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Road accidents on increase in Warwickshire
Mar 1 2005
By Duncan Gibbons
Accidents and injuries on Warwickshire’s roads increased last year despite an increase in the number of speed cameras in the county.
Figures out today reveal the number of accidents went up 58 to 2,172, with the number of people suffering minor injuries up 40 to 2,484. In the same period the number of serious injuries and deaths on the county’s roads fell by just eight to 513.
Police say speed is the “contributing factor in most accidents”.
However, Warwickshire is home to 19 fixed speed cameras, 32 mobile cameras and seven red-light cameras.
A further seven fixed speed cameras are being installed this year.
Sue Nicholson, of the RAC Foundation, which campaigns on behalf of motorists, said the figures showed speed cameras were not an effective deterrent.
“They may be effective in raising lots of funds but not at changing driver behaviour.
“Motorists find speed cameras as part and parcel of everyday life.”
She added they felt no shame or stigma in getting a ticket.
“The number of tickets handed out has gone up each year. They are at their highest level they have ever been,” she said.
“Speed cameras are not acting as enough of a deterrent. We need to look again at the whole issue of speed and speed cameras, and re-educate drivers.”
Warwickshire County Council admitted there was still much room for improvement but stressed the figures were better than in 1997 when 769 people were killed or seriously injured and 2,720 slightly hurt on local roads.
Stan Milewski, senior road safety officer, said: “Although the figures are in line with projected targets, we still have some way to go to reduce these numbers further.
“In Warwickshire, we believe that road safety can be achieved by a variety of means – education and training, publicity, engineering measures and enforcement.
“However, this is a timely reminder to all road users that they need to take responsibility for their actions on the road.”
Roger Harding, of the council’s road safety intelligence team, said: “These reductions have been achieved against a background of continued traffic growth but the casualty figures are still far too high.
“It’s a sobering experience having to open a new fatal reports file each year and know that by the end of that year there will be nearly 50 names in it.”
LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, Vodka in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming…….WOO HOO, what a ride!
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