The introduction of ‘less conspicuous’ safety cameras should be considered as a way of slowing drivers down, according to Meredydd Hughes, ACPO’s head of road policing.
Mr Hughes, the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, said less obvious cameras would catch more rogue drivers.
Mr Hughes’ comments follow the recent announcement by the Arrive Alive partnership in North Wales that it will no longer publish details of roads where mobile safety cameras will be deployed.
There is currently no legal requirement for cameras to be made visible and a speeding offence is not invalidated if they are not – but DfT guidance recommends cameras should be yellow, marked with warning signs and only sited at accident black spots.
Mr Hughes said: "The police service carries out operations to target burglars and thieves and we don't announce it to the world, so by using cameras that aren't so easily seen we can catch those drivers who think that flouting the law is a badge of honour and it is those motorists who speed and cause a danger to others on the roads.”
A spokeswoman for the RAC Foundation voiced concerns about the idea. "We were in favour of cameras being conspicuous, the sight of the cameras warns motorists of accident black spots, meaning they should take more care,” she said.
"Making cameras less visible would, in our view, be a backward step ... they would take away the warning element. Hidden cameras would reinforce the view held by some motorists that cameras are revenue raisers."
For the full story go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6722533.stm
