SPEED CAMERAS KEY ELECTION ISSUE SAYS SAFE SPEED
29 March 2005 - Safe Speed

Survey results published today by Green Flag Motoring Assistance show clearly the gulf between motorists'' concerns and government policy.

''Reducing speeding'' is bottom of the motorists'' priority list yet top of the government''s list.

Motorists'' top concern was drunk and drugged driving (102,000
prosecutions) while speeding was rated rock bottom 14th out of 14 (1.65million prosecutions). Motorists and the government clearly put speeding at opposite ends of the importance scale.

Speed camera mania is expected to persecute more than 3 million motorists in 2005, yet while this policy runs wildly out of control road deaths are actually increasing. Safe Speed says this is policy failure on a massive scale.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign (www.safespeed.org.uk), said: ''The Conservatives have recognised the huge strength of feeling and the value of the motorists'' vote and have pledged to review speed cameras and scrap the greedy speed camera partnerships. Any party that fails to follow suit will be extremely brave or foolhardy. With 32 million licence holders, the speed camera issue could easily swing the forthcoming election.''

''The thing about speeding'', explains Smith, ''is that the vast majority of motorists know full well that it''s only a small part of a decent road safety policy. We expect more from our governments in terms of critical and accurate thinking. We''re tired of the spin used to prop up a failed policy. And we''re tired of being distracted from important driving tasks looking out for the next infernal speed camera.''

''Motorists'' grumbles about speed camera policy have become a roar. You simply cannot go into a public house without overhearing a heated conversation about speed cameras.'' said Smith, ''The political parties would do well to listen to what people are saying. Motorists have had far more than enough. They will speak at the ballot box.''

www.safespeed.org.uk

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