Intranetics Motoring News Service

Councillor hits out at new speed cameras

23rd May 2007 | BACK     PRINT

A councillor in Blackpool has hit out at road safety bosses over the introduction of new speed cameras featuring advanced digital technology, according to new reports.

For several years, Gatso speed cameras have utilised film negatives to catch speeding motorists - meaning that their ability to record the details of speeding cars is lost if the film runs out.

However, speed cameras look set to enter the digital age with the use of multi-million pixel camera technology and nearly limitless capacity to store driver details - meaning that motorists will be guaranteed to receive a speed fine, a notice of intended prosecution and licence points.

Approximately 80 per cent of the 4,000 existing speed cameras will be replaced with the digital variants, potentially generating an extra £120 million in fine revenues.

However, Blackpool councillor Mary Smith - who claims there are already too many speed cameras in the town - said she is unhappy.

She told the Blackpool Gazette: "The thought of more people getting caught by cameras is terrible and I think this just shows how crafty the government is."

"This all about making money, they already make a fortune on speed cameras as it is and I think that if anything it will make the public want to rebel against it.

"It won't slow people down, it will just earn more money for the coffers."

She concluded by saying that it is her opinion that speed cameras are placed where they can make the most money, instead of an accident black spot, for instance.

In related speed camera news, the Association of British Drivers (ABD) has slammed claims from the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers that the ABD has encouraged a belief among drivers that there is something wrong with enforcing the law.

Instead, the ABD has said it is in favour of the enforcement of sensible laws that do not target everyday motorists.

Malcolm Heymer, a speed limit expert at the ABD, commented: "The problem with speed limits is that exceeding them is an absolute offence - drivers are unable to defend themselves by pointing out that either the speed limit is wrong for the road, or that the speed was not in any way dangerous to anyone at the time of the offence."

He concluded by saying that excessive and heavy-handed enforcement of law is likely to "undermine" it.

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