Safe Speed Forums

WHAT? NO SPEEDING TICKETS?
10:30 - 17 March 2004

Cheltenham's quietest speed camera is to be removed. The camera in Tewkesbury Road, near the Brook Road junction and the Bill Allen Toyota garage, will be taken away later this month.

Road safety chiefs say the decision has been taken because of low accident statistics.

Nigel Murray, spokesman for the Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire Safety Camera Partnership, said: "The casualty statistics are a good indication if people are speeding.

"Since 2000 there have been no fatal or serious collisions on the road and thankfully most drivers are not speeding."

He said he was unable to disclose the total number of motorists caught by the camera but refuted claims it was being removed because it wasn't making enough money.

"Speed cameras aren't there to raise revenue," he said. "They're there to encourage drivers to observe the speed limit and reduce the total number of collisions."

It was installed in April 1995 following concerns about accidents.

Mr Murray said there was no longer justification under the Department for Transport's own guidelines to have a camera at that site.

The removal will reduce the number of fixed speed cameras in Gloucestershire to 29. There are also 23 traffic light cameras in the county.

- A list of the camera locations can be found on www.safecam.org.uk

Hmmm... surely if a camera is doing its job (ie detering speeding) then it won't catch anyone, and they are removing it because there have been no fatal injuries? Were there any before introduction of said camera?

_________________
--
uzz