More speed cameras despite funding cuts, RAC figures reveal

MOtorists are still having to contend with thousands of speed camera sites despite funding cuts.

There are more fixed speed camera sites in England now than in 2010 but the number that take pictures has fallen from 529 to 487, according to data revealed by the RAC Foundation.

In West Yorkshire, however, the number of operational cameras has increased by more than 35 per cent from 56 to 76. The number remained steady in South Yorkshire and Humberside and North Yorkshire has never used them.

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RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: “Many people believe there has been a mass switch-off of cameras over the past couple of years. But the data shows that overall this is simply not true.

“Our best evidence is that if all speed cameras were turned off around 80 more people would be killed on the roads each year with 700 others seriously injured.

“Therefore we welcome these figures which suggest the majority of fixed cameras have been retained and housings are being kept in place as a deterrent.”

The number of fixed speed camera sites across England in 2012 was 2,331 compared with 2,188 in 2010. At these sites there may be more than one camera housing, with one facing one way and another facing in a different direction. There were 3,026 housings in 2012, down from 3,039 in 2010.

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Prof Glaister said: “Although there are many more housings than cameras, it seems the cameras are rotated between them ensuring there is some level of positive enforcement at most sites.

“It is also important to note that many police constabularies rely heavily on mobile cameras to catch law breakers.”

The foundation is concerned funds will not be available for new equipment “to replace increasingly antiquated film cameras” despite a rise in road deaths in 2011 for the first time since 2003.

“There is a lack of money for all aspects of road safety and we urge councillors to allocate adequate budgets to protect people on the roads by whatever means is appropriate,” said Prof Glaister.