Government to publish new speed camera rules

Local authorities and the police will have to publish full information about speed cameras, under proposals announced by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.

By April 2011, government wants information about cameras to be easily available to the public.

This could include data about accident rates at camera sites, vehicle speeds and the numbers of motorists prosecuted or offered training after offences recorded by cameras.

Mr Penning said, “Public bodies should be accountable and if taxpayers’ money is being spent on speed cameras then it is right that information about their effectiveness is available to the public.

“The proposals will help show what impact cameras are having on accident and casualty rates and also how the police are dealing with offenders.

“This is in line with our commitment to improve transparency of government data so that the public are able to make more informed judgements about the work of local and central government.”

The Department will be working with police and local authority representatives as well as the Highways Agency to discuss the details of what should be published and how. The final requirements will then be confirmed in time for publication in April 2011.