MEN wrote:
Speed cameras rake in £1.5m
David Ottewell
1/10/2007
GREATER Manchester's 10 most flash-happy speed cameras raked in £1.5m in a year.
A total of 29,805 fines were issued because of the cameras on Bury New Road, Manchester; Cross Street, Trafford; Featherstall Road, Oldham; Oldham Road, Manchester; Peel Way, Bury; Princess Road, Manchester; Rochdale Road, Manchester; Washway Road, Trafford; Wellington Road North, Stockport, and Wilmslow Road, Manchester.
Between them, they dished out more fines than the 10 busiest cameras in London (28,621). Top of the list nationally was Wiltshire (42,417), followed by Essex (35,859). Greater Manchester was fifth and Cheshire 10th (24,790).
The 10 busiest cameras in Cheshire included sites on Wilderspool Causeway, Winwick Road and Liverpool Road in Warrington, and The Silk Road in Macclesfield. Britain has more than 6,000 speed cameras.
The Department for Transport claims the cameras have helped to cut deaths on the road by 11 per cent since the mid 1990s and says they save about 100 lives every year.
But the department is to re-evaluate the way it calculates the number of serious injuries reported, following criticism.
Previously, the department has relied on police figures rather than hospital admissions - but while police figures show the number of serious injuries falling between 1996-2004, the corresponding figures from hospitals show a rise.
Paul Smith, founder of campaign group Safe Speed, said: "The truth is that speed cameras were well intentioned but flawed.
"We all know it's important that people don't drive too fast, but neither the speed limit nor the speed camera really knows what `too fast' is. No wonder they've been a disaster as far as road safety policy."
Greater Manchester's Drivesafe partnership publishes an online map showing the locations of all cameras around the region.
The partnership is aiming to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on Greater Manchester's roads by 50 per cent before 2010.
What do you think of speed cameras? Have your say
So far "Have Your Say" does not support speed cam policy. What a surprise!
I can confirm that the short sentences I have highlighted have substance. Hospitaal A&E have not noted any less in-coming wounded from RTA incidents and are even noting increases in injuries reported.
Oh yes .. I did notice speed traps in the USA on my reccent "jolly" and both me and Wildy and the rest of the clan are fully aware of speed cams abroad. Only we note that police numbers exceed the number of scams over there. Apart from the really [i]really[/] densely populated areas - lane discipline and general courtesy/COAST skills seem better "honed and toned" thaan here too. It's not "rosy coloured touristy glasses" that I am wearing either. We do visit our relatives in Switzerland/.France/Germany very regularly. I admit I do not visit the USA/Canadian bunch quite as often on their own patch .. but they do send me photos and DVDs and cuttings from their local press all the same
Paul - you are quoted in this piece with a very fair comment
I did not check the "Safe Speed in News" forum before posting this. Hope I am not duplicating again
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