Speed Cameras Reduce Serious Road Accidents

A study conducted by RAC suggests that speed cameras can help reduce the number of road accidents in England.

The study found that speed cameras reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions in the areas where they are installed by more than a quarter. Furthermore it also found that personal injury collisions also fell by 15% in the areas surrounding the 551 cameras.

The study looked at data from 551 fixed speed cameras in Cambridge and Peterborough, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Sussex, Warwickshire and the Thames valley. The RAC Foundation study found that fatal and serious accidents dropped by 27% after speed cameras were installed. The study further found that if cameras were switched off, a further 80 lives would be lost each year in each location.

But the research also found that at 21 camera sites, the number of collisions appeared to have increased. The RAC Foundation has written to 11 local authorities to find out why and to suggest they examine whether the cameras should be removed.

Prof Stephen Glaister, Director of the RAC Foundation, said that a report it published in 2010 found that without speed cameras there would be about 800 more people killed or seriously injured each year in road accidents.

He told the BBC: “Safety cameras are contentious. People dispute whether they work.”

“But in fact the general public as a whole like them because they want these roads to be made safer.”

“If cameras were turned off overnight there would be something like 80 people killed extra a year and 800 people killed or seriously injured.”

“So the evidence is very good that on average they do work, they are effective.”

If you have been involved in a serious car accident that was not your fault, our specialist injury solicitors can provide you with advice and act for you on a no win, no fee basis. Please contact one of our experienced personal injury solicitors free on 0808 1596 079