WHEN hundreds of people die on Scotland’s roads every year, there can be no doubt that excessive speed is a factor in far too many of these tragedies.

Speed cameras can help to slow down traffic on dangerous stretches of road. Most people do accept the cameras are necessary at road safety black-spots, and that the cameras do help to save lives.

Latest figures show that speeding fines handed out in the Lothians are set to double since a new blitz was introduced last year.

The project increased the number of fixed speed cameras and introduced mobile cameras at sites around the city. The number of fines is expected to rise to 30,000 and motorists are set to pay out £1.8million.

Once drivers become aware of these figures, many may consider that speed cameras are being used to levy yet another tax on the motorist.

The increased use of speed cameras has caught many more motorists speeding, and there is no getting away from the fact that they should be sticking to the legal speed limit.

But there is a big difference between being caught driving at a dangerously fast speed and being caught for doing 33 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone.

Speed cameras are only supposed to be installed at known accident black-spots, yet the increase in cameras and fines may lead to the suspicion that the cameras are a means of raising revenue. Once the police have covered their costs, the money from the fines goes back to the Treasury.

Critics also question the decisions about where the cameras should be sited and whether they are all at places where there is a proven speed problem.

It also remains to be seen whether or not the speeding blitz will have decreased the number of accidents in Lothian and Borders. The AA points out that the number of deaths on Scotland’s roads has gone 'UP' for the first time in recent years.

The Lothian and Borders Safety Camera Partnership will have to work hard to convince people that the increased use of speed cameras is justified to improve road safety.

A failure to do so seems certain to lead to an increased cynicism among motorists that they are being used to raise revenue.

And this could undermine drivers’ respect for speed cameras in the trouble spots where we most need them to work.

Here:
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/leaders.cfm?id=838512004


It's been said so many times though that, IF, speed cameras were working effectively, they would collect 'NO REVENUE' !

Whilst they pratnerships continue to, 'rub it in', by constantly bragging about the enormous amounts of cash their precious cameras are generating, no-one will ever accept that the contraptions are anything other than 'Revenue Raisers'!

And, the 'increasing' annual death toll on our roads is further 'PROOF' that, Cameras do 'NOT' save lives!

But, they don't half make a sh1tload of money!....
...Nuff Said ?

how many speed cameras are in what could genuinely be considered high risk areas? Outside a school, just before a tight blind bend? In the main street in your town? Nope, they are on dual carriageways, just before or after national speed limits apply etc. I live in Scotland, a little town called broxburn. There is not a single camera outside schools or in town, but there is one leading to a set of traffic lights (but not exactly before), on a main road 2 miles out of town. A straight road, no hills, but between leaving the town and approaching the roundabout to a motorway. Totally un-residential and I can tell you now, not an accident blackspot either. The sort of road where you can do 60 in todays vehicles, and any unsuspecting motorist would miss the tiny speed limit signs......

not money making? Then why do the police kick the arse of even the most law abiding granny doing 33 in a 30 zone, but noddy the drugged up ned is ok doing 25 in a stolen car because cameras are dumb and singular prevention messures? Why do I run the risk of being pulled over 3 times by a traffic patrol on a 20 mile stretch of motorway for doing 80 at 10pm yet the police don't care that my house got burgled, my car is stolen, and my wife just got mugged by the thug that is now driving around in her car but safe in the knowledge that he aint breaking speed limits?

Speed cameras, and pressure on traffic police to meet targets is purely victimisation of the average motorist. IT IS NOT CRIME PREVENTION.