Outrage Expressed Over The Turning Off Of Speed Cameras

Thursday, 9. September 2010

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Surprisingly, there has been a public outcry over the switching off of speed cameras around the country after the Government decided to withdraw funding to local authorities necessary to maintain and operate the cameras. In Oxfordshire the council has announced the turning off of the speed cameras after their payment to the speed camera partners was reduced by 70%. This has outraged residents, according to the AA, who fear for their safety as more drivers realise that the speed cameras are no longer working. As one resident complained, on a road that has two cameras in one stretch, they previously slowed cars down for the complete stretch of road but now the cars are belting down the road, totally disregarding the speed limit. The AA fear that this situation will be repeated around the country as more local authorities switch their cameras off resulting in more accidents and possible fatalities. Why not announce that following the cut backs speed cameras will not be working full time but will be randomly operated on odd days throughout the month, in the meantime how much would it cost to leave the sensors switched on and the flash working? No one would then know if the cameras were switched on or off. I hate speed cameras, like most other drivers, but there are places where they are essential for the safety of children and other road users so whilst I’m happy to see the cameras, hidden away in trees where there is no danger at all, switched off. There are some cameras that should be left switched on. Do you have any strong views on this? Please let me know? By Graham Hill