Safe Speed Forums

See: http://www.iam.org.uk/Pressroom/News_Re ... nr0517.pdf

includes:

"SPEED CAMERA “PLAGUE” STILL ERODING DRIVER
CONFIDENCE, SAYS IAM CHIEF
Issued: 7 December 2005
The damaging effect on relations between the driver and the police caused by a "plague" of
speed cameras, coupled with the "robotic issue of tough penalties" has continued to damage
road safety, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) said today (Wednesday 7 December
2005)."

Safe Speed issued the following PR at 13:28 today:

PR260: IAM recognises that speed cameras damage road safety

news: for immediate release

Speaking today at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) annual lunch, John
Maxwell warned that speed cameras are damaging road safety.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) said: "It's long been clear to me that speed cameras are
damaging road safety. They focus everyone on the wrong safety factor. We're
paying a price in blood for the DfT ill conceived blunders."

"Road safety is about skills attitudes and responsibilities, not about the
number on a roadside sign. Speed cameras give a series of false messages and
have terrible side effects. They are 'bad psychology', and road safety is
founded in road user psychology. We need appropriate beliefs and behaviours."

"Having studied the science and the road safety statistics in minute detail I
am convinced that we would have got road deaths down to about 2,000 a year by
now if sped cameras hadn't distorted everything."

<ends>

Notes for editors
=================

IAM PR:

http://www.iam.org.uk/Pressroom/News_Re ... nr0517.pdf

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

they're also calling for increases in speed limits.

I know for a fact that the new cheif examiner and the staff examiner dispair at the daft nanny state speed limits that are being set and enforced on perfectly safe roads

Absolutely superb news - I have always respected the IAM immensely but was worried they were falling foul of the PC nonsense spouted by the Blairites. This has reaffirmed my faith in them.