NATIONAL: Only half of fixed cameras catch speeding drivers, survey says

Figures provided by 36 of the UK’s 45 police forces found that four authorities have no fixed cameras at all, while fewer than half of devices from 13 areas actively catch speeding motorists.

To retrieve the information, the Press Association sent a Freedom of Information request to the forces and their speed camera partnerships – asking how many fixed cameras they had and how many were active.

The 36 which provided data had a total 2,838 cameras, of which 1,486 – just 52 per cent – were switched on.

Nine forces, including Hampshire, refused to disclose the information or did not respond to the request.

Northamptonshire police, who said their fixed cameras were turned off in April 2011, claimed they had left the structures in place to deter speeding drivers.

AA president Edmund King said the number of inactive cameras was down to pressure on budgets, while road safety charity Brake said the survey’s figures were concerning – calling for all of the fixed cameras to be switched on.

Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for Brake, said: ‘A staggering 1,800 people lost their lives on British roads last year and speeding is a factor in thousands of crashes.

‘Speed cameras are a proven, cost-effective way of reducing deadly collisions and so it’s critical they are operational.

‘We are concerned to see figures which suggest so many are switched off and would urge they are urgently put back into action.’