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Speed Cameras to stay
Looks like speed cameras in the West Midlands are here to stay - for the time being at least.
Oxfordshire's decided to switch all of their's off as soon as possible because the Government's cutting the amount of money it gives councils to run them.
The Road Safety Minister told a paper they want to end the war on the motorist.
But Mick Hartill from the West Midlands Casualty Reduction Scheme says that doesn't make sense: "They do help make roads safer, statistics show that where cameras are sighted collisions drop by over thirty per cent, they do work and they're one of a number of tools that impact on road collisions."
"If safety cameras are removed without a clear plan about what's gonna happen then i do fear casualties will increase and people will suffer as will their next of kin."
West Mercia's Road Safety Partnership already announced weeks ago they wouldn't be getting rid of speed cameras, and in fact have plans for more because drivers have actually asked for more because it makes the roads safer.
They were responding to criticism from the Taxpayer's Alliance who claimed West Mercia were making nearly £3 million from speeding fines.
Jennifer Dunne was the author of the report: "Speed camera's have done nothing to decrease the number of road casualities but have actually made it worse...the money basically goes into a big pot at the HM Treasury, alot of it doesn't go back into making roads safer."
"There should be no new funding for speed camera's and the existing ones should be taken down."
"We're urging council's to follow the example of Swindon who have decommissioned all speed cameras and to use other means to keep the roads safe."
"The law is heavily based on the fact that speed is dangerous and if you go just one or two miles an hour over the speed limit you're putting yourself and other drivers in danger. In fact, in our report we show this is wrong for road safety and it's been detrimental to that."
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