A speed camera (not THE speed camera)
Crashes have almost doubled at a fixed speed camera site on the M11 that rakes in half a million pounds a year from motorists.
Statistics revealed under the Freedom of Information Act show that the numbers of both accidents and casualties at the spot have jumped sharply since the camera was installed in May 2001.
The numbers show a jump of almost 40 percent in the number of accidents and a near doubling of the number of casualties. There were a total of 13 accidents and 14 casualties in the five-and-a-half years prior to the camera's arrival, but 18 accidents and 26 casualties in the first five-and-a-half years after the installation.
The Essex Police, who initially tried to block the Freedom of Information request but were forced to disclose the stats by the Information Commissioner, finally revealed the accident data along with the number of fines gathered by the camera.
The information revealed that the 'scamera', which is situated between junctions five and four of the southbound M11 at a point where the limit drops from 70mph to 50mph, nets around 9000 speeding tickets a year.
Paul Pearson, who originally requested the information and who runs motorist's campaigning website penaltychargenotice.co.uk, told the Telegraph: "No wonder they haven't removed the camera that is causing these accidents. It is just raising too much money and they clearly want to keep it there."
Essex police told Mr Pearson that "the partnership reviews all its enforced sites annually and is satisfied that this and other sites should remain".
Despite Mr Pearson's efforts, the police still won't reveal exactly how much money they make from the camera.