Staffordshire Plans to reduce Speed Cameras in Operation

RobBrady

Speed cameras in Stoke-on-Trent could be suspended as part of a massive spending cuts proposal put forward by the City Council for the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP).

The moves are part of the City Council's plans to save £24 million in 2012/13.
Existing cuts have already seen more than half of all speed cameras across Staffordshire turned off.

The Staffordshire Sentinel revealed earlier this year that out of a total number of 262 speed cameras in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire area, just 29 were ever switched on at the same time. Now more planned cuts could see all speed cameras in the area suspended.

The City council and police has expressed an interest in enforcing some degree of enforcement, hinting that mobile speed camera vehicles could be used instead to reduce costs. However, campaigners believe that cutting speed cameras will lead to more accidents.

"Speed cameras are a deterrent and if drivers know they're not working, they'll just ignore them. It will inevitably lead to more crashes,” said Gordon Owen, a local speed safety campaigner.

The moves in Staffordshire are similar to recent reports from Lancashire, where, at present, only 30 of the area's 290 camera sites are operational at any one time - the 30 cameras are rotated around the sites.

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Robert Brady

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