Safe Speed Forums

But separate figures seen by the Daily Mail show there were fewer prosecutions last year in two of the main categories which worry the public.

Dangerous driving cases fell by 1,100 to 7,400 and prosecutions for driving while drunk or on drugs were down from 103,500 to 101,400.

Despite the huge increase in speeding fines, Britain's record for reducing accidents is much worse than other countries.

The European Transport Safety Council says that between 2001 and 2005 there was a mere seven per cent reduction in the number of road deaths in Britain compared with a 25 per cent drop in Sweden and the Netherlands and 35 per cent in France.

Experts warn that too much emphasis is now placed on using cameras to trap motorists, at the expense of old-fashioned policing by officers in cars.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'Safety cameras are there to save lives, not make money.

'Independent research shows there are 1,745 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year.'