Speed traps are just a big scam (From Gazette Series)

Speed traps are just a big scam

SIR - Nigel Murray, of the Safety Camera Partnership, congratulates himself on the large amount of public support he claims to receive.

While there is no harm in him deluding himself, he only has to read in both the local and national press to find out that the vast majority of citizens think otherwise.

This highly secretive group, which to date has been unable to produce any accounts or for that matter any figures at all, is all about raising even more taxation from the motorist, and very little, if anything to do with safety.

These SCAMS (Speed Cameras Against Motorists) are all about raising millions of pounds every year for the government on top of the millions raised by car tax, road fund licenses and VAT on cars, insurance and petrol. The truth is that road accident numbers have been falling over the last 20 years or so, mainly due to the fact that modern cars are more resistant to impact, stop quicker, and are altogether safer.

Since Nigel's SCAMS have been operating this welcome reduction has in fact slowed. Some people think that this could be due in part to so many motorists looking out for SCAMS, instead of paying attention to the road.

The vast number of accidents are caused by lack of attention and careless driving, not exceeding the speed limit by a small margin.

SCAMS are not catching dangerous drivers, drunks, stolen cars or even habitual fast drivers; they are catching ordinary law-abiding motorists doing a few mph over what are in fact quite arbitrary limits.

This kind of "speeding" accounts for a very small percentage of accidents the extravagant claims made by Nigel Murray, Dick Bowen and other SCAM management, are just wishful thinking.

Seb Miller, Inglestone Common, Badminton