Road safety boosted by speed cameras?

Date: 12/7/2010

Hertfordshire's head of road safety has spoken of the advantages of the county's network of speed cameras.

Theresa Casbard argued the devices are having a positive effect on reducing the number of accidents on the road, This is Local London reports.

She was responding to new figures from the TaxPayers' Alliance, which revealed fines totalling in excess of £2 million are issued to drivers caught by Hertfordshire's cameras every year.

"We have the busiest roads and the number of fines as a proportion of all drivers is probably less than in other counties," Ms Casbard stated, noting the falling number of fines being issued shows the recording equipment has made motorists "more aware of their speed".

She remarked cameras are only placed in areas where excessive speed has caused a number of incidents, adding there were 413 deaths or serious injuries in the region last year, down from 1,566 in 1980.

Kent is another area where speeding motorists are being targeted, with police in the vicinity recently launching a number of Speedwatch schemes run by local volunteers.

Posted by Sarah Bailey