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Speed camera safety review sent to councils

24/11/2010

Around 800 more people each year could be killed or seriously injured if all of Britain's speed cameras were switched off, according to a new review. Conducted by Professor Richard Allsop for the RAC Foundation, the review investigated the impact of decommissioning all fixed and mobile cameras which were operational before central funding cuts. Several highways authorities have already switched off their cameras, including Oxfordshire, which pulled the plug on its 72-strong network at the beginning of August. The Oxford Mail reported today that Oxfordshire could reactivate its camera network in April, with the police footing the bill. According to Professor Allsop, benefits of the speed cameras are felt not just at the sites they are located, but across the wider road network. The charity now says that it is sending a copy of the review to all highways authorities - typically county councils, or city unitary authorities - "as they consider how best to use their reduced safety budgets". In addition, the review found that speed cameras "are not significant revenue raisers for the General Exchequer" - pointing out that, for every £60 penalty notice issued in 2006-7, only £4 was left after the cost of camera operations were covered. Earlier this month, the AA suggested that support for speed cameras was running at an all-time high. It found that 75% of members in October supported their use - the highest approval rating in ten years of monitoring sentiment. RAC Foundation director, Professor Stephen Glaister, said that the "current crisis in funding" for the devices was leaving road users "at real risk". "The Government has said decisions on speed camera funding must be taken at local level, which is why we are sending this evidence direct to all highway authorities," he added. "Councillors are perfectly within their rights to use scarce resources on things other than cameras, but they need to know what the consequences might be."

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