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Speed cameras fail to cut accident rate
9:24am today

SPEED cameras have failed to stop or even cut the number of accidents at more than half of the camera sites in the Wycombe area.

Figures from Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership show, at eight out of 18 camera sites in the area, the number of people killed or seriously injured rose despite cameras being installed.

At another five sites the number killed or seriously injured showed no change.

Only at five sites did the numbers of accidents fall.

Where one camera is situated, on the A40 West Wycombe Road, figures showed seven people had been killed or seriously injured from 2000 to 2003.

In the three years prior to the camera's establishment, figures showed there were no serious accidents.

Dan Campsell, of Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, said: "The reality is that this camera is not particularly favourable. In the three years since the camera went in there have been 16 personal injury collisions."

The cameras were introduced in 1997 and chiefs installed the system in West Wycombe Road because people were concerned about speeding and pedestrians crossing the road.

They also pointed to the high number of the lesser type of accidents, known as personal injury collisions, as a reason for the speed camera.

Chris Scroxton, project manager at Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, said: "The safer roads partnership has a history removing cameras that are longer the most appropriate measure for maintaining safety.

He added: "However we will only act to remove sites where we are convinced that public safety is not compromised by doing so."