Swindon’s speed camera removal plan ‘is tokenism’

The move to withdraw funding from Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership looks like misplaced "tokenism" and will have little effect on the number of people killed and seriously injured, said the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

"Road safety impact is greatest at fixed camera sites, which are - or should be – at locations where speed related-crashes and casualties occur most frequently. That is where the greatest casualty reductions should be," said Neil Greig, IAM Research and Policy Director.

"This move by one local authority smacks of tokenism - and may fuel public cynicism that the priority is saving cash rather than saving lives. To describe revenue from safety cameras as a 'tax' is emotive, but not true.

"Properly placed fixed safety cameras are just one road safety tool not a substitute for active road policing or long term engineering improvements; they should be in addition to ‘cops in cars’, not scrapped," said Mr Greig.