Accident claim rise in Swindon
It has been revealed that since speed cameras have been removed from Swindon’s roads, accident claims have soared.
Road accidents in the area have continued to increase despite the number of speeders halving.
Swindon Council leaders have therefore supported their decision that removing the devices was the correct thing to do.
However road safety groups and opposition politicians have warned that it is far too early to claim Swindon’s roads are now safer.
According to figures released by Swindon Council there were six injuries on Swindon’s roads between August and October of this year. Two of these were serious personal injuries, while four were slight. Over the same period in 2008 there were four slight injury accidents and one fatal.
Council leader Rod Bluh said: “These figures vindicate our position that money being spent on speed cameras could be better used in other areas.
“We know that we have a problem with the number of accidents on our roads rising and that is why we want to tackle the problem by using that money in the most effective way. Our actions have also led to a change in Conservative national policy on this issue.”
Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, said the council needs to be cautious: “The accident rate is improving everywhere. The death toll on the roads is coming down. I would be very loath to read anything into these figures. Casualty figures can bounce up and down.”
Updated on 03/01/2010