Speed cameras in towns like Oldham may mask bigger driving problems, say critics.
Home Office figures show the number of motorists snapped by speed cameras rose, in 2002, to 1,411,300 — more than five times the number in 1996, when the devices were introduced.
In the last year, the number of drivers caught by the cameras has soared by 40 per cent.
Shadow transport secretary Damian Green said: “We see hundreds of thousands more drivers convicted by camera evidence but, at the same time, prosecutions for dangerous driving are down by 8 per cent. We are at risk of letting the most dangerous drivers get away with it by relying too much on one type of enforcement.”
The RAC Foundation claimed an over-emphasis on using cameras to catch speeders and other minor offenders was allowing hard-core criminals to get away with serious offences. But the AA said speed cameras were making Britain’s 32 million motorists safer drivers.
Head of road safety Andrew Howard said: “Disqualifications remain the same as before the speed camera boom.”
Home Office minister Caroline Flint said deaths and serious injuries at speed camera sites dropped 35 per cent and cut speeds by 10 per cent in a two-year pilot programme.
See,
http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/NEWST07.html
The AA say,
>"Speed cameras were making Britain’s 32 million motorists safer drivers.
Yet,
>>In the last year, the number of drivers caught by the cameras has soared by 40 per cent.
And,
Home Office figures show the number of motorists snapped by speed cameras rose, in 2002 to 1,411,300 — more than five times the number in 1996, when the devices were introduced.
(The figures are more than 'Double' that now! And are increasing!!)
Andrew Howard said: >
"Disqualifications remain the same as before the speed camera boom."
But he fails to mention, 'The disqualifications apply to motorists driving slightly over the limit, whilst the disqualifications for, drunk/drugged/dangerous/unlicenced/uninsured drivers in unroadworthy/dangerous vehicles etc etc etc have dropped, as pointed out by Damian Green!!
(And it's more likely to be much higher than the 8% he mentions!!)
And of course, we have Caroline Flint putting her pathetic claim that,
>"Deaths and serious injuries at speed camera sites dropped 35 per cent and cut speeds by 10 per cent in a two-year pilot programme.
Hanbo.