Swindon’s speed cameras are to be removed after local councillors voted to withdraw funding for them in what is being hailed as a landmark decision.
The nine member ‘cabinet committee’ of Conservative-led Swindon and Wiltshire council voted unanimously to end £350,000 of funding a year for fixed cameras. Any revenues that these cameras generate are paid directly to central Government.
“Nationally, only six per cent of accidents are caused by people breaking speed limits," said councillor Peter Greenhalgh, citing a recent Department for Transport study. "Yet almost 100 per cent of the government's road safety money is being invested in speed cameras. I can see that’s wrong.”
Not everyone agrees with the decision to abolish fixed cameras. Local Labour councilors are opposed to the decision and Wiltshire Police claim the speed cameras are responsible for a 70 per cent drop in serious accidents.
Local police officers will now be carrying out more mobile speed checks.
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Re: Swindon axes speed cameras
Yes, 'G', I am probing him to see if he thinks excessive speed is the factor in all accidents because he says that he doesn't understand.
Re: Swindon axes speed cameras
You think speed is a factor in ALL accidents ?
Re: Swindon axes speed cameras
You won't find me arguing with that. Anyone who actually cares about their driving - present company, for example, I'm sure - may be capable of judging road conditions and adjusting their driving style to suit, but to the average joe who just wants to get from A to B (that'll be most people on the road, then!), driving is something that's no more worthy of effort or improvement than mowing the lawn.