http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_m ... _page.html
WHITE LINES SAVE MORE LIVES THAN SPEED CAMS
EXCLUSIVE Traps are bad way to prevent crashes
By Andrew Baxter 01/07/2007
SPEED cameras are the least effective way of cutting accidents, researchers claimed last night.
Simply painting white lines in the road had far greater results, a survey of UK road casualty figures found.
The study by the European Road Assessment Programme found speed cameras typically led to a 10 per cent reduction in crashes. But painting in lanes for turning left or right off a road cut them by up to 80pc. Anti-skid surfaces cut crashes by 65pc and renewing old markings led to a 35pc fall.
Researcher Joanne Hill said: "Speed cameras are the least effective measure because drivers can still wilfully drive at speed through an area. A pot of paint doesn't cost a lot but the rate of return is phenomenal."
Paul Smith, of anti-camera campaigners Safe Speed, said: "It's clear that speed camera policy has failed to improve road safety."
But a Department for Transport spokesman said cameras were "a valuable tool to help improve road safety".
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And look at what Quentin Wilson is saying in the same paper:
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_m ... _page.html
LET'S BE CANDID.. THE CAMERAS DON'T WORK
Quentin Willson 01/07/2007
IT'S time rabid speed camera partnerships stopped clinging to a strategy that plainly isn't working.
EU figures show road fatalities in the UK between 2001 and 2005 fell by just seven per cent, even though there are nearly 7000 cameras on our roads. Between 2005 and 2006, the figures were even worse - a fall of one per cent.
What's more, child road deaths are 20 per cent higher than they were in 2005.
Only an idiot would argue that carpeting the nation in speed cameras has saved lives.
People are dying because there aren't enough police cars, adequate education of drivers or 20mph speed limits around schools and built-up areas.