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No new money for speed cameras

  • Government to axe speed camera funding
  • Road Safety charity Brake slams plans
  • British drivers say 'about time too'

Written by Parkers Updated: 1 February 2017

The government has confirmed that will not set aside any additional funding for speed cameras on the UK's road network but said local authorities can still spend money on the safety kit if they want.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Penning, told the House of Commons that there's no more cash for cameras. The announcement has prompted a mixed reaction, with safety charity Brake predicting more casualties on Britain's roads as a result.

Brake's chief executive Mary Williams OBE said: 'Road death is the biggest killer of young people in the UK and there is a vast amount of data showing that cameras reduce speeds and save lives.

'This announcement is like a trip back to the dark ages. If camera numbers go into decline or fail to go up where they are so desperately needed then that will inevitably mean faster speeds and more blood on the streets that could have so easily been prevented, as well as fearful communities who are not prepared to risk their lives by walking or cycling.'

The Association of British Drivers (ABD) welcomed the announcement, however.  

A spokesman from the ABD told Parker's: 'It's about time too. Speed cameras do not make roads safer, better policing does. What the British public need is more police on the roads to stop people driving like idiots. Cameras do not take conditions of the vehicle or the roads into account. Our roads would be much safer if there were more police to pull those over who are driving under the influence of drink and drugs.'