Camera report unanimously welcomed by road safety organisations

The independent report published last week confirming that safety cameras are reducing speed and saving lives was universally welcomed by road safety organisations.

The three year report covering 24 partnerships shows a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) at camera sites, which equates to 870 fewer KSIs per year, including over 100 fewer deaths.

LARSOA chair Steve Whitehouse hopes the report will bring balance the cameras debate. "A significant amount of anti-camera hysteria has appeared in a variety of media over the past couple of years and this has led to the perception that the majority of people do not support the use of cameras," he said. "But 79 per cent of people questioned in the preparation of this report supported the use of cameras to reduce casualties.

"By publishing full data for all camera sites the DfT is giving people the chance to make up their own minds about cameras instead of being harangued by vociferous anti-camera lobby groups."

Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers said the report confirms what the police suspected: "This study confirms what the police have known for years - by targeting enforcement at the locations with the worst casualty problems we impact on the number of casualties and the frequency of crashes. Cameras are one way to improve road safety and they are clearly working."

To coincide with the Government's announcement, the national road safety charity Brake released survey results showing that four out of five drivers support the use of speed cameras outside schools.

"It is a disgrace that under current government legislation four people must be killed or seriously injured in order for a speed camera to be installed," said Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake. "The current criteria means that local authorities and police forces are failing in their duty to protect innocent road users from the very real threat posed by speeding vehicles."

Transport 2000 also warmly welcomed the results. "These results should not surprise anyone," said Vicky Cann, assistant director. "With 105 fewer deaths each year thanks to safety cameras it is no wonder that they are popular and people want more of them. All the evidence shows that cameras save lives and repeated opinion polls show cameras are popular with both motorists and communities who want action to tackle speeding drivers."

Robert Gifford, executive director of PACTS was equally enthusiastic. "This report shows clearly that cameras work and make a positive contribution to cutting deaths and injuries on our roads," he said.

"They have also maintained a high level of public support despite the nit-picking by opponents. Used in the right places and according to transparent criteria, cameras help to improve road safety."

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety, focused on the role cameras play in protecting vulnerable road users. "The latest figures show beyond all doubt that cameras reduce the number of drivers speeding, and by doing so significantly reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads. They are particularly effective in protecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians - the figures show the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured at camera sites fell by over one third.

"But it is important to remember that cameras are just one of the weapons in the fight against death and injury on our roads - they should be used to supplement the work of traffic police not as a substitute for them," he added.

The Slower Speeds Initiative (SSI) also welcomed the news. "How much more evidence do we need that speed cameras work," said SSI co-ordinator Paige Mitchell. "Why is the Government not allowing their use wherever communities live in fear of the random and lethal violence that speeding drivers can bring?

"The casualty requirement is a very perverse concession to camera critics - it costs communities and the country dearly. No other area of public safety would require such a high toll when the evidence is so conclusive. The Government should respond to the overwhelming support and huge community demand for cameras," she added.