Safe Speed issued the following PR at 12:33 today:
PR215: Safe Speed challenges Brake to defend their 'facts'
News: for immediate release
Further to the revelations that the DfT have put the brakes on UK speed camera
expansion, Brake, the road safety charity issued a press release suggesting
that speed cameras are an effective road safety measure. They are not, and
Safe Speed challenges Brake to debate the issues in any media.
Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(
www.safespeed.org.uk) said: "I'm absolutely certain that brake have excellent
intentions, but they are not using the right information. I challenge them to
debate the facts in any media."
<ends>
Notes for editors:
==============
Brake PR issued earlier today:
> In response to the announcement by the Department for Transport that no
> new speed camera applications will be granted until a review has been
> carried out by University College London, Brake, the road safety charity,
> has the following comments to make:
>
> * This is not a new kind of review. UCL carries out a review of the
> effectiveness of speed cameras on an annual basis and previous reports
> have shown speed cameras to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 40%
> where they are placed. There is no reason to suspect that this year's
> review will conclude anything different;
> * Brake is extremely concerned at the Department for Transport's
> decision not to grant any further speed camera applications until this
> review, which was due out in June but has been delayed, has been
> completed. This decision could cost lives.
> * Brake welcomes any research into the effectiveness of speed cameras;
>
> * Brake is calling for the restrictions on placing of cameras to be
> relaxed. At present, four people have to be killed or seriously injured
> before a speed camera can be put up. For example, if two children are
> killed in crashes outside their school, another two people will have to
> die or suffer serious injury before a camera can be put up to protect
> them.
>
> Brake is available for comment on the effectiveness of speed cameras. For
> an interview with Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, call Aimee
> Bowen on 01484 559909.
>
> Aimee Bowen
> Communications officer
> Tel: 01484 559909
> Email:
abowen@brake.org.uk