(Thanks to www.abd.org.uk for the link).

Comment from a local:

 by Staffsknott
Monday, November 28 2011, 11:38AM

“I find myself watching my speedo rather than watching the road ahead when there is a speed camera around. Just incase I creep above the limit. In my 14 years of driving with a clean license I have always thought that if there is a chance of me knocking someone over in my car its around a speed camera because I'm not fully looking at the road ahead. I think this is the case with most drivers. So basically speed camera have the potential to cause accidents rather than prevent. Also I've forgotten what its like to drive fast with a high congestion of traffic about and the speed humps everywhere, speed cameras are not needed the money should be invested in public transport to reduce congestion. ,,,,,,"

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/end-road-speed-cameras/story-13978073-detail/story.html

End of the road for Stoke-on-Trent's speed cameras?

Monday, November 28, 2011 The Sentinel
 

SPEED cameras across Stoke-on-Trent look set to be switched off as part of a multi-million pound cuts package.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to withdraw its funding for the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) from April as it tries to save £24 million in 2012/13.

​

Cuts: A speed camera.

It slashed its contribution from £335,000 in 2010/11 to £100,000 this year, while Staffordshire County Council cut its funding from £1.3 million to £368,000.

The budget cuts have seen at least half of the fixed yellow cameras in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire permanently turned off.

Now the remaining active cameras in the city could be decommissioned – prompting fears of an increase in fatal crashes.

Talks have begun between council officers and representatives from the police and the county council about retaining "some degree" of enforcement, which could include mobile camera vans.

The city council said it would continue to finance its own road safety projects, but its budget plan also includes cutting funding for road safety training for cyclists to save £36,000 and a further £18,000 cut to general "road safety activity".

Paul Biggs, Staffordshire co-ordinator for the Association of British Drivers, said: "Over the last few years, only the most profitable cameras have stayed live.

"That they are being switched off shows they don't really believe they are the best thing for road safety. If the cameras are permanently out of use they should also be covered up."

But Gordon Owen, who was involved in a safety campaign to slow down traffic in Reginald Mitchell Way, disagreed.

The 45-year-old, of Mustang Close, Tunstall, said: "I can't even believe they are considering this. Speed cameras are a deterrent and if drivers know they're not working, they'll just ignore them. It will inevitably lead to more crashes." The Sentinel revealed in August that a maximum of 29 of the 262 speed cameras in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire were switched on at any one time.

Active components which trigger the camera's flash and issue tickets to drivers are moved around the yellow boxes in an attempt to prevent motorists finding out which ones are out of use. But at least half of the cameras are never in use.

A city council budget report states: "Reduction in road safety enforcement across Stoke-on-Trent may impact on accident statistics. The partnership will need to meet costs associated with decommissioning camera sites.

"Discussions are ongoing about ways to retain some degree of camera-based enforcement across the city."

County councillor Mike Maryon, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We have no current plans to cut funding for the Safer Roads Partnership.

"The partnership will review the funding when all parties have made decisions about their allocations for 2012/13.

"However, we are determined to ensure any loss of funding will not affect the future success of the partnership or road safety in Staffordshire."

(Ban the Cams note:  Translated expect some funny business like maybe the "speed awaremenss" classs scam potentially here http://www.abd.org.uk/pr/767.htm).

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