Brake: speeding drivers not being prosecuted

Brake, the national road safety charity, is shocked to learn that hundreds of thousands of drivers caught on camera speeding and going through red lights are not being prosecuted.

BBC Radio 4 will tonight air The Investigation, a documentary which reveals that, according to figures supplied by Safety Camera Partnerships to the government, hundreds of thousands of drivers are getting away with breaking the law. Click here to see the full BBC online story

In light of the revelations, Brake is demanding a full investigation into the problem to ensure that drivers who risk their own lives and the lives of others by speeding are duly prosecuted and punished for their deadly crime.

Sarah Fatica, general manager at Brake, says: “We are appalled to learn that technical faults with cameras and problems with untraceable and vehicles mean that drivers are getting away with speeding and going through red lights. Speed cameras are proven to deter drivers from speeding, an important means of enforcing the law, and crucial in the ongoing bid to cut road death and injury. If drivers think they won’t be punished if they are caught speeding, they may continue to speed and more lives will be put at risk. It is vital that speeders are duly punished and all drivers are encouraged to drive responsibly, sticking to the lifesaving limits.”

A 2004 Government report shows that speed cameras in the UK are reducing deaths and serious injuries by more than 40% at camera sites and speed is a contributory factor in a third of all fatal crashes.

As an ardent supporter of life-saving speed cameras, Brake was delighted when, on April 1, the rules on speed camera placement were relaxed, particularly the rule stating that at least four people have to be killed or seriously injured on a specific stretch of road over a period of three years before a fixed camera can be installed. The new rules mean a greater range of crashes can be considered over a five year period, giving a more accurate picture of risk. The new rules also meant all revenue raised by cameras will be centrally controlled and local authorities will receive money for a range of road safety measures, including cameras and road engineering, from an annual fund of £110m.

Brake is calling for increased Government investment in road safety including enforcement technology such as speed cameras, more dedicated traffic police, and road safety education.