Do Speed Cameras Just Shift Accidents Further up The Road?

Daily Mail, Monday, June 13 2005

Claims that speed cameras merely shift accidents further up the road are to be investigated by the Government.

The move follows conflicting official figures which showed annual road deaths fell by 100 at Britain's 6,000 camera sites – but rose 77 overall.

Safety experts have raised concern about the effect of road users slowing down for a camera and then putting their foot down.

It has been suggested that motorcyclists, in particular, are being killed while accelerating away.

Experts also believe that, with drivers steering clear of routes with devices, the accident risk rises elsewhere.

The investigation has not been officially announced, but a circular sent to universities and research institutes invites tenders for a two-year study to begin in September.

“There is a need to establish the broader effects of speed cameras away from the specific camera sites and, in particular, to investigate whether the use of speed camera sites, and in particular, to investigate whether the use of speed cameras causes a migration of accidents to other locations,” it says.

Figures for 2003 – the latest available – show that road deaths jumped by two per cent to 3,508 from 3,431 the year before.

Concern has also been raised by a Department for Transport audit last year which found that the number killed or seriously injured had gone up at one in seven camera sites. It listed 743 locations where casualties had increased by up to nine per cent.

This was despite an official announcement suggesting casualties were down by an average 40 per cent – equal to saving 100 lives each year.

Motoring groups welcomed the study but warned it could herald yet more cameras.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA Motoring Trust, said: “Speed cameras may drive some of the problems elsewhere but it could be used as an argument for either no cameras or more cameras.”

The RAC said it was alarmed at possible ‘blanket coverage' of cameras and called for more traffic police and better road design. “We don't want this research used to justify yet more cameras,” said Sue Nicholson, head of campaigns at the RAC Foundation for Motoring.

The Department for Transport denied that ordering the study was an admission that cameras may have a knock-on effect on casualties. “There is no evidence of displacement of accidents caused by cameras,” said a spokesman. “We routinely undertake road safety research and this study will help improve our understanding of the wider effects of cameras.”

Paul Smith, of campaign group Safe Speed, called on Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to scrap the devices. “Speed cameras don't make the roads safer,” he said.