Is the introduction of more ‘safety cameras’ (speed and red light cameras) just another stealth tax for motorists?
No. The new system has to meet strict treasury criteria to prevent revenue from being used for anything other than camera funding. A tax is something all citizens must pay. The only people who will be subject to speeding fines will be those that break the law. Any funding arrangements will only meet the costs of the police, courts and highway authorities. The surplus will go to the treasury, as does all the existing fine revenue. The primary test on the new arrangement is whether it reduces casualties. Evidence from the pilots and an earlier study on camera effectiveness (Home Office, PRG police research series paper 20), is that casualties have reduced significantly both at camera sites and in the areas where cameras have been placed.
