Safe Speed Forums

A DRIVER accused of speeding in Worcester has won a 13-month battle to get his case dropped after questioning the camera's accuracy.

Peter Collier was allegedly caught doing 35mph on City Walls Road in the city centre, which has a 30mph limit in August 2006.

At 11 court appearances Mr Collier maintained the speed camera on the road was inaccurate because it was placed on a bend.

But the Safer Roads Partnership, which is responsible for the device, maintains the camera is accurate and said the case was discontinued because of delays in getting a report from the camera's manufacturers Gatsometer Ltd (Gatso) in Holland to address Mr Collier's claims.

The partnership stressed that the case would not open the floodgates for other drivers caught speeding at the site.

Mr Collier, of Whitehall Lane in Birlingham, Pershore, said: "I was convinced I was right all the time and am now relieved that this is all over.

advertisement"I maintained that the Gatso camera couldn't have given an accurate reading due to its position on a bend and the fact that there were metal railings opposite the camera."

A spokeswoman for the SRP said answering the 63-year-old's queries was beyond its expertise so a technical report from Gatso was requested, but was not expected to arrive until next week. The trial date was set for Monday, November 5.

She could not confirm what the report contains, but said it is unlikely to deal with the accuracy of the camera, which has already been confirmed by Gatso.

"That report could not be acquired in time for the trial and, therefore, CPS were unable to offer sufficient evidence for the case to continue," she added.

"We recognise the validity of Mr Collier's questions and are seeking definitive answers from both Gatso and Serco - the company acting as agents for Gatso who installed the camera on City Walls Road.

"However, our only direct concern is the accuracy of the camera in measuring and recording the speeds of vehicles that pass it.

"All evidence wholly substantiates the accuracy of the camera."

She said the speed of offending vehicles is checked by calculations based on movement across secondary check marks and regular checks are made using calibrated speedometers driving past the cameras.

"Again, there have been no discrepancies between those figures throughout the history of the device," she said of both.

She said the validity of the readings have not been contested for these reasons by any other driver.

A CPS spokeswoman confirmed the case was dropped due to delays in obtaining the report.

7:06am Wednesday 3rd October 2007

regular checks are made using calibrated speedometers driving past the cameras.

I thought type approval for the GATSO's required them to be placed on a straight piece of raod.

That's what I think and suspect to be the key reason that the case was dropped.