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Almost half of speed cameras in England and Wales are inactive
27 December 2023
A new Freedom of Information (FOI) request for data from the Department for Transport has found that almost half (46 per cent) of fixed speed cameras in England and Wales are inactive.
The data relates to cameras operated by 25 out of 44 police forces.
Dash camera manufacturer Road Angel, who submitted the FOI request, discovered the following key statistics:
- All eight fixed speed cameras in Northamptonshire were inactive.
- There was just one active camera out of 31 in Gwent.
- Just 20 out of 113 fixed speed cameras in Derbyshire, which has the most cameras in any region, were working. This put the county at just 40 per cent of its capability for catching speeding motorists.
- Essex, plus Devon and Cornwall were also operating at 40 per cent of capacity, with a majority of their respective speed cameras inactive.
- The West Midlands performed better at 95 per cent of capacity with 62 out of 65 devices currently operational.
- Leicestershire was found to be operating just four of its 18 fixed speed cameras.
- Durham, North Yorkshire and Wiltshire reported they had no fixed speed cameras at all.
- Just two police forces, Dyfed-Powys in Wales and Suffolk in England, had all of the speed cameras in their district working.
Road Angel founder Gary Digva said, “If a camera is inactive and remains so for many months or even years at a time then it begs the question, why is it there?
“Yes, it may still play a part in encouraging traffic to slow down but it could also act to distract drivers and potentially cause an accident.
“Our view is that if cameras are present then drivers should be able to feel assured that they are working. If they are non-operational then they should be removed.
“That is why we are calling on police forces and local authorities across the country to carry out an audit of cameras and remove any non-operational devices as quickly as possible.”
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