AA Says Motorists Accept Speed Cameras

AA says motorists accept speed cameras.

AA has warned that the recent UK’s speed camera switch off, caused by the slashing of road safety budgets could actually put more lives at risk.

It seems that the views of motorists are not being correctly reflected in the speed camera debate and that the speed camera switch off could create a public backlash rather than win their hearts.

According to a recent survey by 15,000 AA members, 69% accept the use of cameras, while local residents in Oxfordshire (near the first switch off) report that speeds have already increased.

The government’s announcement that there is to be no new funding for fixed speed cameras and a 37% cut in road safety budgets has led AA to believe that this will in turn cost lives. AA have said that cameras have a vital role to play in safety as there is an 80% chance a pedestrian will be killed by a car travelling at 40mph, compared with a survival rate of 80% if the car is travelling at 30mph.

These issues have been raised in a letter from AA to the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and says the speed camera switch off will be discussed with ministers in a meeting soon.