Scottish Safety Camera Programme Public Survey Results Published

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010 at 9:13 am

A recent independent survey, commissioned by the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, has confirmed that safety cameras are having a positive effect on driver behaviour.   800 drivers, across Scotland, were asked for their opinions on safety cameras and speed related issues.   The survey concluded that awareness and understanding of safety cameras is high with the majority of motorists saying that being detected speeding by cameras has changed the way they drive for the better.

91% of speeding offenders stated they were more aware of their speed as a result of being detected and 39% said they no longer speed.

When asked what makes drivers speed, almost half of the respondents said that they believed it was because they were either in a rush or impatient.

The Scottish Safety Camera Programme Director, Jim Dale said: “We are encouraged by the results of this survey; it demonstrates that the public are supportive of safety cameras.   People believe that if they speed they will arrive at their destination quicker, in reality they will probably only save a couple of minutes but in the process they are putting themselves and other road users at risk.   Whatever the argument for or against safety cameras; the fact is that speeding is dangerous, antisocial and illegal.”

The survey also looked at what would help prevent drivers speeding in the future and the top two responses were for more driver training and more safety cameras.

Jim Dale continued: “The work of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme is not just about enforcing speed limits, a great deal of work is undertaken to educate drivers about speed limits and the dangers of inappropriate speed.

“Regrettably, a high proportion of the public still believe that safety cameras are there to make money.   This is not the case, since April 2007, safety cameras north of the border have been funded directly from the Scottish Government and all fine revenue goes directly to the UK Treasury in Westminster.”

The survey illustrates that there is still further work to be done to educate drivers about speed limits.   1 in 10 drivers believe that the speed limit for a car travelling on a single carriageway road is 70 mph, a whole 10 mph above the national speed limit.

The research also identified that three quarters of respondents regularly see safety cameras at the roadside.   This includes fixed cameras, mobile cameras and average speed cameras.   The main aim of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme is to influence driver behaviour by the targeted enforcement of speed limits at locations where there is a history of fatal and serious accidents and also an identified problem with speeding.

Kathleen Braidwood, road safety officer at RoSPA Scotland, added: “Drivers need to appreciate that when they see a safety camera sign they are on a stretch of road that needs particular care as there will have been a high number of serious crashes.   We fully support safety cameras as part of the solution to making our roads safer for all.”

Scottish Safety Camera Programme Public Survey Results

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For a copy of the survey, images and interviews please contact Julie Smith, Communications Officer, 01224 826594 or nescamp@grampian.pnn.police.uk .

NESCAMP Is a partnership comprised of Grampian Police, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, the Moray Council and Transport Scotland.

Safety cameras in Scotland are operated by eight Partnerships under the umbrella of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.  The Partnerships include local authorities, Police Forces, the NHS, Fire and Rescue Services and the Scottish Government.

The principle aims of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme are to:

The Partnerships were launched as follows:

Strathclyde 2000
Fife 2002
NESCAMP 2002
Dumfries and Galloway 2003
Lothian and Borders 2003
Tayside 2003
Northern 2004
Central 2006