David's Daily Diversions

Deepening the Bottomless Coffers

I know I harp on about this, but it seems that week by week the situation ges more ridiculous. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has now decided that as there were only 1.1 million convictions from speed cameras in 2001, and over 2 million this year, something must be done.

They intend to lower the trigger speed. Currently the camera fire only at 35mph in a 30mph zone and 46 in a 40. Now the threshold will be lowered to 33mph and 43mph respectively. The goal is to get 3 million convictions in 2004.

Under the current rules, camera can only be placed on roads where there has been four serious injury accidents in the last three years. This is not a very difficult criterion to meet. At least it keep the pretense that cameras are linked to road safety. The head of ACPO has now said that he wants to see cameras where there is no history of crashes. He said, “The guidelines are going to have to be loosened. As we eliminate crash hotspots we are going to have to look elsewhere to reduce casualties.”

He didn't explain how he was going to reduce casualties in places where no casualties are occuring. I think what he meant was, "As we eliminate crash hotspots, we are going to have to look elsewhere for more cash hotspots." After all, with the lower speed threshold and the existing camera locations, they will only be able to raise £180 million.