Safe Speed Forums

County’s speed cameras ‘will not be switched off
By Steve Hackwell 7:00am Sunday 27th March 2011

SPEED cameras in Essex will not be switched off to save money, despite dozens of counties scaling back their road safety measures.
Police and Essex County Council are adamant they have no plans to cut costs by reducing the number of yellow boxes.

The declaration comes in the wake of several councils’ decisions to leave their camera networks to rot as the Government’s public spending cuts begin to bite.
Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire county councils are among those to have already said they will not replace camera films once they run out.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Despite recent financial pressures, Essex continues to operate cameras and more than 100 speed cameras are active.
“At any one time, one-third of the speed cameras across the county are live and recording data, and the locations are changed on a daily basis.
“The other cameras are working just as effectively to get drivers to slow down in key areas as they see the yellow boxes ahead.” There are more than 100 speed and red-light cameras in Essex, split between the county council and the police.

Southend has the largest number, at 29.
It is followed by Basildon, Wickford and Billericay with 17, and Colchester with ten. Chelmsford has nine, while Castle Point has just four.

The average speed camera costs £20,000 to install, with extra maintenance charges and the cost of replacing the 400-photograph film.
However, some have been known to net several thousand pounds a day in speeding fines.

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer for road safety charity Brake, said it was important to maintain the deterrent.
She said: “Speed cameras will only deter drivers from speeding if drivers believe they are switched on.”

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer for road safety charity Brake, said it was important to maintain the deterrent.
She said: “Speed cameras will only deter drivers from speeding if drivers believe they are switched on.”