Monday 1st December 2003

ABD call for Clarity

Stop the spin - let's have useful stats about accident blackspots say ABD

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The Association of British Drivers is calling for the evidence supporting camera placements to be made more transparent. Whilst recognising that some cameras are placed in genuine accident blackspots they're questioning the stats that currently support some installations.

The ABD calls is calling on Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to act urgently to restore public confidence in the system. They want Darling to compel camera partnerships and local authorities outside of partnerships to reveal the following statistics within three months:

1. Accident statistics for three years prior to and following installation for each and every camera.

2. Statistics must separate fatalities from injuries - currently the term KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured) is popularly used. This can for example allow a camera to be installed following some half-dozen injuries such as minor whiplash injuries, or a broken toe, which are classed as 'Serious Injuries'. If two or three fatal accidents occur after installation it can nevertheless be claimed that 'KSI' accidents have been reduced.

3. To show clearly all causation factors involved in every accident. Obviously the speed and whether it was excessive, but also whether the driver was drunk, drugged, on the telephone, in a stolen car etc. Only in places where excessive speed above the speed limit was the prime cause of accidents should cameras be deployed.

4. To show clearly what other changes were made in the area during the measured period. Many 'successful' cameras were installed together with road engineering measures, this is not evidence that a camera has reduced accidents.

ABD Chairman Brian Gregory said: "If Alastair Darling wants the public to inform him about speed cameras, he needs to ensure that the public are informed of the truth with no masking of the facts. The ABD trusts that he will seize upon this opportunity to ensure the truth is revealed so that the UK speed camera policy can be turned into a genuine 'safety camera' policy' where cameras are used to save lives. "

ABD Road Safety Spokesman Mark McArthur-Christie said: "A huge industry has built up around speed cameras. When so may jobs depend upon a revenue stream coming in it can understandably be tempting to mask the truth about a poorly performing camera which is nonetheless bring in finances. The government needs to look long term at whether it is advisable to continue with such financial incentive. In the short term it must ensure total transparency where accident statistics are concerned ."

Link : www.abd.org.uk

[v8thunder]

And while they're at it they can call for a breakdown in types of vehicle involved in road accidents - how many buses and haulage vehicles as well as cars, so we don't keep getting lumped with the overall blame.