BigRab wrote:
> >- to the vast majority of people, speed cameras are evil
> >contraptions designed to persecute innocent motorists who aren't doing
> >any harm while the police laze about collecting fines instead of chasing
> >"real criminals". Sad, but true.
A poll of polls, released today by Transport 2000, demonstrates ongoing
popular support for speed cameras. The environmental transport
group's work, based on six different surveys, shows that support for
the use of speed cameras averages 74 per cent. The latest poll included
in the calculation was carried out by ICM for the BBC in October this
year and showed support for speed cameras running at 75 per cent with
only 19 per cent against.
Demonstrating their concern about speeding issues, local communities
will be taking part in the National Day of Action on Traffic Speeds
being organised by Transport 2000 on Wednesday 10 December 2003.
Communities will be calling for more police action to tackle fast and
speeding drivers illustrating how they are dangerous and represent a
blight on the quality of life of local communities.
Vicky Cann, Assistant Director of Transport 2000, said: "Since speed
cameras started to be more widely used in 2000, opinion polling has
consistently shown strong support for their use. We must not allow a
very vocal minority of motorists to distort this issue. Speed cameras
are actually the motorist's friend because they make the roads safer
for everyone.
"The public support the use of speed cameras because they understand
two very simple things: the faster you go, the more likely you are to
be involved in a crash and the more severe the impact of the crash.
These points have been proved time and again by research carried out by
reputable independent bodies like Transport Research Laboratory."
Notes to Editors
The ICM Research Ltd poll carried out for the BBC in October 2003
asked: "Taking all things into account, on balance, would you say you
are in favour of speed cameras or against speed cameras."
Seventy-five per cent responded to say they were in favour; with only
19 per cent were against.
MORI in August 2001 showed that 70 per cent of respondents to a poll
supported the use of speed cameras.
An NOP/Evening Standard poll in summer 2002 found that 84 per cent of
motorists in London and the southern region viewed the use of speed
cameras as a good thing, even though more than half had been
'flashed', or flashed and fined, by one.
A November 2002 You Gov poll by Transport 2000 showed that 75 per cent
of respondents in London thought that cameras should be used more
widely on dangerous roads.
A 2003 study for the Scottish Executive carried out by researchers at
Napier University said that 75 per cent of drivers thought speed
cameras to be a good thing.
The 2003 Used Car Market Report recorded a 62 per cent satisfaction
rating for speed cameras amongst motorists.
Government evidence shows that speed cameras reduce the number of
people killed or seriously injured at camera sites by 35 per cent. The
number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured at camera sites has
fallen by 56 per cent.
According to work done by the independent Transport Research
Laboratory, speed is a contributory factor in around one-third of fatal
crashes.
http://www.transport2000.org.uk/news/maintainNewsArticles.asp?NewsArticleID=143