According to new research commissioned by motor insurance company LV, many drivers admit to "behaving erratically in front of speed cameras with thousands confessing to slamming on the brakes or looking at their speedometer as soon as a camera comes into view."The research suggests that this behaviour could be responsible for 28,000 road accidents since speed cameras were rolled out nationally in 2001. According to LV's pollsters, ICM Research, the 1,532 drivers surveyed reported that in 1% of accidents, speed cameras were a contributory factor.
The Department for Transport's latest accident estimates reports that there have been 2.7 million vehicle accidents since 2001. ICM concluded (though we're not altogether sure how scientific this conclusion is!), that of these accidents, it is therefore likely that approximately 1% (27,900) accidents have been caused as a result of speed cameras.
The responses of the drivers polled were interesting:
* 81% said they instantly look at their speedometers instead of the road when a speed camera comes into view
* 5% admitted to braking suddenly when seeing a speed camera
* 31% said they had witnessed an accident or near miss as a result of other drivers’ erratic behaviour when faced with a speed camera
* 46% believe speed cameras divert attention away from other areas of their driving
* 11% believe that speed cameras increase their risk of an accident
* 46% believe speed cameras exist only to raise revenue for the Government
* 91% admit to exceeding the speed limit
* 15% speed on a regular basis
* 9% of drivers said they never speed
* 69% of motorists travel at an average speed of 81 miles per hour on motorways
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