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| Safety or Cash |
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Why do we need so many ‘safety cameras’ (speed and red-light cameras)?
Of the 3,450 people killed on Britain's roads in 2001, it is estimated that about one third resulted from collisions where speed was a contributory factor.
How much money are the Police making from speed cameras?
The police are not making any money. All monies collected from speeding fines are sent directly to the Lord Chancellor’s Department. The Safety Camera Partnership may claim back only the funds for their operational costs.
Numerous television programmes and press reports confirm that cameras are placed to raise revenue.
Media reports on safety cameras are often inaccurate or selective. All relevant research indicates very clearly that where cameras are placed at sites or on routes with a history of speed related accidents, the reduction in collisions resulting in death and serious injury is very substantial. Indeed, monitoring of the eight areas that piloted the scheme that allows some fine revenue to be re-invested in camera activity showed a reduction over two years of 35% in those killed and seriously injured at camera sites.
Is the introduction of more ‘safety cameras’ (speed and red light cameras) just another stealth tax for motorists?
No. The new system has to meet strict Treasury criteria to prevent revenue from being used for anything other than camera funding. The only people who will be subject to speeding fines will be those that break the law.
Any funding arrangements will only meet the costs of the police, courts and highway authorities. The surplus will go to the Treasury, as does all the existing revenue.
The system ensures that those who place cameras have no incentive to do so for anything other than road safety reasons.
The primary test on the new arrangement is whether it reduces casualties.
Evidence from the pilots and an earlier study on camera effectiveness (Home Office, PRG police research series paper 20), is that casualties have reduced significantly both at camera sites and in the areas where cameras have been placed.
Are cameras not simply another example of "bashing" the motorist?
On the contrary, cameras are of benefit to all people, including motorists.
Cameras are already shown to save lives - more effective, targeted use of cameras will save even more lives, many of which will be motorists.
Why are there so many speed cameras on motorways yet few outside schools?
Apart from the Western M25 controlled motorway experiment and at road works, there are very few cameras on motorways. Cameras are generally only effective at specific sites and school safety requires a greater zonal effect, although some may be present outside schools where local authorities and police have judged it necessary.
Will surplus revenue be made available to pay for other road safety activity, such as traffic calming features and road safety education?
No. Although legislation is drafted so that this might be allowable, it is not the Government’s intention to divert surplus revenue to other expenditure and all such revenue will be passed directly to the Consolidated Fund.
How many offences do speed cameras deal with per year?
This information is available from the Home Office. |
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