Research
Key Scottish Safety Camera Programme statistics 2009 released
This bulletin presents key statistics relating to the activity of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme for the ten-year period from the start of 2000 to the end of 2009. The two main objectives of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme are:
- To reduce the number of people killed or injured on Scotland's roads through targeted camera enforcement at sites that meet criteria in force at the time they are established, and;
- To engender a culture of speed limit and red traffic signal compliance by providing a visible and effective deterrent 1.
The statistics contained within this bulletin describe:
- Accident and casualty numbers at safety camera sites, before and after camera enforcement.
- Speeds recorded at safety camera sites, before and after camera enforcement.
- The number of people caught exceeding the speed limit, or running red-lights, at safety camera sites.
- Public perception of safety cameras.
Summary of findings
- The number of people killed or seriously injured at safety camera sites is 56 per cent lower after camera enforcement. The number of personal injury accidents at safety camera sites is 39 per cent lower after enforcement
- Average speeds, and the number of people exceeding the speed limit at safety camera sites are generally lower following a period of enforcement. Mobile cameras appear to be more effective on roads with higher speed limits, while fixed cameras may be more effective on roads with lower speed limits.
- The number of people issued with a fixed penalty after being caught exceeding the speed limit or running a red-light at a safety camera site has reduced by more than half over the past five years.
- 70 per cent of respondents to the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008-09 agree that safety cameras help discourage dangerous driving and help prevent accidents. 80 per cent think that people should see the use of road safety cameras as a good thing.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/16104117/0
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Safety cameras change driver behaviour
Tuesday 12 October 2010
A recent independent survey, commissioned by the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, has confirmed that safety cameras are having a positive effect on driver behaviour. 800 drivers, across Scotland, were asked for their opinions on safety cameras and speed related issues. The survey concluded that awareness and understanding of safety cameras is high with the majority of motorists saying that being detected speeding by cameras has changed the way they drive for the better.
91% of speeding offenders stated they were more aware of their speed as a result of being detected and 39% said they no longer speed.
When asked what makes drivers speed, almost half of the respondents said that they believed it was because they were either in a rush or impatient.
The Scottish Safety Camera Programme Director, Jim Dale said: “We are encouraged by the results of this survey; it demonstrates that the public are supportive of safety cameras. People believe that if they speed they will arrive at their destination quicker, in reality they will probably only save a couple of minutes but in the process they are putting themselves and other road users at risk. Whatever the argument for or against safety cameras; the fact is that speeding is dangerous, antisocial and illegal.”
The survey also looked at what would help prevent drivers speeding in the future and the top two responses were for more driver training and more safety cameras.
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The annual evaluation of the Programme across the UK is conducted by PA Consulting and University College of London and published by the DfT. Links to these reports can be found on the DfT website.
A brief summary of some other reports can be found in this section.
A detailed evaluation of the impact of speed cameras on safety
Author: Linda Mountain, William Napier & Mike Maher
Date: Sept 2004
Summary: This research looks at whether safety cameras have less effect on casualties on 30 mph roads, than road humps do. The study looks at 150 examples of speed management on urban 30 mph roads, comprising:
- 79 speed cameras (62 fixed and 17 mobile sites);
- and 71 engineering schemes using humps and other measures.
Performance of safety cameras in London: final report
Author: R Gorell & B Sexton
Date: Nov 2004
Summary: The report states that “the presence of safety cameras has reduced the number of collisions involving fatal or serious injury by a statistically significant 21% (and)…the total number of collisions involving fatal, serious or slight injury by a statistically significant 12%”.