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Speed cameras facing axe
LYNETTE ALCOCK
16 July 2005 10:00
More than 50 new speed camera sites in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire have been shelved pending the outcome of a major government evaluation of their effectiveness.
New data revealed by a Department for Transport (DfT) study of accident statistics before and after the introduction of safety camera partnerships, could see the criteria for camera placing redefined.
But until the outcome of the report is known, no new camera sites will be approved, leaving Norfolk awaiting a decision on the future of 16 sites plus 18 in both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
The partnerships had hoped to have their new locations operational by the spring/summer of this year after applying last November.
However, with the report, which had been due in June, delayed by authors at University College London, approval of this year's sites could be pushed into 2006.
Despite ordering the wait, the DfT last night quashed rumours that the report could lead to a major overhaul, if not retraction, of the safety partnerships.
A spokesman for the DfT said: “Ministers are not going cold on cameras, they just want to know as much as possible.
“This type of data is fantastic, they are looking at statistics from 2000 before safety partnerships were introduced and then from 2004.
“It will really help us to understand how cameras are affecting safety.”
He added: “When we come to approving the camera sites we want them in the most effective places so the more we know the better our judgment will be.”
The DfT also rejected concerns raised by police that deaths would occur while they waited for the data, saying all partnerships had the flexibility to operate on non-approved roads 15pc of the time.
Therefore if a road was a serious concern they still had scope to police it.
This week the DfT wrote to all partnerships ordering them to revise their budgets because they would see less revenue than expected from fines.
However, the local partnerships claim the wait will not mean a downturn in revenue as the bulk of applications in the east are for mobile locations - 15 in Norfolk and 17 in Suffolk. No figure was available for Cambridgeshire.
These are monitored by cameras in vans, not from cameras mounted at the roadside.
At present the partnerships are waiting for approval before confirming where the sites will be.
Michelle Finnerty of Suffolk Safety Camera Partnership said: “The delay will not affect us directly in terms of revenue as we have no requests for additional equipment.
“We still have the same number of enforcement officers, they would just be covering more sites. However, the sooner we can be operating these sites full-time the better.”
A spokesman for Norfolk Safety Camera Partnership reflected Suffolk's view, but admitted the delay was an “inconvenience.”
Suffolk are also waiting to hear whether one fixed site will be approved, while Norfolk are hopeful that a red light camera, catching people who jump the lights, will be agreed on Loke Road, King's Lynn.
Meanwhile, motoring safety groups have welcomed the hold on cameras, claiming they do not improve road safety and are hoping the reports findings could signal a government U-turn on the camera strategy.
The Association of British Drivers(ABD) said the link between accident reduction and cameras was tenuous and claimed they escalated the problem focussing the minds of drivers and council safety officials on the wrong things.
ABD chairman, Brian Gregory, said: “We need to draw a clear distinction in road safety between that which is illegal and that which is dangerous. Cameras have completely failed to do this.”
Paul Smith of the Safe Speed road campaign, goes one further claiming cameras increase the danger to drivers.
He said: “Far from saving lives speed cameras have made the roads more dangerous because people are concentrating on the wrong things.”
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