§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what policy guidance he has issued on the use of speed cameras to reduce speed on roads that do not present a specific problem nor have a record of traffic accidents; [8212]
(2) what advice his Department has given to police authorities regarding the use of mobile speed cameras to reduce traffic speed with particular reference to their location. [8214]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 18 October 2001]The guidance on the use of speed cameras, set out in Home Office Circular 38/1992, is that they should be located where there is a known history of accidents and where excessive speed is a major contributory factor. The primary objective is to reduce accidents and increase road safety.
Following the announcement in August of the national roll-out of the netting-off scheme for speed camera funding, the Government are working with the police and local authorities to strengthen this guidance. Under the netting-off scheme cameras may be placed only where there is a history of speed-related injuries or at accident
Fixed penalty and court proceeding data for offences of speeding detected by cameras1,2 for the Essex police force area and England and Wales, 1998 and 1999 Fixed penalties Court Proceedings Number of tickets3 Estimated revenue4 (£) Number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average fine (£) England and Wales 1998 338,800 13,552,000 25,500 2,928,300 115 1999 423,000 16,920,000 32,300 3,434,400 106 Essex police force area 1998 8,665 346,600 1,702 227,400 134 1999 19,785 791,360 2,121 357,400 169 1Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types for 1999 2Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973 3Paid ie no further action 4Estimate' based on £40 fixed penalty charge from 1995 to 1999