Swiftcover reports on UK motorists’ speed camera gripes

Online insurance company swiftcover.com has published a report on the lack of faith that motorists in the UK have in speed cameras.

There are currently 4,403 cameras in use in the UK, which lead to more than 2.2 million speeding convictions every year – more than treble that of ten years ago.

According to the majority of British car owners the £114 million that is being generated through speed cameras is being wasted.

Only one in 20 drivers believes that using the money made from cameras to fund more of the devices is the best purpose for it and one in eight believe that speed cameras are the best way to improve levels of safety in driving.

Swiftcover.com reports that speed cameras could also cause a problem relating to insurance policies for drivers in the UK.

“Britain’s drivers are not only frustrated by the ineffective use of the cameras – many are hit in the pocket with a fine for speeding and could face increased insurance premiums, when they believed they were driving safely for the prevailing conditions at the time,” said Andrew Blowers, chief executive of swiftcover.com.

According to the company’s research British drivers think that speed activated warning signs, variable speed limits and traffic calming measures such as chevrons and speed bumps are the most effective methods of improving British road safety.