29 April 2005
Motoring offences reached a record 13.2 million in England and Wales in 2003 — thanks to the introduction of the controversial roadside cameras.
Home Office figures released this week showed a 44% rise in speeding offences compared with 2002, and the number of drivers disqualified under the totting up procedure was up 3,000 to 33,000.
The Association of Chief Police Officers said the upward trend would continue as more cameras were installed. 'There are now 6,000 more cameras than there were five years ago and the number of convictions will continue to rise over the next 18 months as more are installed,' said Ian Bell, Acpo's safety camera co-ordinator.
He also dismissed claims that drivers slowing down for cameras was a cause of accidents. 'There has been a 71% reduction in accidents at camera sites,' he said.
The Home Office figures showed that almost nine out of ten motorists convicted were male. Men also accounted for 95% of those found guilty of car theft and 96% of those sentenced for dangerous driving.
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