Speed cameras catch 12 million motorists

More than 12 million motorists have been caught by speed cameras in Britain, new figures reveal. They have paid at least £700million in fines since cameras first came into use in 1992.

More than half the offences involved were logged since 2002, underlining a dramatic rise in the use of what now number about 6,500 "spy" devices.

Today the Safe Speed Road Safety Campaign, which compiled the figures, said they would outrage motorists.

Only 290 drivers were caught by cameras back in 1992 - and fined £60 with three points on their licences - as against around 3.6million last year. Safe Speed predicted that, with more cameras activated each month, the rate of penalties will soon soar again.

Paul Smith, the campaign's founder, said most drivers caught since 1992 were "normal, responsible motorists driving just a few miles an hour over the speed limit". By contrast, illegal drivers with uninsured, unregistered cars were seldom caught.

"Cameras do not work," Mr Smith said. "Why else, when roads, cars and hospital treatment are getting better, did road deaths go up by 2.5 per cent in 2003?"

Safe Speed compiled the figures using official statistics which run up to 2002 and by extrapolating data on speed cameras erected since then.

The RAC Foundation said motorists would be aggrieved at a "king's ransom" in fines. "They haven't achieved the reductions in death and injury we expected," said spokesman Kevin Delaney.

But Mary Williams, of safety organisation Brake, insisted cameras do work - highlighting a government survey showing deaths and serious injuries were cut by 40 per cent at camera sites.