A motoring pressure group yesterday called on the department of transport to scrap speed cameras in the interests of road safety.
Safe Speed claims that the effect of speed cameras on accident figures is vastly overrated and that the country's roads would in fact be safer if there were no gatsos in place at all and has launched a petition to this effect.
The organisation maintains that few accidents are directly caused by drivers breaking the speed limit and that good driving is more a matter of motoring skills and psychology.
Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign said: "I urge everyone to sign this petition for one reason and for one reason only - because speed cameras are detrimental to road safety."
"A proper examination of the case leaves absolutely no doubt that speed cameras have made road safety worse."
However, in October 2006 a report from the transport select committee said that 42 per cent fewer people were injured or killed at road sites with speed cameras and recommended that it should not take a serious accident for gatsos to be put in place.
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