Don't Scrap Cameras, Says Rospa

SAFETY chiefs have warned that cuts to funding for speed cameras could cost lives.

Dorset County Council and local authorities in Bournemouth and Poole are committed to investing less in the body which operates the cameras in Dorset.

Now, in a strongly worded 10-point defence of speed cameras, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) has urged councils to consider the consequences of camera cash cuts.

“Getting these hard decisions wrong will cost lives,” said a Rospa spokesman.

Rospa’s report says cameras promote safety and save money spent on clearing up after accidents. It dismisses claims of a “war on motorists”, pointing to a five-year fall in the number of fines from cameras.

Johnny Stephens, the head of fixed penalties for Dorset Road Safe (DRS), backed Rospa’s findings, adding that it was too soon to judge the impact of funding cuts on the operation of cameras in the county.

DRS recently announced plans to slowly phase out fixed cameras in favour of more mobile and average speed cameras.

Asked how many cameras could be switched off in Dorset, Mr Stephens said: “There may be some, but it won’t be as many as people think.”

But Ian Belchamber, of web site Dorset Speed, blamed a “dependence on speed cameras in preference to proper policing” for lost lives.

“We must give up this nonsense. Road safety is a complex issue and anyone who thinks it can be solved with a few yellow boxes is not thinking straight,” he said.

He said a decline in the amount of speed camera fines indicated drivers learning not to be caught by cameras, and questioned the assumption that less cameras would lead to more accidents.

Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset councils yesterday blamed government funding cuts for their reduced contribution to DSR, but pledged to continue their support for road safety in the county.

Source of this Article:

Bournemouth Echo (opens a new window)

By Heidi Rees (Bournemouth 2026 Partnership)

Posted: Thursday 26 August 2010

Permalink: http://www.bournemouth2026.org/dont-scrap-cameras-says-rospa

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