A56 in Sale

Drivers heading along the A56 through Sale and into Stretford will soon notice a change in speed enforcement, with new average speed cameras being installed as part of a Greater Manchester-wide safety programme.

By November, the latest cameras will replace the older fixed ones on two busy stretches of the A56, with work funded through the Mayor’s Challenge Fund and coordinated by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Safer Roads Greater Manchester Partnership.

In Sale, the cameras will cover Washway Road and Cross Street, between Woodhouse Lane and Dane Road. Another set will be installed on Chester Road and Talbot Road, between White City Way and Great Stone Road in Stretford.

Unlike traditional speed cameras, these average speed systems calculate how long it takes a vehicle to travel between two points using automatic number plate recognition. If a driver is over the speed limit, images are kept and sent to Greater Manchester Police. Data from drivers sticking to the limit is automatically deleted.

The cameras work with infra-red lighting, so there’s no visible flash when they capture images. Research shows that average speed cameras encourage smoother driving, improve air quality and cut emissions by reducing the stop-start effect of harsh braking.

A Trafford Council spokesperson said: "We hope that the presence of the new safety cameras will promote compliance with the speed limit. In an ideal world, zero speeding would be detected. The best way to avoid a fine or penalty is to observe the speed limit."

Anyone caught speeding faces at least a £100 fine plus three licence points. Depending on how fast they were going, some drivers may be offered a speed awareness course instead of points, though this option is only available once every three years.

The A56 in Sale is one of 25 routes across Greater Manchester set to receive the upgrade. Specialist contractor Jentopik is carrying out the work, with installation due to finish in November.