Road safety experts concerned sbout plans to switch off speed cameras
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has joined forces with other leading road safety organisations to voice its concern about the switching-off of speed cameras.
To spark an informed debate, nine influential groups have put their names to a communiqué which unequivocally recognises speed cameras as an effective part of a much broader programme to save lives and reduce injuries on UK roads.
With many local authorities preparing to discuss cuts to their road safety budgets, it is feared decisions could be taken soon which may prove irreversible.
RoSPA has been in touch with a number of local authorities in the week since cuts to road safety budgets rose to national prominence - with some councils reporting that they are considering changes to how they use speed cameras.
Before those decisions are taken, the communiqué’s co-signatories want to raise public awareness, demonstrate unity and feed the wider debate with facts.
Other signatories to the communique include the Institute of Road Safety Officers and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.
The communique said: "Speed cameras help to save lives - an estimated 100 lives a year in the UK.
"Lives are saved by reducing speeding. Speeding significantly increases the risk of an accident happening and also increases the severity of injuries in an accident.
"Cameras should continue to be used where casualty statistics show they are needed."
It went on: "Switching off cameras systematically would be close to creating a void in law enforcement on the road.
"Cameras currently account for 84% of fixed penalty notices for speeding.
"Cuts might also threaten many speed awareness courses that give motorists an opportunity to learn about the dangers of driving too fast.
"While public spending needs to be cut, cuts must be justified by evidence.
"Cameras pay for themselves and currently make an important contribution to achieving compliance with the speed limit."
