Car Accidents > News
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Speed Cameras Proving A False Hope In Improving Road Safety
Fri, 16 Jul 2010

Speed cameras in the UK have failed to significantly improve safety on British roads, according to new figures released by the TaxPayers’ Alliance and the Drivers’ Alliance.

Data obtained from the Ministry of Justice through a Freedom of Information request shows that more than £87 million was raised through fines for speeding and red light offences, and court fines, in 2008-2009.

While revenue from speed cameras has soared, the data reveals that the rate of reduction of road traffic accidents has slowed since the introduction of cameras in 1990.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance and the Drivers’ Alliance claim an estimated 1.5 million road-related injuries could have been prevented if the rate of decline had continued at the same pace in the years prior to 1990.

Peter Roberts, chief executive of The Drivers' Alliance, said: "Speed cameras have been a false hope in improving safety on British roads."

"Close statistical analysis of road casualties shows that, since speed cameras have been the main driver of road safety policy, the road casualty rate has not gone down at the trajectory expected."

"It is time to rethink road safety policy so that it has a broadened focus not solely based on speed. No more speed cameras should be funded by local authorities and existing speed cameras should be removed."

Taxpayers’ Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott commented: "Motorists have long suspected that speed cameras are more about raising money than keeping roads safe."

"These findings show that the state has been squeezing a fortune out of people with these cameras but if anything, the rate of reduction in casualty numbers has slowed."
add to favouritesnewsletterlink to this pagesend to friendpost comments

Link to this page

Copy and Paste the following HTML into your page.