Supplementary memorandum by Direct Line
(RTS 30A)
ROAD TRAFFIC SPEED INQUIRY
I am writing to you following the Select Committee's
third oral evidence session on 27 February. During that meeting,
Geoffrey Bidulph, the Home Office Road Crime Official, referred
to Direct Line research on public support for the use of speed
cameras.
It seemed clear following the Committee's questioning
that the Home Office has not yet undertaken a full assessment
of the situation. I thought it might be useful to the Committee
to clarify the position with regard to the Direct Line findings.
The research in question was undertaken by MORI
for Direct Line in 2001. The findings were based on interviews
with 2,000 motorists and covered a whole range of motoring issues
including opinions on road traffic speed. The findings were made
available to Mr Bidulph at a presentation at the Home Office by
Direct Line last autumn. They were also used as part of Direct
Line's written submission to the Select Committee's inquiry.
The figures revealed a number of opinions in
relation to speed cameras, which I thought the Committee might
be interested in:
— There are serious issues regarding
the enforcement of speed cameras. The findings showed that nearly
two-thirds of those drivers who had been flashed (one third of
all drivers) had received no further notification or penalty from
the authorities.
— 69 per cent of motorists believed
that speed cameras has a positive impact on reducing the number
of road traffic accidents, with 88 per cent agreeing that the
presence of a speed camera makes them more conscious of the speed
at which they are travelling. 75 per cent said they are more likely
to stay within the speed limit when a camera is present.
— When asked whether they thought speed
cameras should be hidden or made obvious through adequate road
signage, 69 per cent favoured overt speed cameras with a further
13 per cent favouring a mixture of overt and covert cameras.
Unfortunately, Direct Line did not survey drivers
on whether they favoured the introduction of yellow speed cameras,
as the DTLR now seems to support following their eight pilot schemes.
However, these findings do suggest that the
public have a far more responsible approach to speeding and an
appreciation of the value of speed cameras, which often goes under
reported in the media.
I do hope this is of some use to the Committee.
If you would like any further information, I would be happy to
discuss the issue with you in more detail.
Mark Twigg, Public Affairs Manager
Direct Line Group
1 March 2002
| 
