§ 20. Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths and injuries there were arising from road accidents in 1995, 1994 and previous years. [13037]
§ Mr. NorrisThe number of people killed and seriously injured in road accidents has fallen from the 1981–85 baseline average of 80,130 to 50,181 in 1994, and provisionally to 49,778 in 1995. Slight accidents have increased from a baseline of 241,782 to 265,008 in 1994, and provisionally to a similar level in 1995. That is immensely encouraging, given that the volume of traffic increased by 44 per cent. during the same period.
§ Sir Sydney ChapmanI welcome the general decline in the accident rate. Can my hon. Friend say whether the introduction of speed cameras has had an effect? If so, will he give the House an assurance that speed cameras are positioned on roads where there are likely to be accidents, rather than where they are likely to lead to the greatest revenue?
§ Mr. NorrisI give my hon. Friend that assurance. For example, as a result of the west London trial, the number of deaths in that corridor has been reduced from 21 to 7. That evidence is compelling. However, there may be evidence that the longer a speed camera site is in operation the less it is respected. That is a common phenomenon with this kind of installation. The Government will monitor the situation with care.
On my hon. Friend's second point, any revenue received from fines levied as a result of offences detected by speed cameras does not go to the police but to the 651 Exchequer in the normal way. Speed cameras are located at accident sites when all other conventional traffic calming and safety measures have been exhausted. They are designed solely to reduce the number of accidents. That is why the Government have insisted that there be large signs to warn motorists that they are entering a speed camera area>