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Super speed cameras with no flash snap motorists without them knowing

A new generation of super speed cameras which do not flash are being tested.

The cameras require no film and can photograph the driver's face as well as the number plate.

Because the device gives no warning, speeding drivers will not know they have been caught until a £60 fine, which can be issued in minutes, arrives in the post. A motorist could run up a points ban on one stretch of road without realising it.

There is also criticism that because the camera does not flash when triggered, speeding motorists or those behind them will not modify their driving.

Campaigners have branded the new devices "money making" machines that will do little to make roads safer.

A trial on the A4 Great West Road in London has already trapped drivers but they will not be prosecuted as the camera has not been officially approved.

Once they have been sanctioned by the Government, the devices are expected to be installed across the country.

The new device can be used forward or rear-facing so they can also trap speeding motorcycles, which only have number plates on the back. The cameras, which can operate on battery power in case of a power cut, rely on wireless technology to send digital images to police so that the details can be processed quickly. They can also be used to catch drivers who jump red lights.

Paul Smith, of the Safe Speed Road Safety Campaign Organisation, said: "The fact that you do not know you have been flashed adds more uncertainty to the driver's mind, and uncertainty is never a good thing for safety.

"If it is to be a deterrent it is better to know where you stand. The camera is aimed at making lots of money for the manufacturer."

Its makers, Truvelo, were given permission to test the camera at Gillette Corner, Isleworth, by Transport for London and is working with the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP).

A TfL spokesman said the trial was "openended" and would continue until the device was approved by the Home Office.

The number of people killed or seriously injured on London's roads has fallen by 41 per cent since the mid-nineties.

TfL says cameras have played an important role in reducing the number of casualties, together with other road safety measures such as 20 mph zones, as well as advertising and educational initiatives.

About half of all motorists flashed by speed cameras in London avoid a fine.

This compares with a 100 per cent “hit rate” in areas including Kent, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, and a national rate of around 60 per cent.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Maybe that’s also why they’re making a big thing about tinted windows. IMO they're just stepping up the war on the motorist because it's as sure as hell nothing to do with road safety.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

Wireless technology eh? I wonder how secure that is and what would happen if you acccidently on purpose placed another wireless transmitter on the same channel as the camera was using.... in fact, unless the transmissions were encrypted properly intercept them, alter them and relay them on. Would they know?

Will they be able to identify the driver if you have your sun visor down or suddenly decide to wear a tony blair mask whenever you go out?

Safe Speed issued the following PR at 11:37 this morning:

PR489: Speed Cameras are money making machines

news: for immediate release

The London Evening Standard today reports of trials of a new speed camera with
an invisible flash. [1]

Paul Smith, founder of SafeSpeed.org.uk, said: "Speed cameras are designed to
make money, but those who think that the Government is making the money are
looking in the wrong place. Speed cameras are designed to make money for the
companies who manufacture them."

"Transport for London proudly proclaim that their policies have reduced deaths
and serious injuries in London by 41% since the mid 1990s. Obviously they are
pretending not to have read last June's British Medical Journal [2], which
revealed that the fall in official serious injury statistics was not reflected
in road crash hospitalisations. The BMJ concludes that something is wrong with
the statistics and they do not represent a genuine road safety improvement. Of
course those with a vested interest - notably Transport for London and
Department for Transport - are trying to pretend that they don't understand the
error and 'more investigation is required."

"Radio 4 recently caught out Transport for London making wild and unjustifiable
claims for accident reductions 'at speed camera sites'. As is common TfL
wilfully neglected a large and important statistical bias. I am disgusted with
TfL for continuing to use dodgy road safety statistics. They should know that
road safety misinformation costs lives because it causes life saving resources
to be misallocated."

"These new cameras will leave drivers less certain, and that's another bad side
effect. We published a list of 40 negative side effects [4] arising from speed
cameras when Department for Transport cancelled its side effect research. We
know they are scared of the results."

"The speed camera programme has failed to improve road safety. No wonder
Department for Transport has disowned speed cameras and passed the
responsibility down to local authorities. They know speed cameras have been a
disaster. Now they would rather save face than save lives."

"We need to scrap speed cameras right now for safety's sake. Over 23,000 have
signed our 10 Downing Street petition: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/scrapcam "

<ends>

Notes for editors
=================

[1]
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23398002-
details/The%20speed%20camera%20you%20cannot%20beat/article.do

[2] BMJ article:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SafeSpeedPR/message/181
(Safe Speed PR, includes link to BMJ article)


[3] Radio 4 - The Investigation:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6571257.stm

[4] Safe Speed side effects report:
http://www.safespeed.org.uk/sideeffects.pdf

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety