More Gatsos loom

Thousands more speed cameras could soon be casting their unthinking eyes over UK roads after a Government decision to review the rules covering where they are placed.

Under pressure from chief police officers, the Department of Transport is looking into relaxing the regulations. 73 per cent of requests (around 400 a month) to place cameras are currently turned down because they don’t meet the relatively tough criteria. Yet 6000 are already in place – according to a report on the Times Online.

The current rules are that a fixed camera can only be placed where there have been:

Four collisions involving a death or serious injury per kilometer in the previous three years

At least 20% of drivers exceed the speed limit

At least 15% of drivers exceed 10 per cent plus 2mph above the limit (eg 68mph in a 60)

A road safety engineer confirms no other cost-effective solution is available.

Click here for the full Times story (external site)