ROADS FATALITIES LEAP 39% AT CAMERA SITES IN CUMBRIA
05 August 2005 - Safe Speed

According to official information obtained under the Freedom of Information act by a member of the public, fatalities have leap by an average of almost 40% at speed camera sites in Cumbria since partnership operations commenced.

Figures obtained show fatal crashes at speed camera sites as follows:

Before Cumbria Camera Partnership:
year / deaths

2000 10
2001 6
2002 8
2003 2 (first quarter)

Total: 26 deaths in 39 months
Average 8 deaths per year

After Cumbria Camera Partnership:
year / deaths

2003 10 (last three quarters)
2004 12
2005 5 (up to June 30th)

Total: 25 deaths in 27 months
Average 11.1 deaths per year

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) said: ''The full horror of the speed camera programme is gradually emerging. Far from saving lives, speed cameras are killing us. They are a deadly distraction away from the core values of safe driving.''

''The government has not done their research properly - their claims are shot through with false assumptions and inadequate data. There''s a lack of understanding of how road safety works at the highest level. Perhaps we shouldn''t be surprised when the Secretary of State for Transport does not hold a driving licence.''

''The figures are even worse than they appear because we expect reductions at camera sites due a statistical bias known as regression to the mean.''

''We must get these dangerous cameras off the roads right now. People are dying because of them. The term ''safety camera'' will go down in history as a sick joke.''

Paul Smith challenged Steve Callaghan, the manager of Cumbria Partnership to debate the issues on BBC Radio Cumbria. He declined. We assume that they don''t have any worthwhile facts to contribute to the debate. However we would be delighted to be proved wrong and repeat the challenge - Won''t you debate the issues in any national Mr Callaghan? If you think someone else can do better - nominate your champion! We''ll meet any challenge.

www.safespeed.org.uk

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