459 fewer casualties at Warwickshire Safety Camera sites in 4 years
Road casualties hit an all time low at Warwickshire’s safety camera sites last year.
There were 74% fewer people killed or seriously injured at the cameras in 2005 compared to the pre-camera baseline (1994-98 annual average) and 39% fewer than 2004. In real terms this means 60 people avoided serious injury or death last year as a direct result of the introduction of safety cameras. It brings the total reduction in the number of people injured at camera sites since Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership was set up 4 years ago to 459.
Safety cameras in Warwickshire are operated by Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, part of the national safety camera scheme. The partnership is made up of representatives from the Police, County Council, Highways Agency, Primary Care Trusts and other bodies committed to road safety. The partnership was set up in October 2001. It uses a combination of enforcement and education to influence drivers choice of speed and reduce road casualties.
Speed cameras work by encouraging motorists to slow down, giving drivers time to react to anything unexpected that may occur. Basic physics tells us that the higher our speed the less chance there is of stopping and in the unfortunate result of a collision the worse the outcome will be.
Temporary Chief Superintendent Gary Hollis, Head of Roads Policing in Warwickshire said:
“These figures show that safety cameras work. Road casualties at our enforcement sites are now dramatically lower then the pre-camera levels. The combination of increased quantities of enforcement and educational activity is changing driver behaviour. Evidence shows more drivers are obeying speed limits more of the time and not only when they are near a camera and this is good news for all road users. It is disappointing however, that some motorists continue to insist on speeding, needlessly putting their own and other road users lives at risk.”
County Councillor Martin Heatley, Environment Cabinet Portfolio holder added:
“A lot of hard work has gone into achieving these excellent results however there is far more work for us to do. We will continue to drive home the message that just like drink driving, speeding is totally unacceptable on our roads. We are determined to see road casualties reduced further on Warwickshire roads and speed enforcement and education will continue to help us achieve this.
Safety cameras have been subject to a lot of criticism from a vocal minority over the last few years. In the light of these figures I fail to see how anyone can argue that safety cameras are being used to do anything other than make the roads safer.”
Maggie Height, Warwick Hospital Emergency Care Nurse Manager said:
“The consequences of driving too fast can be truly horrific and very far reaching. I am convinced that if people saw some of the horrendous injuries sustained in road traffic collisions that I and my staff have to deal with on an almost daily basis they would change the way they drive. The human body is not designed to withstand the trauma that can be inflicted upon it in even low speed crashes. Higher speeds bring increased risk of life changing or even fatal injuries. I welcome any initiative that serves to slow motorists down because it will mean I see less people suffering unnecessary pain and injury.”