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Crash rate drops at speed camera sites
Page 10
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• by Jennifer Ball Drivers could face more speed cameras after a government report showed that the number of people killed or seriously injured fell by 35% on roads where cameras operate.
The findings come from a two-year pilot scheme across eight police regions, where forces were allowed to reinvest some of the money from speeding fines into more cameras and film.
The eight partnerships invested 120m in enforcement on dangerous roads; but the estimated benefit to society through casualties saved was around £112m.
In Strathclyde and Lincolnshire, the number of people killed or seriously injured fell by 67% and 62% respectively. However in Essex, people killed or seriously Injured within 15 yards of a camera jumped by 15%, highlighting a hardcore of drivers still breaking the speed limit.
A spokesperson for Essex police says that It Is disappointed with the results. However, prior to the release of the report it addressed the problem by changing Its enforcement strategy.
"The sites with the worst accident history will receive more enforcement. We are confident that our safety cameras do reduce accidents, and expect that this will be shown in next year's report when our new strategy will have been in place," it says.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling says that he is pleased with the results: "As in any pilot, there are lessons to he learned In some areas, and we are acting on these already. Where necessary we have advised partners to consider how to use cameras more effectively, and to adjust their strategies."
jennIferhall4rbi.co.uk
IH Police are hunting a driver who blew up a speed camera, sending metal flying 50ft across a road in Northamptonshire. According to the police, some sort of explosion had occurred within the main box housing the camera. The incident happened between midnight on 31 January and 10.25pm the following evening on the A605 at Thrapston.
DC Alison Fanfrom Kettering CID says that this was an irresponsible and stupid act, adding that if someone had been driving past at the time, the occupants could have been seriously injured or killed, and the police could have been looking at a murder inquiry,
"The safety camera is just up the road from a lay-by where trucks park overnight where It is likely that the offender may have parked their vehicle. We are offering a £2,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for this." Officers are now investigating whether this incident is linked to other attacks on UK speed cameras.
• Contact: 01536 411 411.