Safe Speed Forums

18 August 2005
Results of an independent survey today reveal that 83% of Dorset's residents support the use of safety cameras.

The survey of 1000 people in Dorset was carried out in July and August by independent survey company Newsquest Dorset Distribution & Leaflets Services. The results clearly demonstrate that support for the use of safety cameras as a means of reducing deaths and serious injuries on Dorset's roads is growing.

Pat Garrett, Head of Fixed Penalties for Dorset Police and the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership (DSCP) Project Manager comments: "These results show that all the hard work conducted by the DSCP is paying off and we are getting our message to the people of Dorset."

Other key results from the survey show that:
§ 75% of respondents agreed that the primary aim of safety cameras is to save lives
§ 89% believe that complying with speed limits will reduce injuries and deaths on our roads
§ 70% agreed that fewer accidents are likely to occur on roads where cameras are installed

Pat Garrett said: "The survey was conducted amongst a sample of 1,000 so the results are a true reflection of what the people of Dorset think. They will not make us complacent but do give us the encouragement to continue with our ultimate aim of reducing deaths and serious injuries by 40% by the year 2010."

He continues: "We will now conduct further analysis of the results to help us develop our programme of Enforcement, Engineering and Education to meet our goals and ensure the people of Dorset live in a safer community.

"This survey gives us the support we need to work together as a community to achieve our main objective, which is to put an end to the misery that is caused as a result of excessive and inappropriate speed."


For further information, please contact Nikki Cope or Sarah Townsend on 01425 472330 or email nikki@mckennatownsendpr.com


Notes to Editor:

The survey
The survey was carried out on behalf of the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership by independent survey company Newsquest Dorset Distribution & Leaflets Services. 1,000 street interviews were conducted across Dorset in Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch, Dorchester, Ferndown, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Weymouth.

Both standard attitudinal questions set by the Department for Transport and questions relating to general awareness of the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership and its aims and objectives were included in the survey. The Department for Transport requests that all Safety Camera Partnerships across the country ask for views on the use of safety cameras and it then compares the results nationally in order to gain a national indication of perceptions.


Dorset Safety Camera Partnership
The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership (DSCP) constitutes a partnership between Dorset County Council, Borough of Poole Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset Police, Dorset & Somerset Strategic Health Authority, Highways Agency, Her Majesty's Courts Service and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Partnership, through a combination of measures including education, engineering and enforcement, is working together to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on Dorset roads, as a consequence of both excess and inappropriate speed. It is responsible for the operation and maintenance of fixed site, mobile and red-light junction cameras throughout Dorset.
For further information please contact the Public Relations Office at info@dorsetsafetycameras.org.uk

§ 70% agreed that fewer accidents are likely to occur on roads where cameras are installed

"This survey gives us the support we need to work together as a community to achieve our main objective, which is to put an end to the misery that is caused as a result of excessive and inappropriate speed."

§ 75% of respondents agreed that the primary aim of safety cameras is to save lives

How can you agree with something you know nothing about.

Why are camera units allowed to spend public money on opinion polls in the first place? how do they fit into their remit?

Why are camera units allowed to spend public money on opinion polls in the first place? how do they fit into their remit?

The West Midlands SCP have an online poll - one question at a time, but from the previous polls I don't think they are quite getting the answers that they want!

http://www.wmsafetycameras.co.uk/

Now maybe their poll results reflect a more knowledgeable section of population, or just a more hostile one, but the answers are quite different.

It is a badly implemented poll though, because it allows you to use the back button and then vote again, and again, and again!

It is a badly implemented poll though, because it allows you to use the back button and then vote again, and again, and again!

when it comes to opinion polls, for or against whoever conducts the poll can manipulate the reponse to suit their own need.