Speed cameras to be turned off

Speed cameras are set to be turned off around the UK as local councils look to save cash.

The move comes after the coalition Government announced that there would be no more money to help local councils fund speed cameras.

Swindon Borough Council was the first to ban speed cameras in 2009 as it decided to use the funds on alternative speed-calming measures.

Oxfordshire is set to be the next council to turn off its 79 fixed cameras while Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and Northamptonshire are also considering the switch off.

There are an estimated 6,000 fixed speed cameras in the UK that raise around £100million a year in fines.

The move is set to be popular among UK drivers with many seeing the cameras as another way for the government and councils to get more money out of motorists.

A spokesperson for the Association of British Drivers (ABD) told Parker's: 'It's about time they did turn them off and we're fully supportive of getting rid of the wretched things. Once they've gone I think we will see safety improve as drivers start to concentrate on their speedometers rather than looking out for cameras

'We'd be delighted to see all of them go and instead get police out in their patrol cars and nabbing people for speeding and driving dangerously.'

Not everyone has backed the plans though.

Road safety charity Brake said: 'We have a vast amount of evidence showing that cameras are extremely effective in cutting casualties and slowing traffic.

'Turning cameras off, and pulling the plug on other important road safety work, is a disastrous blow for those communities relying on cameras to protect them.'