Sir – The public shouldn’t get too concerned about the switching off of speed cameras in Oxfordshire (Report, August 19).
Sadly, the effectiveness of speed cameras was compromised years ago when the government imposed strict rules on where they could be placed and required them to be painted bright yellow and made clearly visible. That was soon after the fuel escalator tax row when Tony Blair caved in to the protestors, and ever since the petrolheads have had it all their own way.
The late lamented and formidable Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, said in her report of June 2002, “New rules about the location and visibility of safety cameras have been promulgated which are in danger of reducing their effectiveness”. The Government took no notice and confirmed their craven attitude in the face of the motoring lobby.
In any case, fixed point speed cameras are yesterday’s technology. What is now needed are average speed cameras located over critical stretches of road where the Safer Roads Partnership of police and traffic authorities identify the need without Government interference and with costs defrayed from the revenue from speeding fines. Nothing else will do.
Colin Carritt, Woodstock
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