Speed Camera News UK: Cash-grabbing speed cams will be reviewed
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/lep-business/cash_grabbing_speed_cams_will_be_reviewed_1_3599601
Thursday 21 July 2011
Cash-grabbing speed cams will be reviewed
Speed camera on Eastway, Fulwood
Published on Thursday 21 July 2011 03:50
Transport chiefs in Lancashire today pledged to review speed cameras which have failed to improve road safety.
It comes as campaigners questioned the use of new figures released by road safety chiefs yesterday.
The Evening Post has found three speed cameras in Preston alone where the number of accidents and casualties has increased since the cameras were installed.
Those same three cameras raked in £18,000 in fines from motorists in 2010, although one of them, in Eastway, close to Glencourse Drive, Fulwood, caught just nine people speeding.
And driving groups say the figures, which the Government ordered the release of yesterday, do not prove that cameras have reduced accidents, because the number of accidents on every road in the country have plummeted in recent years.
Roger Lawson, of national campaign group the Association of British Drivers (ABD) said: “The big problem with statistical analysis if accidents at camera sites...is accidents have come down generally across all roads in the UK very substantially in the past few years. That is because of improved car safety and other road safety measures.”
He said that camera partnerships have “taken the credit” where accidents have reduced around the sites, when in fact safer vehicles, better hospital treatment of accident victims and the fact that speed cameras are usually accompanied by other road safety improvements have led to accidents everywhere falling.
He said it was “impossible” to separate the effect speed cameras have had from those other factors.
According to latest Government figures the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads in Lancashire is at a 30 year low. There were 798 such incidents last year compared to 852 in 2009.
County Coun Tim Ashton, cabinet member for transport and highways, said the figures will give the council a “blank piece of paper” to look at ways to improve road safety.
He said some fixed cameras will remain because they “do work” but average speed cameras, more mobile sites and more community schemes, where volunteers man cameras will be considered. If there are some which are not reducing accidents, we will have to look at them,” he said.
Coun Ashton agreed the impact of speed cameras could not be separated from other road safety measures, but added: “You can’t just say you don’t need the cameras because they are part of a whole host of reasons accidents have gone down globally.”
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Articles Menu
Find Info
Latest Comments
Member Login
