Safe Speed Forums

U-turn on ring road speed cameras

By Ben Griffin

Speed cameras on Coventry's ring road are being taken down in an astonishing U-turn by road safety chiefs.

At a time when drivers face being caught on film more than ever before, the ring road is to become a camera-free zone.

Safety experts say the cameras are hidden from drivers and would be better off elsewhere in the city.

The cameras, which have been on the city's ring road for 10 years, will be taken down on October 14 and 15.

They are the first of 10 cameras in the West Midlands to be uprooted because they are in places they are not needed.

Andrew Pearce, of the council-backed West Midlands Casualty Reduction Partnership, which is responsible for the cameras, said: "The idea of cameras is that you see them and you slow down.

"They are there to save lives not to take pictures.

"These cameras can't be seen in advance of the site, so they can't do their job in a fair and open way."

The cameras will be moved to areas in Coventry where there are speed-related accidents.

The ring road will be monitored once the cameras are taken away to see if speeds and accident rates change.

Mr Pearce added: "We will continue to install new cameras where speed is costing lives, and these units will be used somewhere else in Coventry."

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Is this a sign of a crack in the dyke? I've always said that a strategic retreat would initially be signalled as a "repositioning".

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I do hope so. Let's hope they move on to Birmingham next, where the (middle) ring road has a number of unnecessary cameras. If they want council backing, I know of a deputy leader of the council who recently lost his licence after being caught on camera (on a 30 limit that really ought to be a 40), and is deeply sceptical about the purpose of the things.

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Keep right on to the end of the road ...

Call me paranoid if you like but I suspect the cameras will be replaced with Talivans.

I imagine the real problem with the cameras is most people know where they are and they aren't making any money.

I hope you're wrong but it was my thought exactly! Another eight have just appeared near to where I live so I don't think its a rethink of policies, they probably weren't making enough money in the position they are in now. No doubt they will appear in a more lucrative position!

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Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

yeah, about 200 yards further up the road to catch all the people that accelerate after a camera!



Like we believe that always happens....

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The police ARE the law, not ABOVE it!!!