Petition calls for scrapping of scameras

[Tentenths]

Just spotted this over on Pistonheads

On the same day that Department for Transport announced an increase in road deaths, road safety campaign Safe Speed has launched a petition on the 10 Downing Street site to scrap speed cameras in the interests of road safety (see link below).

Safe Speed claimed it presents "a cast iron case" against speed cameras:

* The benefit claimed for speed cameras has been overrated by 400 per cent due to neglect of regression to the mean effect at speed camera sites.

* The claimed speed / accident relationship based on average speeds is basically complete drivel.

* Only five per cent of injury crashes involve any vehicle exceeding speed limits, including crashes caused by rogue drivers, nutters racing on the highway, reckless drivers, stolen cars, emergency services drivers and drunk drivers.

* Speed cameras come with at least 30 detrimental side effects, none of which have been officially studied.

* Vehicle activated signs are more effective than speed cameras at reducing vehicle speeds in dangerous locations.

* We earned ourselves the safest roads in the world long before we had speed cameras, but since we've had speed cameras we have been losing our world lead.

* Road deaths are not falling as expected.

* Road crash hospitalisations haven't fallen for a decade according to the British Medical Journal.

* If it weren't for a sustained reduction in pedestrian activity, the road safety results would be considerably worse.

The Statistics Commission has warned Department for Transport that their 'serious injury' statistics are not a reliable series - and that's the only category showing an improvement.

Campaign founder Paul Smith said: "I urge everyone to sign this petition for one reason and for one reason only - because speed cameras are detrimental to road safety. A proper examination of the case leaves absolutely no doubt that speed cameras have made road safety worse."

Clicky for scrap cameras petition

Clicky for Paul Smith's Safespeed site

I, for one, think this deserves/needs our support.

James