Drivers In New Bid To Ban Speed Traps
MOTORISTS' groups again called for speed cameras to be ditched today as new figures showed accidents dropped in an area where police don't use the traps.
Durham Constabulary is the only force in the region not to use fixed cameras, and yet recorded the biggest drop in fatal and serious injury accidents, according to the latest statistics.
The figures are "conclusive proof" cameras don't save lives said Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed, a drivers' campaign group that opposes roadside cameras.
Durham Police only use a mobile speed camera because its Chief Constable Paul Garvin is an opponent of speed traps fixed in a permanent position.
Last year, accidents dropped by a quarter in the county – there were 32 road deaths in 2004, compared to 42 in the previous 12 months.
Northumbria Police, responsible for law and order in Sunderland, uses fixed cameras and accident rates went up from 65 in 2003 to 66 last year.
Mr Smith said: "Where speed cameras are placed fatalities seem to rise. We'll be doing more analysis of these latest Department of Transport figures.
"Cameras are not the simple accident-reducing machines people think they are and I'm not convinced they do any good.
"I'm certain they damage road safety by giving us false messages."
But Sarah Cossam, of the Safe Speed for Life partnership, which runs the cameras dotted across Wearside defended the Northumbria force's safety record.
"You can't compare like with like," she said. "Durham is a smaller area with less traffic flow.
"We've got Sunderland, Newcastle and a huge rural area, so it's misleading to say it is safer.
"We'll continue to work with highways agencies and the police to identify where safety cameras can be used effectively to make our roads safer.
"We'll make sure they are only placed where they can make a difference."
A spokesman for Durham Police said: "We believe what we do is right, but 32 deaths is still too many, and there's no room for complacency.
"We work hard to address road safety and we are enjoying some success.
"But the road death toll is still nothing to crow about."
04 July 2005
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My emphasis.