Swindon considers axing speed cameras

Insomniac — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:52:21 +0000

I’ve never been a fan of speed cameras, not because I’m some sort of deranged speed freak, but because I don’t think they work. I’m glad to find somebody else has the same opinion. Councillor Peter Greenhalgh, in charge of transport policy for Swindon Borough Council has stated that speed cameras were “a blatant tax on the motorist”. This comment follows news that Swindon Borough Council plan to scrap its funding for speed cameras.

Roderick Bluh, leader of Swindon Borough Council (Wiltshire), told BBC radio that a decision would be made in September on how best to spend the £400,000 annual cost of the cameras.

“We believe it may be possible that the money could be spent more effectively on permanent road-calming measures and flashing signs rather than … speed cameras,” Bluh said.

This move by Swindon Borough Council is likely due to changes that mean local authorities can no longer keep money raised in speeding fines.

“We don’t get the revenue that comes from the fines to invest in road schemes and therefore this may be a way of us investing more money in our road-calming measures locally,” Bluh added.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership, which operates the cameras, claims they have reduced deaths on the sections of road where they are sited by two thirds over three years. There is however evidence to prove that other road calming measures (such as speed activated flashing signs) are just as, if not more effective than speed cameras.

The £250,000 raised from speed cameras last year in Swindon, at £400,000 for upkeep of the 13 fixed cameras Swindon Borough Council were never going to break even anyway.

References

TRL Report for Department for Transport (TRL548)
SafeSpeed on Vehicle Activated Signs

Kouki Tech » Speed Camera

Swindon considers axing speed cameras

References