July 15, 2008

Swindon Borough Council have become the first council to reject speed cameras in their borough, calling the scheme a ‘cash cow’, and saying that there are many more effective ways to cut road accidents.

The change of heart follows the decision for the funds from fines to be channelled directly back to central government.  Council leader Roderick Bluh, said that cash from fines goes to central government and there could be better ways to cut the number of accidents on roads.  He added "All of the fines that are collected go back through national government. So we don't get the fines to reinvest in other road safety measures.
"We believe having done a lot of research - or my colleague in particular - that the evidence suggests, the government's own statistics suggest, that speed cameras might not be the most effective way to reduce accidents."

Their head of transport, Peter Greenhalgh, said the money spent on cameras could be spent on local safety measures instead.
"These are far more effective than speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist," he said.
"They are being used as a cash cow. I do take exception to the positioning of some mobile speed cameras. They are designed to raise revenue. "I think enough is enough. There are much more important things we as a council should do instead of acting as a law enforcement arm of this government."

Swindon are the UK’s first borough to make a stand against speed cameras and many motorists will be keen to see other boroughs adopting a similar policy, it’s hard not to see the schemes as a stealth tax when the revenue goes straight into the coffers of central government.

Labour MP for South Swindon and parliamentary private secretary to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, Ann Snelgrove has criticised the decision claiming the council was "playing politics with lives". She claimed that the removal of the camera could see road accidents and deaths rise although it will be interesting to see how the neighbouring authorities act if it proves to have a positive effect on the numbers of road accidents.  Snelgrove has launched a ‘hands off our cameras’ campaign, we'll have to wait and see how many friends and family she can get to join this group…

It seems hard for the government to justify it’s claims that the scheme is anything other than a revenue generator now that the proceeds from the fines are being siphoned straight onto it’s bank account. 

This is a landmark ruling and if the precedent sees a positive effect in terms of accident numbers motorists will be keen to see the numbers of cameras reduced.  As the basis of the rampant rise in speed camera numbers is based on their positive effect with regards to the prevention of accidents, it will be hard for the government to justify it's current policy and the expansion of any camera scheme won't be able to hide behind the veneer of safety.  Lets hope that this is the beginning of a sea change in government policy away from persecuting motorists as an easy target and a way of raising funds.
Swindon Borough Council have become the first council to reject speed cameras in their borough calling the scheme a ‘cash cow’, and saying that there are many more effective ways to cut road accidents.

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