Safe Speed Forums

More Drivers Caught by Speed Cameras


The number of cases in which traffic cameras provide evidence against motorists has jumped by 45%, new figures showed today.

Cameras led to 1.9 million fines or prosecutions in 2003, up from 1.3 million the previous year.

Home Office data also revealed the number of motoring offences dealt with by police action or a penalty charge reached the highest level on record.

There were 13.2 million handled in the year, a rise of 15%.

Police and traffic wardens handed out 3.6 million fixed penalty notices, a rise of 27%, while local council parking attendants issued 7.1 million, up 11%.

The number of court cases for motoring offences also rose 9% to 2.3 million, the official statistics showed.

There was a 3% rise in the number of positive or refused breath tests, climbing from 103,000 in 2002 to 106,000 in 2003.

But the overall number of breath tests carried out in the year fell by 6% to 534,000.

Detailed figures showed the largest group of offences was obstruction, waiting and parking offences, at 8.2 million.

The largest group dealt with by police action was the 2.2 million cases of speeding.

The Home Office report said the rise in offences spotted by cameras – speeding and running red lights – was largely down to the number of forces joining the Government’s safety camera programme.

There were 35 in the scheme at the end of 2003 compared with 14 at the beginning of 2002, it said.

The controversial scheme allows forces to spend part of the income from fines on expanding its network of traffic cameras.

The Metropolitan Police issued the largest number of on-the-spot fines in the year – more than 367,000 – followed by Lancashire (236,000), Thames Valley (164,800), Devon and Cornwall (163,000) and South Wales (156,000).

The number of vehicles wheel-clamped by local councils rose to 116,300 from 111,500 in 2002 and 78,000 in 1999, although the report noted that not all town halls collected figures in this category.


http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4463444

So... more people being fined.... and deaths increasing.

Not exactly a resounding success - is it?

In the meantime - police are not around to spot dangerous, careless, drunk or drug driving....

And hit and runs in their throwaways... on increase as well.

But so long as money comes rolling in from the safe but just over speed limit... that's OK. Job done!

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