Number Plates News

Carlisle Camera Claims Colossal Convictions

12 March 2010

Road-safety champions are rubbing their hands with glee over the performance of an ANPR [Automatic Number Plate Recognition] camera in Carlisle, which has recorded no less than 5,500 speed violations in just five weeks.

The camera monitors a 50mph limit over a stretch of road works on the M6 and has resulted in the authorities pocketing £168,000 in fines even though, because of the overwhelming number of offences, only those clocking 60mph have actually been pursued.

So, clear evidence of the justification for even more cameras? Hardly. For a start, how many prior incidents of injuries to maintenance staff have prompted the restrictions? No statistics are to hand but, if common practice prevails, the 'road works' would probably comprise nothing more than a line of cones containing not the slightest sign of activity for days on end.

Kevin Tea, of Cumbria Safety Cameras, says, "I can't understand why people haven't seen the signs and cameras and are continuing to speed."

Well, Kevin, there is undoubtedly a significant degree of herd behaviour in any line of moving vehicles. Motorists may be reluctant to stick rigidly to a clearly unjustified limit, especially where they feel intimidated by others or convinced that the warning signs are merely a bluff.

In any event, successful policing is not measured by the conviction rate but by the absence of offences. A lesson the camera lobby might wish to consider before jumping with joy over such reports.

Claire Armstrong, of Safe Speed, a campaign against speed cameras, sums it up nicely: "We're pretty disgusted. You don't measure safe driving in miles per hour."