Cameras do not reduce deaths
December 17, 2003
Ever since speed cameras were scrapped in Canada eight years ago, road deaths have declined and continue doing so.
According to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, the experiment in Ontario was proof that the proliferation of speed cameras on Britain's roads does not necessarily save lives. Annual road deaths in Canada stood at 999 when the cameras were scrapped and have since steadily fallen and are now at 881.
An official said it had been shown cameras did not make roads safer.
"Speed cameras had no effect on drunk drivers, tailgaters, unsafe lane- straddlers, sudden stoppers or vehicles with serious mechanical defects. These are the biggest killers on Ontario roads and they can only be stopped by officers on patrol," said the official.
In Britain, the Mail on Sunday revealed that at least two more police forces had set
targets for the
number of motorists they
intended to
trap with speed cameras.
South Africa's Automobile Association said they supported visible law enforcement, meaning that a speed trap must be seen by drivers beforehand to enable them to reduce speed on hazardous roads.
"It (the speed trap) should be visible so that people slow down before they get to it. Hiding the speed trap defeats the object of putting it there in the first place," said AA spokesperson Gary Ronald. Speed traps had to be used to complement other road safety measures and law enforcement, he said.
From:
http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fSetId=257&fArticleId=310085