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PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 17:10 
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Tory leader Mark Fields, has called for the end to Speed Cameras.
Press Interview out today, the 29th Jan.

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PostPosted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 14:31 
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Quote:
MP reveals how the number of speeding
tickets has rocketed
By Penny Stretton
(picture) "MP Mark Field, inset, wants an end to the 'excessive' use of cameras

SPEEDING fines and prosecutions in Britain have increased sevenfold and the number of speed cameras has rocketed, according to latest figures.
Speed camera offences rose from 262,000 in 1996 to 1,865,000 in 2006 and Tory MP Mark Field says it is time that the "pendulum turned taacK to the long-suffering motorist".
There are at least 3,500 more cameras than in 2000 and the MP for Westminster called yesterday for an end to their "excessive use" and the "overzealous penalising of drivers".
Mr Field obtained the speed camera figures under the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that in 2000 there were 2,000 cameras on the roads but by 2006 this had shot up to 5,500.
Despite the massive increase in fines, roads are still blighted by dangerous drivers, and according to the MP disqualifying motorists has turned into little more than a game.
He said: "The use of speed cameras transformed the disqualification system into one of Russian roulette."
The chaos on the UK's roads is further compounded by a lack of traffic police, according to motoring organisations, with the number of officers on duty having fallen by 20 per cent in a decade.
The AA president Edmund King said: "A speed camera does not pick up the illegal foreign truck driver or boy racer with stolen plates but a traffic cop can.
"We need to reverse this trend and increase traffic cops not only to make our roads safer but to make society safer."
Campaigners against cameras have welcomed Mr Field's comments, claiming the devices make Britain's roads deadly and fines are turning the country into a nation of criminals-Association of British Drivers spokesman Nigel Humphries said: "We're very glad that an MP feels confident enough to be able to at last step outside of political correctness and speak out about what we have known for a long time.
"Speed cameras are detrimental to road safety. They encourage bad driving and any policeman would be embarrassed to enforce the prosecutions cameras are currently able to.
They are enforced in an entirely faceless way and are criminalising the majority of the population."
Safe Speed spokeswoman Claire Armstrong said: "We don't believe that safe driving is measured in miles per hour. People's livelihoods and wellbeing are being put at risk. "Many prosecutions should be overturned because often cameras prove to be faulty. Speed cameras provide no road safety at all and have a detrimental effect on driver behaviour, and we call for their immediate removal."
But Jane Whitham, from road safety charity Brake, said: "Speed cameras are an important tool in catching drivers who insist on breaking the law and putting lives in danger."
The Department for Transport said: "The Government is clear that the best safety camera is the one which takes no fines at all but succeeds in deterring drivers from speeding.
"Independent research has shown there are 1,745 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year."

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code


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PostPosted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 15:13 
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DfT wrote:
Independent research has shown there are 1,745 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year."

How can they still be repeating this rubbish after SafeSpeed (among many others) has shown many times just how utterly misleading this statement is.

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PostPosted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 18:11 
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How about the Brake quote then?

Quote:
Brake, said: "Speed cameras are an important tool in catching drivers who insist on breaking the law and putting lives in danger."

Note the conflation of speed over the limit ("breaking the law") and "putting lives in danger" which are, of course, unrelated. Classic spin.

At least SafeSpeed isn't referred to as a charity. :)

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PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 04:26 
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With the fairly recent story too about just how many are not even working it puts their point about 'the best camera's are those that do not take any fines' into utter non-sense ! Or are we meant to believe that the turned off one's are those not taking the fines and THIS is then good, as opposed to actually being 'on' and not taking fines, or have they forgotten which are on and not creating fines and which are off and not creating fines :)
Then of course never mind the fact, that all the stats indicate, that the Police back on the Roads does far more good all round !

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