27 January 2011

From: Brake, the road safety charity, PO Box 548, Huddersfield, HD1 2XZ
Tel: 01484 559909 Out of hours: 07976 069159 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A survey by Which? magazine showed that in some parts of the country less than a quarter of fixed cameras are switched on. Only three police force areas told Which? that more than three-quarters of their cameras were turned on.

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer for Brake said: “Speed cameras will only deter drivers from speeding if drivers believe that they are switched on. If drivers notice that they aren’t being flashed when they break the limit, they will catch on and the value of cameras will reduce. It’s therefore vital that at least the majority of cameras are switched on at any one time so drivers know they stand a good chance of being caught if they do endanger lives by speeding. We also need to invest in more ‘average’ speed cameras, which measure your speed over greater distances, and can now be used in built up areas to safeguard communities. The bottom line is that controlling and reducing vehicle speeds is vital in preventing needless deaths and injuries on our roads - cameras are proven to be effective in doing this, hence it’s crucial they are funded properly.”