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Daily Mail, Monday 4th July 2005
By Chris Brooke
The extent to which police are making money from motorway speed traps was laid bare yesterday as two cameras were shown to have raised £1.2million in fines in 10 weeks.
Since mid-April, the temporary cameras at one spot on the M4 have caught more than 20,000 drivers – equivalent to one every five minutes.
Situated at roadworks near junction 18 outside Bristol, the cameras on either side of the carriageway are designed to trap motorists breaking the 40mph limit that was out in place to protect workers building a crawler lane.
Only one in ten of those caught had committed serious enough offences to go to court.
The figures have led to renewed claims that police forces are using speed traps as a way of generating income.
Paul Smith, an anti-speed camera campaigner and organiser of a recent ‘go-slow' M4 protest, said: “Speed cameras are about making money. What we have got with this system is cash-hungry quangos with wage bills to pay and plans to implement, and they live on a fine income. Nobody wants to see road workers injured, everyone wants to see these projects executed efficiently, sensibly and with a minimum of risk. But I wouldn't mind betting that most of the time drivers were issued tickets there were no road workers on the motorway.”
Those caught breaking the 40mph limit face an automatic £60 fine and three points on their licence. At the current rate, the two cameras could raise £6million a year.
In an illustration of the resentment the cameras have caused, vandals set the one on the westbound carriageway on fire last week. It has since been replaced.
Sergeant Mel Small, of Avon and Somerset Police, described the number of drivers breaking the limit as ‘frightening' and said it had been set at 40mph because of narrow lanes and heavy traffic. Figures for 2003, the latest year available, show speed cameras n England and Wales raised £114million in £60 fixed penalty tickets.
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