Safe Speed Forums

ROSPA CARE ON THE ROAD MAGAZINE, APRIL 2005

ROSPA National Road Congress 2005

Richard Brunstrom, chief constable of North Wales Police and head of ACPO policing, spoke about what was needed to drive deaths down, speeding and how he hopes speed cameras will be used in the future.

Richard said, "We will drive deaths down by setting targets, by having something to aim for we will be able to make achievements. There is no room for complacency in road safety, as drink driving figures have now fallen, motor cyclists deaths have increased and people continue to speed."

"People need to understand the dangers of speeding and it needs to be as socially unacceptable as most people consider drink-driving. Motorists who break the speed limit do it for two reasons. They either do it deliberately or they are being careless. Drivers will speed because they think there is a low risk of capture or for metal reward, such as needing to be on time for what they feel is an important appointment."

The Government was criticised by the chief constable because of the speed that road statistics are released. He said there needs to be a change in the rate driver and motorcyclist information is gathered, road figures are two years out of date, this is not good enough. There has to be a slick system in place where information can be turned around more quickly.

He went on to talk about the 40% reduction of those killed or seriously injured because of the implementation of speed cameras. When talking about placing speed cameras at strategic sites he said concentrating on "hot spots" was the right approach because figures showed a drop in KSI's at these sites.

Richard said, "The next strategy for the use of speed cameras is to expand the role they play in the future of road saftety. We will need cameras that will educate and warn drivers, generate re-training for those who speed which will change the attitude and the behaviour of the driver."

"In terms of the future of speed cameras I hope there will be more flexibility about deployment, more interactive schemes and a unified approach to fixed penalties. The cameras will also be used to put those drivers caught on a national driver improvement scheme which will be led by ACPO and is to be launched in the near future. This plan will be a universal plan and will be used across the country."

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Anyone who tells you that nothing is impossible has never bathed in a saucer of water.

Wrong on both counts. Motorcycle deaths went down last year nd drink driving went up.

Who lets him spill out that crap anyway. He should be held accountable for miss-information.

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Speed camera policy Kills