| New figures underscore thecost of speed cameras, | | | | fine. Indeed,almost six in ten of those surveyed |
| as the level of cynicism among drivers isconfirmed, | | | | admitted to driving in such amanner, with a further 54 |
| with many motorists increasingly viewing the roadside | | | | per cent blaming them for encouraging erraticdriving. |
| yellowboxes as little more than revenue-raising | | | | The majority of those questioned said that speed |
| devices. | | | | cameras were adistraction on the road, increasing their |
| Speed cameras are costing motorists in England and | | | | chances of an accident ratherthan encouraging safer |
| Wales up to £150million a year through the | | | | driving, with over seven in ten admitted topaying more |
| combined cost of fines and increased carinsurance | | | | attention to speed cameras and their speedometer |
| premiums. Research commissioned by Swift Cover | | | | thanpotential hazards. In contrast, many drivers argued |
| car insurancerevealed that drivers are paying out in | | | | that they wouldactually be safer if allowed to continue |
| excess of £114 million a yearin fines. Added to this | | | | speeding, with seven in ten ofthose convicted for |
| is the increased premium charged by manyinsurers | | | | speeding claiming that they had been driving safelyfor |
| following a speeding conviction, estimated at £36 | | | | the conditions of the road at the time. |
| million ayear, and drivers are paying out £150 | | | | Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety |
| million to compensate for theirspeeding lapses. | | | | campaign, said thathe was not surprised by the |
| In total it was found that 2.2 million drivers are | | | | findings, having been warning for yearsthat speed |
| convicted forspeeding every year, almost half of these | | | | cameras make the roads more dangerous. |
| having been caught byroadside cameras. Many | | | | He also said that the latest figures undermine the |
| experts credit the escalating number of | | | | government'sargument that speed cameras have |
| speedcameras with the corresponding rise in speeding | | | | public backing, describing theirclaims as "misleading". |
| convictions, withspeeding fines up 328 per cent over | | | | "The government claims that 80% (or so) of people |
| the past decade, which has alsoseen the UK's speed | | | | support speedcameras. This survey (conducted under |
| camera network swell to 6,000. | | | | proper conditions by a reputableprofessional polling |
| Unsurprisingly given this cost, speed cameras do not | | | | company) proves, once again, that governmentfigures |
| rank highly amonga list of drivers favourite things. | | | | are highly misleading," he said. |
| Around two-thirds of thosesurveyed thought speed | | | | "Please listen, Mr Darling and Dr Ladyman; We don't |
| cameras were "mainly" installed to raiserevenue, with | | | | want your cameras. |
| just 13 per cent agreeing that they are the best way | | | | We don't believe they make us safer. We don't have |
| toencourage safe driving. | | | | any faith in yourroad safety policies. Bite the bullet, |
| In fact, many argue that speed cameras actually | | | | admit that speed cameras don'twork, and let's get |
| encourage unsafedriving, with Swift Cover claiming | | | | back to real road safety policies. Your infernalcameras |
| that they have encouraged a trendfor 'yo-yo driving', | | | | are killing us indirectly, because, at best, they |
| whereby drivers speed up between cameras and | | | | replacegenuine life-saving roadsafety policies," he |
| thenslam their breaks on at the last minute to avoid a | | | | pleaded. |