Safe Speed Forums

Last West Midlands fixed speed cameras switched off
1 April 2013 Last updated at 12:38

Speed camera (generic) It is estimated it would cost £580,000 per year to use upgraded camera technology

There are no fixed speed cameras working in the West Midlands from Monday, pending a decision on whether to upgrade to digital technology.

The police, who operate the cameras in Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull and Coventry, are using mobile speed cameras instead.

All 304 of the region's speed cameras are now switched off in a move expected to save about £1m a year.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has criticised the decision.

Road Safety Partnership cost estimates

£600,000 to remove existing speed cameras
£580,000 per year to upgrade the camera technology

Kevin Clinton, from the society, said: "All local authorities and police services are under pressure to make cuts and save money but RoSPA believes that cameras should continue to be used where casualty statistics show they are needed."

Tom Ansell from West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board said: "They [the police] have decided they'll go for mobile enforcement and they believe they'll catch more motorists that way.

"The fact that they're mobile means they can get onto roads where we don't necessarily have speed cameras in place."

As long as they totally remove the cameras that is a good thing although all the paranoia around every type of van will increase dramatically and still distract drivers from the task of driving safely!
A wrong reason to end them but perhaps it is the beginning of their true demise at least !
Just hope the Speed Awareness Course don't increase - but i totally suspect that they will !