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Blackspots 'created by speed cameras': Devices cause motorists to take 'erratic measures' to avoid being caught and fined
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3282035/Blackspots-created-speed-cameras.html The number of motorists who suddenly slam their breaks on is, on average, around six times higher at fixed speed-camera sites
In the worst cases, the incidence of hard-braking near speed cameras was 11 times the norm
The results were compiled by leading driver data firm Wunelli whose technology tracks driver behaviour
By Ray Massey for the Daily Mail
Published: 01:09, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 11:19, 21 October 2015
Speed cameras are creating ‘dangerous braking black-spots’ as drivers desperately try to avoid being caught, a new report claims today.
The number of motorists who suddenly slam their breaks on is, on average, around six times higher at fixed speed-camera sites, according to the study.
In the worst cases, the incidence of hard-braking near speed cameras was 11 times the norm.
The number of motorists who suddenly slam their breaks on is, on average, around six times higher at fixed speed-camera sites, according to the study
Headed ‘Speed cameras don’t work,’ the controversial report says: ‘Our new analysis reveals the braking black spots they create across the UK.’
The results were compiled by leading driver data firm Wunelli whose technology tracks driver behaviour. It says speed cameras ‘encourage poor driving behaviour.’
Experts analysed more than 1 billion miles of driving behaviour data. This, it concluded, ‘revealed the braking black spots across the UK created by speed cameras, based on motorists braking excessively just before speed cameras to avoid being caught’.
It did this by measuring the number of incidents of ‘hard-braking’ within 50m of the camera, and comparing it to the same number in the distance between 50m and 100m at fixed sites in residential areas with limits of 30mph,40mph and 50mph.
From this, the report highlighted what it described as the ‘top 10 most dangerous speed camera sites in the UK.’
The report defines a ‘hard braking event’ as a change in speed of 6.5mph or more over a 1-second time-period ‘which is enough to propell a bag on the passenger seat into the footwell’.
On this basis it said the most ‘dangerous’ camera site was on the M4, Eastbound, near Boston Manor train station, London where there were 57 cases of hard-braking within 50m of the speed camera compared to just 5 between 50m and 100m – an 11-fold increase.
Second worst was the speed-camera at Rochdale Road, Middleton, Manchester (South of the M62 and north of Slattocks Link Road (A627M), which recorded 43 cases of hard braking close to the camera compared to just four further away – also am 11-fold increase.
Third worst was at Leighton Buzzard Road (A4146) north out of Hemel Hempstead just past Piccotts End where 31 cass of hard braking were recorded close to the camera compared to just four further away- an eight fold increase.
The remaining seven worst recorded cases cited were: the B5206, Shevington, Wigan with a six-fold increase in hard-braking compared to the norm; Iver Lane (B470), Uxbridge, Middlesex, at five-times more than normal; Garstang Road, Bilsborrow, Preston at five times normal; Chester Road (A556), Mare, Knutsford, Cheshire also at five timesmorethan the norm;
the A4010, High Wycombe at four timesmore hard-braking than normal; Western Avenue (A40), Ruislip, West of A4180 junction at three times the norm; and Watergate Bank, Consett Road (A692), Gateshead at three times normal braking.
In the worst cases, the incidence of hard-breaking near speed cameras was 11 times the norm
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Experts said their study highlighted ‘the potentially dangerous effects of certain speed deterrents on driving behaviour as speeding drivers take erratic measures, such as braking harshly, to avoid being penalised’.
Paul Stacy, founding director of Wunelli said: ‘I’m not in favour of speeding and not acerse to speed cameras.
‘But these findings really put into question the value of speed cameras as a road safety tool. Instead they appear to encourage poor driving behaviour.’ ‘After hard breaking drivers ofte speedup again.Qurstions must be asked about the long term effectiveness of these cameras.’
AA president Edmund King said: ’This is a syndrome we recognise in some locations particular where speed cameras are not well signed.
‘It’s not across the board. But it does happen where drivers come around a corner and suddenly see a speed camera which has not been well sign-posted in advance.
‘If the cameras truly are positioned at accident black spots, then there must be adequate warnings to drivers to slowdown. Otherwise there’s the risk that a driver will see a yellow box, panic, and slam on the anchors. A car braking hard may be hit by a car driving too closely behind.’