Analysis: Love them or loath them, road safety cameras are saving lives

By Neil Greig
Published on 01/08/2012 00:00

THE LATEST analysis of safety camera performance in Scotland provides some very positive news on their ability to save lives.

With every passing year the long-term trends are becoming clearer, and an overall 68 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injury at camera sites is an excellent result..

The average number killed or injured at these locations used to be 337 every year, but it is now down to 108. Mobile cameras seem to be the most effective, with a 71 per cent reduction in the most serious incidents along the routes they cover. The safety camera partnerships are also getting much better at following up tickets.. This means that even though the overall number of tickets issued has fallen the chances of being tracked down and paying up have increased.

However, with safety cameras, opinions will always be polarised. Just over half still think there are too many and 59 per cent agree they are ‘an easy way of making money out of motorists’.

Until these negative views can be finally addressed safety cameras will never be universally accepted. Today’s figures show that cameras, love then or loath them, are playing a key part in keeping road deaths at record lows.

• Neil Greig is director of policy and research at the Institute for Advanced Motorists.