Mixed Results From Speed Cameras

24th August 2011
Source BBC

In an attempt to increase transparency, the Department for Transport has started to release information relating to speed cameras and their effectiveness, which have been published by local authorities

So far only 46 local authorities have published full reports with a further 29 releasing limited information. The remaining 72 authorities have either not yet published any information, or the information that they have published is not enough to draw any conclusion.

The results so far have been mixed with some authorities showing a reduction in accidents and others an increase so it is difficult to prove one way or another weather speed cameras are having the desired effect of reducing accidents.

For instance a camera located in Parkstone, Pool, Dorset had an increase in casualties since the camera was installed in 2003. Where as the Camera Partnership for Lancashire have shown a reduction in speeds and accidents in camera locations.

And a report for “Safer Roads Humber” states that there has been a reduction of 58% in the number of people killed or seriously injured in the period between 2003 and 2010 with a 11% reduction in average speeds. Being balanced against a camera on the A605 near Peterborough showing the highest accident figures for any year since 1990.

The Department for Transport has also said that police forces will be publishing figures on the amount of prosecutions arising from all of the speeding camera sites in their areas each year, along with the number of people being given a fixed penalty notice or a court summons and the number of offenders who opted to take a seep awareness course

Mike Penning, the current Minister for Road Safety, has stated that “the war on the motorist is over” and that the cameras shouldn’t be used as ”cash cows” only as an aid to reducing accidents.

He is hoping that the release of this information would encourage residents to hold their local councils to account on accident black spots.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists spokes person Neil Greig, has said that the data issued must be used with care, adding, “Any camera that consistently issues tickets is either in the wrong location or has a problem with not being signposted clearly.

Adrian Tink from the RAC welcomed the move saying that the RAC has long called for an audit of the existing speed cameras to confirm weather they do make a difference to road safety but warned that “unless this information is acted upon by local authorities it becomes a pointless exercise”.