Legal Questions and Answers by
Jonathan Stones of John Barkers
Question :-
It would seem that a lot of money is to be spent on increasing the number of speed cameras but I cannot help thinking that the resources would be a great deal better spent on employing additional police officers.
In theory an increase in the number of cameras should reduce the speeding but the reality is that local drivers know where the cameras are and the traffic slows down as it approaches the boxes. Once past it promptly speeds up again.
For sure cameras aren’t going to help someone being mugged or having their head kicked in by a bunch of drunken yobs. Additional policemen would.
Answer :-
You are quite right that the number of speed cameras on the country’s roads looks set to rise sharply, perhaps doubling in the next few years.
The scheme will be self-financing in that the Vehicles Crime Bill which was published in December would allow the money raised from speed camera fines to be spent on new cameras.
However, despite what you say about drivers with local knowledge, the early evidence from a number of pilot schemes which are taking place around the country at the moment is that the cameras do have an impact on levels of speed and, more importantly, have reduced accidents by more than 20 %.
Speeding is still not perhaps viewed as a terribly serious matter by motorists . . . some even see it is as something of a game between themselves and the police . . . blind to the fact that excessive speed results in many injuries and deaths, not to mention many millions of pounds is damage to vehicles and property. Something which will have a major impact on that is clearly worthwhile.
It is difficult to argue in this instance that the money should be spent on additional police officers because the money for the speed cameras is coming from the cameras. So if the money is not spent on the cameras there will not be any new resources!
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