The Conservatives announced today that if the Tories win the next general election fixed speed cameras will not be government funded, in a clear attempt to sway the votes of motorists who are fed up with CCTV.
The Labour party is known for favouring CCTV as the primary method for reducing traffic speeds, and some believe that since the party gained power in 1997, the use of the cameras has tripled.
In fact, the government spends £100m on an annual basis to fund the cameras.
According to Theresa Villiers, the shadow Transport Secretary, if the Conservatives take the election, the government will not provide central funding for the device. Instead, they will use vehicle activated signs that tell drivers to slow down if they are driving over the posted speed limits.
Councils can still choose to use CCTV, but they will have to use council tax funds, instead of bidding on government funds. They also must prove that CCTV monitoring is a better choice than other safety policies for their council.
The Tory government would still approve a limited amount of ‘average speed cameras’ in certain instances such as near road works and other high risk areas.
