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Commentary
Speed cameras
Speed cameras under attack in the United Kingdom
  1. P Pilkington
  1. Correspondence to:
 Paul Pilkington
 University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK; paul.pilkingtonuwe.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.9.4.293

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    The health community must defend effective injury prevention interventions

    This commentary examines the current campaign against speed cameras in the United Kingdom. It reveals how a health intervention, even when shown to be effective at reducing deaths and injuries, can be subject to sustained attacks from highly organised antihealth forces. It calls for concerted action among health professionals to respond to the increasingly vocal motorist lobby groups. Health professionals have a duty to defend effective interventions from unwarranted attacks. They should communicate with the general public about the role of such interventions in improving health and takes steps to ensure that vocal lobby groups do not threaten evidence based injury prevention initiatives.

    HEALTH, ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS, AND THE ROLE OF SPEED

    Road traffic collisions are an important cause of death and disability both worldwide and in the United Kingdom.1 By 2020 road traffic collisions will have moved from ninth to third place in the world ranking of the burden of disease.2 And each year in Britain around 3500 people are killed and 330 000 are injured on the roads.3 Research in the United Kingdom estimates that at least one third of collisions are speed related.4

    Measures to reduce traffic speed are considered key to reducing casualties on the road.5,6 In the United Kingdom speed cameras are used to help reduce traffic speeds, traffic collisions, and casualties.7 A major expansion of speed cameras is underway, led at police force level by multiagency groups called Safety Camera Partnerships.7 The camera partnerships include representatives from the police, local authorities, and National Health Service (NHS). The partnerships are centrally financed, and can also use income generated from fines to increase the number of cameras in their local area. The government hopes that the safety camera initiative will help it achieve its road safety targets.

    EFFECTIVENESS OF SPEED CAMERAS

    Speed …

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    Linked Articles

    • LACUNAE
      LACUNAE
      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
      Injury Prevention 2004; 10 295-295 Published Online First: 06 Oct 2004.