Safe Speed Forums

MOVES to halt the growth in the number of speed cameras were today welcomed by Fylde road safety campaigners.
Last year, a report by Blackpool Council was highly critical of the roadside cameras, saying that in some cases the they actually made areas more dangerous.
Now Government plans have been announced that would see money raised from fines spent on other safety measures rather than being ploughed back into more cameras.
Blackpool councillor Mary Smith – who led the scrutiny committee which was highly critical of cameras in the resort – welcomed the news that money may be spent on other road safety measures in the future.
She said: "What do they want? A speed camera on every corner?
"They're part of the solution to road safety, but are not what is needed in every case.
"Can a speed camera tell if a driver is insured, if they have been drinking or if they have a licence?
"No, that can only be achieved by having more police on our roads."
Coun Smith believes measures such as hazard warnings, new road signs and more traffic calming could have an equally strong effect on drivers in Blackpool, but would like to see a large amount of cash going into putting police on the roads.
She said: "Blackpool does have traffic police, but I would like to see a dedicated force.
"If cash were to be channelled into alternative safety measures, as opposed to speed cameras, I would have to say the most effective measure is simply having officers on patrol.
"They can catch speeding drivers, but also respond to more serious incidents.
"That is what I can see as being the best way of seriously reducing accident rates on the Fylde coast."
A report prepared by the Blackpool Council committee found accident rates had increased at 12 speed camera sites across Blackpool.
Linda Sanderson, of the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, said the group was already looking at alternatives to speed cameras to cut the number of deaths and injuries on the roads.
She said: "Lancashire has not applied for any new speed cameras on our roads and we believe we now have the right number to adequately deal with the issue.
"Lancashire is already looking at alternatives to speed cameras, such as interactive signs and improvements to junctions."

A report prepared by the Blackpool Council committee found accident rates had increased at 12 speed camera sites across Blackpool.