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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Extra traffic police needed - MPs | Extra traffic police needed - MPs |
| (2 days later) | |
| Britain's roads need more speed cameras and more police to reduce the number of accidents, a report by MPs has warned. | Britain's roads need more speed cameras and more police to reduce the number of accidents, a report by MPs has warned. |
| The Transport Select Committee said traffic police had been marginalised, adding: "Technology must support road police officers, not replace them." | The Transport Select Committee said traffic police had been marginalised, adding: "Technology must support road police officers, not replace them." |
| The MPs criticised rules that allow cameras to be sited only where there is a record of deaths or serious injuries. | The MPs criticised rules that allow cameras to be sited only where there is a record of deaths or serious injuries. |
| But the transport department said those rules were changed in April and local authorities now have more flexibility. | But the transport department said those rules were changed in April and local authorities now have more flexibility. |
| The changes meant local officials could now look at all accidents over a longer period when deciding where speed cameras should be placed, a department spokeswoman said. | The changes meant local officials could now look at all accidents over a longer period when deciding where speed cameras should be placed, a department spokeswoman said. |
| 'Well-accepted' | 'Well-accepted' |
| The report, Roads Policing and Technology - Getting the Balance Right, called for new technologies to be approved more rapidly. | The report, Roads Policing and Technology - Getting the Balance Right, called for new technologies to be approved more rapidly. |
| It highlighted the "alcolocks" system - whereby a car is immobilised if the driver has had alcohol - as one which should be introduced as soon as possible. | It highlighted the "alcolocks" system - whereby a car is immobilised if the driver has had alcohol - as one which should be introduced as soon as possible. |
| We are quite clear that technology alone cannot meet all the aims of the road policing strategy Government statement | We are quite clear that technology alone cannot meet all the aims of the road policing strategy Government statement |
| Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said it was clear that speed cameras were "effective, good value for money, and well-accepted by the public". | Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said it was clear that speed cameras were "effective, good value for money, and well-accepted by the public". |
| But Ms Dunwoody, a Labour MP, said senior officers often cut traffic policing to help balance their budgets. | But Ms Dunwoody, a Labour MP, said senior officers often cut traffic policing to help balance their budgets. |
| "You can't assume that a camera is going to replace somebody who can assess when a driver has been drinking or has been taking drugs that make them unable to drive," she said. | "You can't assume that a camera is going to replace somebody who can assess when a driver has been drinking or has been taking drugs that make them unable to drive," she said. |
| Careful consideration | Careful consideration |
| In a joint statement, the Home Office and Department for Transport said the number of dedicated traffic officers had actually increased since 2002. | In a joint statement, the Home Office and Department for Transport said the number of dedicated traffic officers had actually increased since 2002. |
| "Technology enhances police officers' work, allowing them to do their job better and more quickly," the statement said. | "Technology enhances police officers' work, allowing them to do their job better and more quickly," the statement said. |
| "But we are quite clear that technology alone cannot meet all the aims of the road policing strategy and we would not expect it to." | "But we are quite clear that technology alone cannot meet all the aims of the road policing strategy and we would not expect it to." |
| The departments said they would consider the committee's recommendations carefully. | The departments said they would consider the committee's recommendations carefully. |
| The RAC Foundation said it was concerned about falling numbers of traffic police. | The RAC Foundation said it was concerned about falling numbers of traffic police. |
| "A camera can clock someone a few miles over the limit but does nothing to deter the drink, drugged or other forms of dangerous driving," said the foundation's Edmund King. | "A camera can clock someone a few miles over the limit but does nothing to deter the drink, drugged or other forms of dangerous driving," said the foundation's Edmund King. |
| Andrew Howard, of the AA Motoring Trust, also called for "more conspicuous police activity" to deter drivers. | Andrew Howard, of the AA Motoring Trust, also called for "more conspicuous police activity" to deter drivers. |
| He added that speed cameras were achieving their road safety goals, but limiting their deployment to proven accident sites would help to make them more acceptable to motorists. | He added that speed cameras were achieving their road safety goals, but limiting their deployment to proven accident sites would help to make them more acceptable to motorists. |