Direct Line Survey Reveals Drivers Approve Of Speed Cameras

More than 3,400 people are killed on the roads in Britain every year, the equivalent to nearly 10 a day. The Government estimates that speed is a contributory factor in one third of these deaths.

Direct Line commissioned MORI to conduct a nationwide survey. It found that despite recent media reports, only 21% of drivers think that speed cameras are an infringement on people's civil liberties and only 16% believe they are a waste of time and money.

The majority of drivers actually believe that speed cameras help to reduce accidents, and 89% say that cameras make them think more carefully about how fast they are driving. When it comes to driving on roads that have speed cameras, more than three quarters of drivers say they keep as close to the speed limit as possible with only 2% ignoring them completely.

Perhaps not surprisingly, 69% of drivers think that speed cameras should be obvious rather than hidden, although nearly one-in-five drivers are in favour of hiding them, and 13% think there should be a combination of both.

In addition 96% of drivers think that speeding outside a school is a very serious crime and 72% think that speeding in a 30mph zone is very serious, compared to only 21% who think that speeding on a motorway is a very serious offence.

The most favoured location for new speed cameras is outside schools and at accident black-spots, with more than two-thirds of people wanting them positioned in these key areas. However, one in four of those surveyed think speed cameras should be located on all roads.

Dominic Burch, spokesman for Direct Line said:

"Speed reduction is a vital issue, particularly in towns and on narrow rural roads. Our survey shows there is a ground swell of opinion that carefully positioned speed cameras are helping save lives. It puts the record straight about what drivers really think on the matter."

Technical details

Survey conducted by MORI Financial Services on behalf of Direct Line in July 2001. A total of 2,000 interviews were conducted across Great Britain among adults aged 17 and over, who are Driving Licence holders and who have driven at least once in the last month. Interviews were conducted between 6th and 20th July 2001.