Figures show cameras cut road deaths

SAFTEY cameras have helped cut deaths and injuries in road accident casualties by almost two-thirds.

In a parliamentary answer, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the latest figures showed the number of people killed or seriously injured at sites where safety cameras were in operation had fallen by 63 per cent.

SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell said: “The introduction of the safety cameras programme is having a positive impact on cutting the number of casualties on Scotland’s roads, saving lives around the country.

“The cost of a fatal accident is £1.85 million, a serious accident £205,000 and a slight accident is £20,000.

“The budget allocated to the Scottish Safety Camera Programme in 2011-2012 was £4.6m. If cameras prevent three fatal accidents a year, this will outweigh the total cost of running the programme across Scotland.”