Safety cameras to help tackle congestion

Speed cameras will become the latest weapon in the government's arsenal to tackle road congestion, transport minister David Jamieson revealed today. "The number of speed camera convictions doubled between 1999 and 2001," he said. "If this trend continues, by 2007 there will be 8 million speeding convictions a year".

Mr Jamieson continued, "By that stage, approximately one quarter of convicted speeders will already have 9 points on their license, thus leading to a disqualification. In 2007, that will mean a reduction of 2 million in the number of cars on our roads."

Environmental groups have broadly welcomed the government's plans. "This is excellent news - it shows the government's commitment to cutting damaging greenhouse gas emissions", said Alastair Twigg, spokesman for Friends of the Earth.

Transport 1650, however, have expressed concerns about the proposals. "Whilst we would welcome this announcement in principle, we are concerned about whether our already fragile public transport system will be able to cope with an additional 2 million passengers per day. Ideally, the government should turn the saved road space into covered cycle lanes, to allow everybody to cycle to work in comfort, whatever the weather.", said Steve, a spokesman for the organisation.

Motorists groups had mixed reactions to the news. "The government always told us that cameras were not about raising revenue. I suppose we have to admit that they were telling the truth," said the RAC Foundation's spokesman. The Association of British Drivers, however, were predictably furious. "This is just another assault on the already battered motorist", said Alotta Pratts. "We should be allowed to do whatever we want, whenever we want, without having to worry about anyone else".

When asked about how far the government was prepared to go with this new tactic, Mr Jamieson responded, "We have always seen speed cameras as a preferable alternative to engineering road improvements. After all, if you have an accident blackspot caused by a dangerously short slip road, it is far cheaper to reduce the speed limit to 30 mph and install a camera, than it is to make the slip road longer."

He concluded, "Of course, we cannot disqualify all our drivers, since the government depends on petrol tax income. What we will be doing, however, is to introduce a satellite-based charge which costs drivers more the faster they go. That should go some way to balancing out the tax income from cutting congestion."