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Speed cameras are designed to save lives

From the Bolton Evening News, first published Wednesday 13th Jul 2005.

I FEEL compelled to respond to Stuart Chapman (Speed traps, or tax cameras? June 30).

To say that the police are wrong to prosecute drivers who break the law which is there to protect all road users (pedestrian children, elderly, and cyclists included) is laughable. It never ceases to amaze me when so-called hard done by motorists complain about speed cameras.

He says the system is unjust, and that many more drivers are facing possibility of a driving ban for being caught ìjustî four times in three years. I would say that this sort of behaviour deserves a ban and a compulsory course in responsible driving to boot! If you donít speed you donít pay, it is a really simple and sensible policy.

The authorities have been made to bend over backwards pandering to the anti-camera lobby, by making every speed camera highly visible with clear road surface markings in the monitoring zone. There is also a map available giving the precise location of all fixed camera sites - how much more help do we want?

It is heartening to know that the police are still prepared to put the effort in now and again to catch lawbreakers, by using mobile cameras in other locations which have been identified as having problems with persistent speeding drivers.

There is no excuse for breaking the speed limit, and there is very little to gain on overall journey time by driving in such an irresponsible manner.

To accuse the authorities of failing to take road safety seriously on an argument about speed cameras is foolish in my opinion.

If Mr Chapman and others who held similar views were to spend just an hour of their lives in the company of the families of local victims of speeding drivers, they would soon change their flawed views.

Safe driving for life.

Steve Tonge

Matlock Close

Farnworth

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