Darling clamps down on speed cameras

[Bob]

UK transport secretary, Alistair Darling, has ordered a clampdown on safety cameras outside concentrated accident blackspots in response to protests by motoring organisations about over-zealous enforcement of speed limits.

A new 60-page rulebook requires local safety authorities to keep a closer watch on the impact of every camera, including reviews of "legacy cameras" which were installed before strict guidelines began on positioning.

Mobile police speed checks are only to be allowed within 5km (three miles) of accident blackspots, where four crashes have caused deaths or serious injuries within three years.

Radar checks have to be clearly marked and speed cameras must be painted bright yellow. Police will only be allowed to conduct covert enforcement in exceptional circumstances where "extreme car drivers or motorbike riders" are engaged in high-speed racing.

Motoring organisations gave the document a cautious welcome - the AA's head of road safety, Andrew Howard, said: "These are steps towards a clear, transparent set of rules which will convince people that cameras are intended to save lives and are not just about making money."

[bluninja]

Mobile police speed checks are only to be allowed within 5km (three miles) of accident blackspots, where four crashes have caused deaths or serious injuries within three years.

Shows what a load of rubbish these positioning rules really are. Portsmouth is an island about 6km long and 6km wide. On the basis of these rules they could site a speed camera almost anywhere around the city because of one accident blackspot. I know where all the fixed cameras are (5) and only one of them is actually at an accident blackspot......funnily enough they are all on straight stretches of road with clear visibility apart from the one that is the accident blackspot ...which is placed on the straight leading up to a bend with a junction on it (which decent road engineering could have sorted).

As for the mobile cameras...they are on the dual carriageway heading out of a cinema and restaurant complex every night at 10:30 catching all the punters that have just been out for a meal or to see a film. No accidents down there.

[inlinefour]

UK transport secretary, Alistair Darling, has ordered a clampdown on safety cameras outside concentrated accident blackspots in response to protests by motoring organisations about over-zealous enforcement of speed limits.

A new 60-page rulebook requires local safety authorities to keep a closer watch on the impact of every camera, including reviews of "legacy cameras" which were installed before strict guidelines began on positioning.

Mobile police speed checks are only to be allowed within 5km (three miles) of accident blackspots, where four crashes have caused deaths or serious injuries within three years.

Radar checks have to be clearly marked and speed cameras must be painted bright yellow. Police will only be allowed to conduct covert enforcement in exceptional circumstances where "extreme car drivers or motorbike riders" are engaged in high-speed racing.

Motoring organisations gave the document a cautious welcome - the AA's head of road safety, Andrew Howard, said: "These are steps towards a clear, transparent set of rules which will convince people that cameras are intended to save lives and are not just about making money."

You have made me glad that I dont live in the UK...