Deaths at speed trap sites fall

News Reporter

Wednesday 1 August 2012

THE number of people killed or seriously injured at sites where speed cameras have been installed has fallen in Scotland, according to new figures.

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Helen McArdle

An average of 108 road users were killed or seriously injured each year at camera sites in 2009-11, compared to an average of 337 annually at the same stretches of road in 1997-99, the three-year baseline period used before speed cameras came into force.

The cameras, both fixed and mobile, have been placed at 408 blackspots with a history of collisions or speeding problems.The 68% decline in fatal and serious road crashes also marks an improvement on last year's figure of a 63% decrease during 2008-2010 against the baseline.A spokesman for Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership, which operates 130 of the sites, said: "These figures show the highly visible deterrent effect of safety cameras continues to make a crucial contribution to improving driving behaviour. The report also highlights four out of five people in Scotland support the use of safety cameras in helping to make our roads safer."Drivers caught breaking the speed limit are offered the chance to avoid prosecution by accepting a £60 fine and an automatic three penalty points on their licence.In 2010-11, more than £3.7 million was raised through such penalties after 89% of the 90,174 motorists caught exceeding the limit paid the fine.However, the figure has fallen dramatically from a peak of almost £8.7m in fines in 2004-05 when close to 200,000 drivers in Scotland were caught speeding. All revenue is passed directly to the UK Treasury.The amount invested in the Safety Camera Programme by the Scottish Government this year – £4.6m – exceeded the amount raised through fines.However, each fatal road accident is estimated to cost the taxpayer £1.8m in emergency service responses, police accident investigation and potential prosecutions. A serious accident is estimated to cost £208,000 and a personal injury accident more than £83,000.Despite the falls in deaths and serious injuries, campaigners are concerned some drivers are still not heeding the safety messages at 40mph, 50mph and 60mph locations.Statistics revealed the proportion of motorists above these limits at fixed camera sites has risen in comparison to when there were no cameras in place.The figures showed 22% of drivers breaking the 40mph limit, 27% breaking the 50mph limit and 17% breaking the 60mph limit, compared to 18%, 25% and 12% respectively before the cameras were introduced.Kathleen Braidwood, road safety officer for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: "It is really disappointing there has been a percentage increase in vehicles exceeding the speed limit at 40mph, 50mph and 60mph fixed camera sites, particularly because in Scotland we have so many rural roads that carry these speed limits."We know three out of four road fatalities happen on rural roads. In Scotland, we really need to think about how we are driving on these roads, taking into account the changing environment and what an appropriate speed is for rural roads."Safer driving on rural roads means not just travelling within the legal limit, but also travelling at an appropriate speed for the conditions."The report also highlighted a divide in attitudes to speed cameras, with 83% of women in favour compared to 67% of men.

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Deaths at speed trap sites fall

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