Relevant speed (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Relevant speed

2:14pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Sir, - In your issue of April 18 your reporter Dani Webb reported on the 19 per cent fall in road casualties achieved by Stockton Borough Council over the last year.

It was very interesting to see that in all the measures described the speed camera did not feature. Does this signify a more enlightened attitude?

I hope so.

It has been proven now for some years that speed cameras do not reduce accidents. In September 2006, the Department of Transport discovered that the proportion of injury crashes involving any speeding vehicle nationally was only five per cent - not the "one third" that they had previously claimed.

In June 2006 they had already discovered that the ongoing beneficial trend in road crash serious injuries due to speed cameras was just a feature of the way these crashes are reported.

Hospitalisation statistics don't show the same trend.

Road deaths don't show the same trend.

By 2005, 14 years after the introduction of cameras, the Department of Transport decided it was necessary to conduct an investigation into the possible side-effects of speed cameras.

This research has since been axed. Were the results so unpalatable for the Government?

Unfortunately, the mantra of "speed kills" has been repeated so often that it has taken on the credibilty of proven fact. This is not the case. Rather it is relevant speed that kills. Speed needs to be assessed alongside other contributary factors such as prevailing weather conditions, traffic density at the time and driver competance.

Moreover, the main cause of road accidents would appear to result from poor standards of driving. Speed cameras will not improve this. Far from it they can act as a distraction.

In Great Britain the rise in the number of cameras has not shown a corresponding reduction in accidents. Some cities such as Ontario have actually scrapped their cameras.

So well done to Stockton Borough Council, for taking an enlightened view. One which is not revenue raising either.

Those interested in this topic, which is vitally important if this country is to regain the lead it once held in road safety, should visit www.safespeed.org.uk.

ANDREW PEEL Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

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