Black Mountain Pass Speed Cameras Attacked

Power tools have been used in a series of attacks on speed cameras along the scenic Black Mountain Pass (A4069) in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), a road famously featured on BBC’s Top Gear.

This popular driving route, known for its hairpin bends and stunning views, saw the installation of average speed cameras following a period between 2013 and 2023 that saw three fatalities and 37 injuries.

Dyfed-Powys Police reported five separate attacks between February and December of this year, all within a four-mile stretch of the camera zone between Brynamman and Llangadog in Carmarthenshire. The damage included attacks on solar power sources and the theft of batteries.

Since the cameras’ installation (at a cost of £250,000), there have been no further injuries on the road. However, their destruction has now made the route high-risk again, with repairs estimated at £180,000.

Ch Insp Gareth Morgan of GoSafe emphasized the importance of the cameras, stating, “These cameras were installed following deaths on this road.”

Ironically, the Welsh government’s tourism agency, Visit Wales, has previously promoted the road as “one of Britain’s best roads” under the headline “Highways to heaven.” They even highlighted its “Top Gear” connection, noting its popularity with “car magazine test drivers, bikers and motorists – and, consequently, the local bobbies.”