SPEED CAMERAS WORKING LOCALLY

1.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 23rd Jun 2004

David Rendel MP intervened in Transport Questions this week to draw attention to new figures which show that speed cameras have resulted in a dramatic decline in road accidents in the Thames Valley area.

The number killed or seriously injured has declined by 43% over the last 18 months in areas where speed cameras have been introduced. The number of collisions resulting in personal injury fell by 28%.

The figures came in an independent report produced by University College London and PA Consulting Group on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Commenting, Mr Rendel said:

"Speed cameras may be unpopular with the minority of drivers who care more about the fines they incur than about people getting killed in road accidents. But these figures show that the cameras work. There are still roads such as the B4009 in West Berkshire where fatal accidents might have been avoided if speed cameras had been in operation."

ENDS.