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It appears that the ongoing debate concerning speed cameras will continue. Having commented in my blog in August about Oxfordshire County Council's decision to switch off up to 72 speed cameras as a result of spending cuts - it now appears that the council has performed a u-turn.
According to reports in the national press, due to an increase in the numbers of motoring offences being committed - such as drivers speeding past deactivated cameras - the council is planning, along with Thames Valley Police, to restore the redundant cameras in a bid to halt the sharp rise in speeding incidents being reported by members of the public. According to Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership the numbers of drivers speeding past the deactivated cameras had risen by 88%.
As I said in an earlier blog, I didn't for one minute think the actions of certain councils to remove speed cameras during the summer would mean the ultimate demise of this road safety method. However, at the moment the ongoing arguments for and against speed cameras and the frequent media reporting about some cameras being switched off in different parts of the country sends out mixed messages to motorists and could lead to confusion.
Of course drivers shouldn't be speeding whether the cameras are switched on or not, but in reality the reports of changing driver behaviour in the Oxfordshire locations area, where drivers knew cameras had been switched off, is telling. It confirms the fact that road safety initiatives play an important role in modifying driver behaviour but they need consistency and constant attention to make them work.
It is safe to say that the speed camera debate concerning the complex relationship between cost, safety measure effectiveness and driver behaviour influence is one set to run. However, it is important that it is clearly communicated to drivers that if cameras are being switched off in parts of the country that does not make speeding acceptable and other road safety initiatives should be implemented to address this issue.
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