JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SLOWER SPEEDS INITIATIVE AND ROADPEACE 14 December 2005
IT COULD BE YOU: SAFETY CAMERAS PREVENT HUNDREDS OF DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW.

The Slower Speeds Initiative (1) and RoadPeace (2) today welcomed today's news that at least 1745 deaths and serious injuries have been prevented by speed limit enforcement. They also welcomed lower thresholds for enforcement and the promise of new funds for local road safety but criticised the Government for still requiring casualties as a prerequisite for law enforcement (3). Four years of enforcement action by Safety Camera Partnerships have shown that speed cameras could be used to prevent as well as reduce casualties.

Far from a reduction in the number of speed cameras, the organisations are confident that local accountability and the introduction of a value for money approach will ensure that cameras will remain a top option for roads with speed limits above 30mph. The new system should also allow authorities to use cameras to enforce 20mph limits for roads where humps are not practical.

Paige Mitchell, co-ordinator of the Slower Speeds Initiative, said:

'The Government is finally taking on board two important messages: that there should be more funding for road safety and that local communities should have a say in how speed cameras are used. But as long as road safety measures follow casualties rather than preventing them, it will always be 'too little too late' for too many communities and families. Speed reducing measures are the best way to reduce road danger. Transport budgets should be invested accordingly.'


Dr Ian Roberts, a public health expert (4) and patron of RoadPeace, said

'There is increasing evidence that speed cameras save lives. When you have people dying in the streets and you know that speed cameras can prevent from dying, then it's negligent and irresponsible not to use them.


RoadPeace Director, Brigitte Chaudhry said:

'This should be the final nail in the coffin of the camera critics. The tenth research study in as many years, this is just more evidence of the effectiveness of cameras in preventing death and injury on our roads. We welcome the increased funding for speed reduction but urge the criteria be further relaxed so that cameras can be used before death and injury occur. Drivers need to be reminded of the causal relationship between speeding and casualties with fine revenue also invested in victim assistance and rehabilitation, as crash victims do not currently qualify for criminal compensation and victim support services.'


Ms Mitchell added:

'Hundreds of families who have been spared the trauma of road death and injury will be celebrating life and health during the Christmas and New Year's festivities. But they won't know who they are. It could be you.'


ENDS


Notes for Editors

(1) The Slower Speeds Initiative works for better understanding of the impacts of speed and the benefits of lower and better enforced speed limits. Its founders are the Children's Play Council, CTC, the Environmental Transport Association, Living Streets, the Road Danger Reduction Forum, RoadPeace, Sustrans and Transport 2000.

(2) RoadPeace is the leading national charity supporting victims of road crashes and bereaved families.

In October of this year RoadPeace and the Slower Speeds Initiative published a briefing pack on Safety Cameras (see www.roadpeace.org). We called for:

• The casualty requirements for safety cameras (both speed and red light cameras) to be ended. Safety cameras should be used to increase compliance with road traffic laws and to prevent death and injury.

• Inconspicuous, i.e. covert, cameras to be trialled and existing cameras to be used more effectively with additional speed cameras to be installed according to local operational criteria established in consultation with communities.

• Consistent and proper evaluation of all road safety interventions, including those aimed at reducing excessive and inappropriate speed. A lower standard should not be tolerated for more popular measures that may well be less effective at saving lives and preventing disability.

• Fine revenue to be invested in national publicity campaigns explaining rationale for safety cameras and also in road traffic victim support and rehabilitation services. This would remind drivers that speeding is not a victimless crime.

• Involvement of speed to be estimated by speed calculations recorded at the end of the investigation, not at the initial reporting stage, as is currently done when only a 'best guess' is possible.

(3) In 2006/07 Safety Camera Partnerships will be given much greater flexibilty to enforce speed limits and respond to community concerns. In 2007/08 a new road safety fund for local authorities will come on stream, finally introducing local accountability in the way that cameras are used. The relevant documents, included the Fourth Year Report on the Safety Camera Partnership results, are posted on the Department for Transport website:

Government press release
Four year evaluation report

(4) Ian Roberts is a paediatrician and expert in road crash trauma, especially involving children. He is the head of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Injury Prevention Research.