Over £600,000 to be spent tackling reckless driving in Portsmouth
Speed cameras and other measures will be introduced on Portsdown Hill
More than £600,000 is being spent to improve road safety in Portsmouth, focusing on Portsdown Hill.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has announced funding for average speed cameras to reduce reckless driving, speeding, and anti-social vehicle use along Portsdown Hill Road and James Callaghan Drive.
Jones is collaborating with Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to fast-track the project, which aims to curb dangerous behaviour on one of Hampshire’s most hazardous roads.
“I’ve listened to the concerns of people living along Portsdown Hill and the surrounding areas and am taking action,” Jones said during a public meeting in Farlington.
“The majority of road users use that route safely but a minority are making it increasingly hazardous and are putting lives at risk.
“There have been 61 injury incidents over the past five years, including four fatalities.
“It’s one of the most dangerous roads in Hampshire. One person’s actions can have a devastating impact in a split second.”
Jones added that alongside average speed cameras and a planned 30mph limit, other preventative measures are being explored to improve safety standards.
She also highlighted the impact of noise pollution caused by motorbikes and cars, which she described as “blighting the lives of thousands of people.”
The PCC’s £500,000 road safety fund and the new joint Safer Roads initiative, led by Roads Policing Teams, are part of her broader mission to reduce deaths and serious injuries on roads across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
In addition, Jones is hosting a Road Safety Summit in March 2026 to bring together councils, Highways, police, and road user groups to share best practices and further enhance road safety strategies.
More details about the PCC’s commitments can be found on her website, under Safer Roads.