Safe Speed Forums

Speed cameras will remain in Scotland
By Judith Duffy - Monday September 20,2010

SCOTLAND could become the last home of the speed camera, with ministers insisting they have no plans to scrap funding for the controversial traps, it was revealed yesterday.
Councils south of the Border have begun to switch off the devices after the coalition Government announced they were no longer willing to foot the bill for the cameras.
But the Scottish Government has said it has no plans to end funding for the country’s network of 500 speed cameras.

Earlier this year it was revealed the devices cost £7.2million to run in 2009. But only half of the cash granted was clawed back through fines, adding up to a bill of nearly £4million for the taxpayer.

Most fines were paid to Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which raked in more than £600,000. Hugh Bladon, of the Association of British Drivers, branded the devices “idiotic and blunt weapons”, adding that they had no impact on improving driving standards.
He said: “If the Scottish Government continues to fund them rather than investing in more traffic police, reckless drivers will continue to cause accidents. Fatal crashes are usually caused by irresponsible or drunk motorists driving at excessive speeds on rural roads. No camera in the world is going to stop that from happening.”

However, the AA warned that scrapping the cameras would cost lives. Andrew Howard, the organisation’s head of road safety, said: “Cameras will never be loved but their use is accepted by the majority of motorists.”

Jim Dale, director of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme said the cameras were aimed at making roads safer, not raising revenue. He said: “The number of fatal road accidents in Scotland fell to an all-time low last year and cameras played a part. The Scottish Government is committed to funding the cameras and I don’t see that changing.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government confirmed there were “no current plans” to end funding for speed cameras. In August, Oxfordshire became the first county to switch off some of Britain’s 6,000 speed cameras, after deactivating 72.

UK Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said it was another example of the coalition Government delivering its pledge to “end the war on the motorist”.

I have certainly got a lot of work to do.