Monsta Mo Mini
19th March 2003, 06:25 PM
Bet they all wear wooly jumpers and cycle everywhere....
Road Campaigners Fight Yellow Speed Cameras
By Peter Woodman, Transport Correspondent, PA News
Campaigners were mounting a legal challenge today (Thursday) to a Government decision to paint speed cameras yellow.
The campaigners want the High Court to overturn Government guidance that requires cameras to be conspicuous as well as yellow-coloured.
The action is being brought by environmental transport group Transport 2000 and the Slower Speed Initiative.
The groups are concerned that brightly-painted conspicuous cameras might not work as effectively as inconspicuous ones. They argue that if cameras are highly visible, drivers will slow down when they see one but then speed up again afterwards when they see the coast is clear.
The campaigners argue that if cameras are grey and inconspicuous, then drivers cannot see them in advance, do not know where they are and will be more likely to stay within the speed limit at all times.
Vicky Cann, assistant director of Transport 2000, said: “The Government has admitted that it made the decision to paint speed cameras yellow, not because it had evidence that yellow cameras were more effective in slowing drivers down, but because a few journalists were running scare stories about cameras trapping ‘innocent motorists’.
“This is Government decision-making by tabloid headlines and it sets a very dangerous precedent.”
Paige Mitchell, co-ordinator of the Slower Speeds Initiative, said: “Only drivers who break the law need to worry about speed cameras. Speed cameras are a very cost-effective way to reduce crashes and save lives.
“We hope the High Court will reverse this decision and allow the police discretion in enforcing speed limits. Let’s have trials to see whether yellow or inconspicuous cameras are more effective.”
Road Campaigners Fight Yellow Speed Cameras
By Peter Woodman, Transport Correspondent, PA News
Campaigners were mounting a legal challenge today (Thursday) to a Government decision to paint speed cameras yellow.
The campaigners want the High Court to overturn Government guidance that requires cameras to be conspicuous as well as yellow-coloured.
The action is being brought by environmental transport group Transport 2000 and the Slower Speed Initiative.
The groups are concerned that brightly-painted conspicuous cameras might not work as effectively as inconspicuous ones. They argue that if cameras are highly visible, drivers will slow down when they see one but then speed up again afterwards when they see the coast is clear.
The campaigners argue that if cameras are grey and inconspicuous, then drivers cannot see them in advance, do not know where they are and will be more likely to stay within the speed limit at all times.
Vicky Cann, assistant director of Transport 2000, said: “The Government has admitted that it made the decision to paint speed cameras yellow, not because it had evidence that yellow cameras were more effective in slowing drivers down, but because a few journalists were running scare stories about cameras trapping ‘innocent motorists’.
“This is Government decision-making by tabloid headlines and it sets a very dangerous precedent.”
Paige Mitchell, co-ordinator of the Slower Speeds Initiative, said: “Only drivers who break the law need to worry about speed cameras. Speed cameras are a very cost-effective way to reduce crashes and save lives.
“We hope the High Court will reverse this decision and allow the police discretion in enforcing speed limits. Let’s have trials to see whether yellow or inconspicuous cameras are more effective.”