Monday 5th September 2005

SafeSpeed appeal bears fruit

Road safety campaign founder thanks donors

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'Safety not scameras' costs money

A funding crisis at the Safe Speed road safety campaign has resulted in fast public support. The campaign said it needed to raise £20,000 and over £10,000 from around 200 individuals and businesses has been raised in just six days, according to its founder Paul Smith.

Smith said: "Public support has been simply amazing. It's hard work explaining the fundamental flaws in government road safety policy when that policy is backed with so much cash. It's terribly important that someone does the job, and does it well, because official policy is dangerously flawed."

The Safe Speed Web site carries over 350,000 words of road safety facts and analysis, including:

• Benefit claims of 'accident reductions at speed camera sites' which include a large and well understood statistical bias.
• The proportion of road crashes caused or contributed to by otherwise responsible motorists exceeding a speed limit is tiny. The government uses 'woolly words' to gloss over the facts.
• The proportion of motorists exceeding the speed limit on most road types is unchanged after 12 years of speed camera policy, and more than £700 million in speed camera fines.

Smith said: "We still need the public's generous assistance to meet the target. Support for the campaign is widespread, especially amongst skilled road users who understand what it really takes to stay safe on the road. Our greatest thanks to all those who have contributed."

• www.safespeed.org.uk

[pdV6]

Well done guys & gals! :clap:

Now, if some of the other fence-sitters could pop their hands in their pockets, Paul might reach the target in another 6 days...

[james_j]

Yes, one man's efforts on behalf of millions of motorists, relying on his own money and some donations versus multi-million revenue camera budgets. Typically British in a way.

One partnership recently blew tens of thousands on advertising in an attempt to brainwash people and justify their existence. Just think what SafeSpeed could do with a budget like that. If everyone on PH could give just £5 that would be brilliant.

[richb]

People on Pistonheads have and do contribute to SafeSpeed from time to time but I agree flagging it up again is a good idea

[castroneves]

james_j said:

One partnership recently blew tens of thousands on advertising in an attempt to brainwash people and justify their existence.

Avon and Somerset by any chance, ie the adds dat we hav on da back of busses still?


>> Edited by castroneves on Tuesday 6th September 20:00

[safespeed]

Thanks everyone. I do know that quite a few folk from Pistonheads have shown valuable support.

The appeal total stands at £13,636 - an utterly amazing achievement in about 8 days. We'd never have done it without you!

The remaining £6k+ will be considerably harder, and donations have slowed down quite a bit.

[sgt^roc]

This guy should be given the job of running our roads

[puggit]

sgt^roc said:

This guy should be given the job of running our roads

I believe that such a role is available in Scotland

[TangoAlpha]

Just donated