Safe Speed Forums

Page last updated at 17:29 GMT, Friday, 20 August 2010 18:29 UK
More speed cameras to go across England amid cuts

Speed cameras first appeared on Britain's roads 18 years ago

More English local authorities plan to reduce numbers of speed cameras as a result of 40% government cuts, research seen by BBC Newsnight has suggested.

Road safety group Brake approached 118 councils that receive the road safety grant, and received responses from 42.

Bracknell Forest, Gloucestershire and Kent were among those who confirmed they would cut the work of their safety camera teams.

Oxfordshire has already switched off its fixed-location speed cameras.

Bracknell Forest council in Berkshire told Brake that its decision "will result in less speed enforcement and education available but, regretfully, the manner and timing of the government's in-year cuts means the council's options are limited".

Other councils who indicated that the cuts would be likely to affect their safety camera programmes include Devon and Hertfordshire County Councils and Plymouth Council.

Chief Constable Mick Giannasi, who speaks on road policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), told Newsnight: "Road safety cameras play a significant part in the successes that we've had in terms of casualty reduction.
"My concern is that if we stop using cameras… then there is an inevitability that casualties will start to rise again."

Oxfordshire County Council - which turned off its 72 fixed speed cameras at the end of July after losing £600,000 in funding - has come under fire from road safety groups who claim that the number of drivers speeding past its deactived cameras has increased by up to 88%.

HOW SPEED CAMERAS ARE FUNDED
Local authorities get a road safety budget from the Department for Transport
The councils give the funds to their local road safety partnership, of which they are a member. This operates the cameras on their behalf
The fines raised by the cameras go directly to the Treasury and not to the local authorities

The Department for Transport has said road safety remains a priority for councils despite speed camera cuts.

About 6,000 speed cameras have appeared on Britain's roads since they were introduced in 1992, generating some £100m in fines each year.

Asked how the government's autumn spending review might further affect road safety, Julie Townsend of Brake told Newsnight: "We're desperately worried that we could see road safety partnerships shutting down around the country, speed cameras switched off and other road safety measures withdrawn."

But Chief Constable Giannasi says councils should use alternative safety measures where speed camera numbers are reduced: "It is difficult for local authorities… they are operating under significant financial pressure.
"I'm simply urging some very careful consideration - if they are going to reduce cameras, then they need to find an alternative way of keeping people safe on the roads."