Safety Cameras

In October 2008 Swindon announced they would demolish the fixed point speed cameras that previously speeding motorists in over twenty different locations. The controversial decision sparked a debate across the country, with some decrying the decision and others, he applauded. In November 2008, it was reported that Portsmouth, Walsall and Birmingham have all seen a copy Swindon, but prohibiting the radar right thing to do? Nobody likes them, but we'll take a look at some of the arguments surrounding the issue.

Statistics
2002 saw the introduction of speed cameras in Swindon, according to statistics the number of road fatalities related significantly decreased since then. The number of people killed or seriously injured on county roads decreased by 5% and for children it reduced by nearly 33%, if this result is a direct link between the cameras? Statistics say no again, there were seventy dead in the streets of Swindon, in 2007-08 and which seems to be evidence that the radar did not make the roads safer.

Money:
The money from motorists speeding fines goes directly to HM Treasury, neither the police nor local councils benefit of the cameras, but it costs a board as Portsmouth £ 380,000 per annum of public money for six fixed speed cameras. Swindon has been accused of saving money over saving lives, but if the cameras do not really work without doubt it is preferable for them to stop spending and start spending money on research of other measures of traffic calming doing some work.

The road users:
Speed cameras rarely work because the drivers simply slow to accelerate to pass and often speed up later. When they do catch someone speeding, it is likely that the driver does not even go until the end comes in after about two weeks after then because the pilot has reached the distance of the offense, both literately and figuratively, the fine does little to educate the danger of going too fast. Instead the cameras have generated animosity from the automotive community, and have alienated the public against road safety efforts. Drivers feel the government is trying to "catch out" to make money rather than helping to reduce fatalities related to speed. Ultimately, because the public sees the cameras as "the enemy", they will never be effective in helping offenders see the error of their ways.

The fear of being caught:
It is true that most people who know there is a camera to the camera and slow speed then, but what if a pilot on an unknown road? The warning sign for a speed camera is often enough for people to check their speed and slow down regardless of whether there is actually a camera or not. Although not as preferable as people keeping the speed limit on their own, the fact that drivers are afraid of speed on roads that could have a camera is a lesser evil than the speed and cause an accident . By removing the cameras in Swindon is to remove the "fear" and could end up seeing a lot more speed limits broken projected.

Ultimately, we must face the fact that radar does not stop completely hangs, we as motorists can do to face our responsibilities and become better drivers. As Tony Simcock, driving instructor and director of the Big Red L Company in Kent, said: "Speed cameras have helped to increase awareness that 'inappropriate speed kills", but unless that motorists across the United Kingdom have begun to behave in a manner that significantly reduces the risks for our children to other road users and themselves, we are still faced with government initiatives which are measures of coverage that appears on site.