Speed Camera News UK: ROAD DEATHS FALL TO A RECORD LOW AS SPEED CAMERAS TURNED OFF
(Thanks to www.abd.org.uk for the link).
ROAD DEATHS FALL TO A RECORD LOW AS SPEED CAMERAS TURNED OFF
Government has cut cash for cameras
Friday July 1,2011
By Laura Caroe
THE number of people killed on the roads is at its lowest level in 85 years despite increasing numbers of speed cameras being switched off.
Fewer fixed cameras now target drivers after the Government said it would no longer provide cash for new speed traps.
A total of 1,857 people died in road accidents in 2010, 16 per cent fewer than the previous year, while 20,803 were seriously injured – an eight per cent fall – according to Department for Transport figures.
The first town to scrap fixed speed cameras has seen no increase in accidents.
Swindon switched off its cameras in July 2009 over claims they were a “blatant tax on the motorist” and did nothing to improve safety.
The most recent figures available show there was one death and eight minor accidents in the six months from August 2008.
In the six months from August the following year, there were no fatalities, two serious and seven minor accidents.
In the West Midlands, a coalition of seven councils slashed their road safety budget from £1.93million to £750,000 Replacing its existing cameras would cost £4million. Hugh Bladon, of the Association of British Drivers, said: “Speed cameras have not been an effective way in making our roads safer.
“The figures show that since some of the cameras have been switched off there has not been an increase in the number of accidents which suggests we have been right all along.
“Swindon and Weston-super-Mare are clear examples as the accident rate has not increased one iota since their cameras were covered.
“They are just a nuisance factor and we need to replace cameras with police patrolling the roads properly, catching those who are driving stupidly or under the influence of alcohol and drugs.”
The figures show that 208,655 road casualties, including slight injuries, serious injuries and deaths, were reported to police last year, six per cent down on 2009.
And the total reported child casualties fell by five per cent to 19,569 last year. The number of motorcycle deaths was down 15 per cent although cyclists killed, at 111, rose by seven per cent.
Campaigners have warned that road safety must continue to be a priority while five people still die on the roads each day.
Caroline Perry, from road safety charity Brake, said: “It is great news the number of people being killed on our roads is decreasing but there is still a lot of work to be done.
“Every death is unacceptable and leaves the family devastated so we must reduce the number until we reach zero,” she added.
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