Car Insurance
Speed camera 'lottery'
Mon, 13 Mar 2006
The density of speed cameras across different parts of the UK can vary by up to 16 times, it has been revealed.
A parliamentary question by Conservative shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling prompted transport minister Dr Stephen Ladyman to reveal for the first time the spread of speed cameras across the country.
Whereas mid- and south Wales together have 377 speed cameras and Thames Valley has 344, there are only 31 speed cameras in Hertfordshire and just 23 in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.
"There are such huge discrepancies that it isn't a coherent national policy," said the executive director of the RAC Foundation for Motoring, Edmund King.
The strength of opinion against speed cameras throughout the country is considerable, with one camera in Bedfordshire recently becoming a victim to arson attack – for the second time.
Speed cameras, first introduced in 1992, have helped the number of tickets rocket from 200,000 per year in 1995 to over 2 million in 2004.
Drivers are advised that keeping to the speed limit will not only avoid being caught by a speed camera, but it may also prevent having to make a claim on a car insurance policy as a road accident will be less likely.
© Adfero Ltd
