The Campaign Against Speed Cameras
Thousands of British people have known that each year, the London Councils are raking in about £150 million from parking tickets and £200 million from residents’ parking permits. Above all these, the authorities are also making hefty amounts of easy money from the speed cameras that have been shoddily installed in British roads.
Speed cameras have been introduced in the United Kingdom without proper trials on the effectiveness of such devices as a black spot treatment. There were even no investigations on their potential effects and their overall compliance to the country’s worthy but weak system on road safety.
In spite of these, campaigners, politicians, so-called scientists or investors and many others have keenly jumped on the bandwagon of speed cameras, telling people that it is for the benefit of everybody, which is more likely based on blind faith and perhaps an oversimplified evaluation of reality.
Presently, United Kingdom is filled with these speed cameras. The number of fines on speed cameras actually increases twofold every 3 years and yet, road injuries and/or fatalities are not deceasing at all.
Paul Garvin, the Chief Constable of Durham, is actually looking for ways in reducing casualties and trying to make safer roads. But, as he explained, with the accident statistics in the country, it can be established that out of the 1,900 road accidents that happen each year, only three percent of the cars involved, which is about 60 collisions per year, are running beyond the speed limit.
Speed may indeed be a factor but it is not the actual cause of such accidents. In a significant 40 per cent of road fatalities, alcohol and/or drugs are evident in the systems of the people involved. Some accidents may also be due to fatigue or the failure of drivers to take heed of oncoming vehicles when changing directions. Clearly, the cause of road accidents is rather different than running beyond the speed limit.
Hence today, it is no longer a surprise that several organizations have been formed in support to the abolition of such “cash from cameras” conspiracies in the United Kingdom. These organizations have launched organized campaigns against speed cameras, supporting the removal of such devices since road accidents have not declined.
For them, it is a much better strategy to focus on police resources as they pursue the real troublemakers in the road. These includes the unlicensed, uninsured, or drug/drunk drivers and the untaxed, unregistered, or poorly maintained vehicles.
Source: YourRoads.com
