The national safety camera programme: Four-year evaluation report.

Abstract

A system was introduced in the United Kingdom in 2000 that allowed eight pilot areas to recover the costs of operating speed and red-light cameras from fines resulting from enforcement. In 2001, the system was extended to other areas, followed by a national programme. This report provides an analysis of the 24 areas that had been operating safety cameras under the system for over a year. This showed that vehicle speeds had been reduced by about 7% at speed camera sites. At new sites, there was a 32% reduction in vehicles breaking the speed limit. At fixed sites, there was a 71% reduction in vehicles breaking the speed limit and at mobile sites there was a 21% reduction. After allowing for the long-term trend there was a 33% reduction in personal injury collisions at sites where cameras were introduced. There was a clear correlation between reductions in speed and reductions in personal injury collisions. There was a positive cost benefit ratio of 4:1. Public attitude surveys supported the use of safety cameras for targeted enforcement.