82% approve of UK speed cameras

According to the results of the IAM’s (Institute of Advanced Motorists) annual speed camera survey, 82% of people in the UK now think it is acceptable for authorities to use speed cameras, however, 45% think that raising income is still a main reason for their use. The report, ‘Speed Cameras: A snapshot of public opinion’, is based on a survey that the road safety charity has commissioned every summer for the last six years. The survey, which was undertaken by Lake Market Research, also shows that 72% of people think that speed awareness courses are a good idea. The results indicate that people think speed cameras are beneficial to road safety, with 85% believing speed cameras have helped to contribute to the fall in road deaths since the 1990s.

The results for the home nations vary; with speed cameras being least popular in Wales, where 32% of people think their use is not acceptable. The survey also shows that Wales has the highest rate of people caught speeding. In the last three years, 27% of people were caught speeding or knew someone in the household who was caught speeding. In contrast, cameras are most popular in Scotland, where only 15% think they are unacceptable. Only 14% of Scots were caught speeding or knew someone in the household who was. In England, 19% of people were convicted or knew someone in their household who was caught speeding in the last three years, with 20% thinking their use is not acceptable.

Generally, the survey found that people think speed cameras are more acceptable now, than they did five years ago. In 2007, 30% of respondents said speed cameras were not acceptable; a figure which has reduced every year to 16% in 2012. IAM chief executive, Simon Best, commented, “Simply catching and fining drivers does not change drivers’ awareness of the hazards of excessive speed. The popularity of speed awareness courses show that the public think training is the best option. Speed cameras are an essential part of the policing toolkit and are becoming more and more accepted, but it’s clear that some people need reassuring about their purpose and funding.”

29 August 2012