Vulture victims tally 139 – and £8,300 in fines
A TOTAL of 139 drivers were caught speeding by the 'yellow vulture' speed cameras recently removed from the A27.
The motorists were all caught driving faster than the temporary 40mph limit on the stretch of road, where the limit is normally 70mph.
Each motorist will be receiving a 60 fine through the post and three points on their licence, meaning that the cameras are set to generate more than 8,300 for the government.
Six speed cameras, which clock the average speed of vehicles between two fixed points, were installed on January 6 on the A27 between Havant and Emsworth and were in operation around the clock.
Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership said the cameras were there to protect roadworkers as the Highways Agency embarked on a 5m scheme to install a new central reservation between Portsmouth and Warblington.
The cameras were taken down on April 1.
Today Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership described the figures as 'encouraging' because only about one driver a day was snapped breaking the law.
But critics said the scheme was simply a money-making ploy.
Brian MacDowall, from the Association of British Drivers, said: 'There is no overriding safety benefit to these cameras because the number of workers being hurt is so low and has very little to do with speed.
'They just add to congestion.
'It means the only possible purpose for these cameras is to raise revenue. These yellow vultures are quite a lucrative scheme it would appear.'
He added: 'I would imagine that many people caught were driving at night. It's nigh on impossible to see these cameras when it's dark because they are so small and hover high over the road.'
But Julian Hewitt, spokesman for the Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership, said: 'This is a very encouraging figure considering the busy nature of the A27.
'Motorists are to be congratulated on driving responsibly by keeping to the speed limit.
'During the roadworks there was lane narrowing, workers and equipment next to the carriageway and some of the usual safety measures removed.
'I think that the hazards in the roadworks were obvious to most road users, who knew that it was in their best interests, as well as the interests of others, to keep their speeds down.'
jeff.travis@thenews.co.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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