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Speed camera 'armageddon' for motorists
Jun 7 2006
Molly Watson, Western Mail
THE news that the "daddy" of all speed cameras could soon be operating in Britain was yesterday branded a potentially "armageddon scenario" for motorists.
Unlike current speed cameras, the all-seeing device, called a Multi-Camera System (MCS), is able to capture still and video footage of four lanes of traffic at once, and also take detailed pictures of the motorist's face to prevent disputes over who was driving at the time.
But experts yesterday said introducing such a camera would be yet another distraction for motorists, and would do little to tackle the serious problem of road safety.
The device, which contains three still digital cameras, video recording equipment and room to hold 60,000 images on its hard-drive, is made by Dutch company Gatsometer, which also produces the Gatso, currently the most common type of camera used in the UK.
In an article published today in Auto Express, a spokesperson from Serco, Gatsometer's UK distributor, said, "It's not available in the UK at the moment but it may well be something we will bring in the future. It's up to the local camera partnerships to decide if they want them. If they do it could be here within 12 to 18 months."
Anthony Beresford, a lecturer in road transport at Cardiff University, said he had no doubt the MCS would soon be adopted in Britain because police would embrace the new technology as an excuse not to look for other solutions. He said adopting such a narrow approach could lead to an "armageddon scenario", with motorists going on strike.
He said, "What we have here is technological advances being exploited in a sense because they are there.
"Cameras are one of the weapons in the police's armour for controlling speeding but they only provide the solution to about 5% of accidents. There are a large number of situations where cameras are not going to make any difference at all but they opt for the technology because it's the line of least resistance.
"You can never argue against a camera but it's not enlightened. It doesn't recognise the 90% of accidents which have nothing to do with the speed limit. They're primarily a revenue generator rather than a safety measure.
"There is a danger that this single-minded pursuit of speed cameras will not end up solving the problem but will alienate every motorist in the country. There is already evidence to suggest that their goodwill has been tested and if it continues you could have a situation where motorists effectively go on strike."
In 2004, 201 people were killed on the roads in Wales and speed cameras were wholeheartedly supported by North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom, as a way to save countless lives.
Currently South Wales has a total of 336 speed cameras operating, and North Wales has 13 fixed cameras and nine mobile cameras which operate from vans travelling along set routes, but a recent poll found 71% of motorists believe the devices make motorists less aware of hazards on the road - putting them at risk of causing accidents while their attention is diverted.
Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign, said, "No amount of technology will stop speed cameras from being a dangerous road safety red herring. It's really important that no one drives too fast - but neither speed cameras nor speed limits can tell us what too fast is. 'Too fast' depends on the conditions and speed limits and cameras know nothing about the conditions."
Mark McArthur-Christie, policy director of the Association of British Drivers, said, "The one thing we should be getting drivers to do is to look at the road ahead but speed cameras have a major distracting effect on drivers.
"Everyone wants safer roads but to say that someone is driving safely just because they are sticking to a speed limit is very simplistic."
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[if anyone can tell me exactly what paper or papers this appears in, please let me know]
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