Safe Speed Forums

Penalty points stack up on our driving licences Nov 30 2005




Paul Carey, Western Mail


MORE than a quarter of Welsh drivers now have at least three points on their driving licence, compared to just one in 15 two years ago.

The remarkable growth is believed to be down to a rise in the number of speed cameras either fixed or patrolling Welsh roads. And it shows that despite the increased surveillance, drivers do not seem to be slowing down.

The 27% of drivers who now have at least three points on their licence will also have suffered financially. As well as the initial fine, a survey showed one in four said that they are experiencing higher insurance premiums as a result.

The second annual Drivers Attitudes Survey conducted on behalf of Tesco Car Insurance has uncovered a growing unrest among motorists in Wales with one in 12 drivers now reluctantly considering buying a speed camera detector.

The impulse to protect their own licence seems to stem from a lack of faith in the camera's ability to keep the roads safe in the way they would like.

More than a third of Welsh motorists (37%) feel they do nothing to help and are purely a revenue generator. Only half this number (20%) said they play a significant safety role.


Allan Burns, head of Tesco Car Insurance, said, "Welsh motorists have always been honest and vocal when asked about their feelings towards the increase in number of speed cameras.


"But it's worrying that many now feel they are struggling to balance the desire for safer roads with the impulse to protect their own licence."


Paul Smith at pressure group Safe Speed said it was clear that the government and police road safety strategy was not working.


"You notice the last few years in Wales, road deaths have been rising. The priorities of traffic policing may have changed, but there are no better road safety statistics," he said.


"We need good road safety messages and driver confidence in those messages and speed cameras do not offer that. Instead of the authorities assessing why accidents take place, they just stick another speed camera in that location.


"People feel under attack and it is affecting the police-public relationship."


But Phil Davies, manager of Mid and South Wales Safety Camera Partnership, gave a harsh riposte. He said, "If motorists want to protect their licences and save money, then they simply need to stick to the speed limit at all times. Imagine the struggle of a family grieving for a loved one who was killed by a speeding motorist and having this on your conscience if you were to blame.


"At the end of the day, motorists have a responsibility to protect all road users not their own licence. People choose to break the speed limit, they are not forced to, so they should face the consequences of this choice."


Worryingly, the Tesco research also shows nearly a fifth (19%) of all drivers with points on their licence admit to not telling their insurer about them.


Allan Burns at Tesco said, "Motorists in Wales are clearly disenchanted with speed control initiatives and seem to feel that they simply create more problems for responsible drivers rather than making roads safer.


"Welsh motorists are telling us that they are responsible and well intentioned but feel frustrated."


Lisa Francis, Conservative AM, recently said that speed cameras in South, Mid and West Wales raised over £7m last year - almost four times the amount taken in 2001-02.


After the costs of operating the cameras and processing the fixed penalties, a surplus of nearly £3m was raised last year from Welsh speed cameras.


Ms Francis said the figures showed that the Government is using cameras as a stealth tax to raise more money from hard-pressed motorists already struggling to cope with sky-high fuel prices.


And the Mid and West Wales AM said, "It is no surprise that the public have lost faith in the way speed limits are being enforced.


"There is a role for speed cameras in accident black spots and near schools. But the whole regime needs a complete review."

So, if 27% of Welsh drivers have points, that means 73% don't; looks like there will be a lot more cameras in the valleys, then.....