Speed cameras 'not as valuable as thought'
Troubling new research has cast doubt on the true value of Britain's network of 4,100 speed cameras.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool's engineering department investigated the methodologies currently deployed when calculating how effective speed cameras are at saving lives.
They concluded that a statistical quirk in the techniques used mean that "bad luck" factors - which can occur at any point on the road network - have not been factored into official crash data.
That means estimates that 100 lives have been saved by targeting hotspots on the road network could be exaggerated, with Dr Linda Mountain saying the true figure is around half that.
She explained: "Although some parts of the road network are undoubtedly more dangerous than others, there is also a degree of randomness in where accidents occur - driver error, bad luck etc - which means that an accident can happen anywhere."
After factoring in the element of chance, Dr Mountain said that speed cameras were responsible for a mere 19 per cent reduction in accidents - compared with the previous estimate of 50 per cent.
