Gareth Johnson welcomes change of approach to speed cameras

Yesterday the government announced the end of funding for static speed cameras saying it will no longer fund the installation of fixed-point cameras.  In future, any new fixed cameras will have to be funded from local budgets.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson challenged the Roads Minister, Mike Penning, during transport questions in the House of Commons over the effectiveness of speed camera and sought reassurance that cameras would not be used as a money making device.   Commenting, the MP for Dartford and transport campaigner Gareth Johnson said: “I   am delighted with the announcement that there will be no more funding for static speed cameras.  For far too long they have been used as revenue raising tools rather than for reducing accidents.

“The UK is known as the speed camera capital of Europe raising more than £100m a year in fines.  Hopefully, commonsense will now prevail and they will only be sited near accident blackspots or schools”.

Editors’ notes:

Transcript of the exchange between Gareth Johnson and the Roads Minister:

Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con):  What his plans are for the future funding of new fixed speed cameras; and if he will make a statement. [2721]

Mike Penning:   Mr Speaker. The Government will not provide any more money to local authorities for new fixed speed cameras. If authorities want to put up new fixed cameras, they are free to do so using their own resources, but we strongly encourage them to use other methods and effective safety measures.

Gareth Johnson:   I am grateful for that reassurance. Does the Minister agree that when speed cameras are used more as a money-raising mechanism than as a road-safety measure, confidence in them will continue to fall?

Mike Penning:   There are now three times as many speed cameras in this country as there were in 2000, and the public must be confident that speed cameras are there for road safety, not as a cash cow. Under this Government, they will be.