THE Transport Minister, David Jamieson should make a New Year’s resolution to bring more flexibility to the use of speed cameras on the UK’s roads and listen more to motorists.

This is the call being made by supporters of Share Ideas Day, the RAC Foundation and car parts supplier Euro Car Parts.

Ideas submitted by motorists for Share Ideas Day and presented to the Minster for consideration include:

  • Clearly signed speed limits actually on the cameras
  • Review road speed limits when suggested by motorists
  • Promote defensive driving courses and a speed awareness courses among drivers.
  • Offer speed awareness courses instead of issuing penalty points.
  • The answer to improving accident blackspots might be junction design or engineering measures and not necessarily a speed solution related.
  • Each camera should be preceded by an interactive sign advising people to slow down or paint the speed on the road, put up flashing reminders (solar powered)
  • Move speed limit signs away from junctions where drivers tend to concentrate on the traffic.
  • Introduce 20 mph limits around schools in peak periods.
  • Increase budgets for traffic police and target tailgaters.
  • Put the number of people killed at the camera spot.

    Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation said: 'The system should be much more flexible with a review of limits, clear signing of speed limits on the camera and road surface, and more emphasis on speed awareness courses. These are views that the RAC Foundation tends to support.'

    Mark Wardell, of Euro Car Parts, said: 'Speed cameras have their place and can be effective in the right place. Yet the biggest losers are absent minded drivers who use roads clogged with cameras while serial speed maniacs, who look out for cameras are unlikely to be snapped. We hope the Minster takes heed of the positive and constructive suggestions made by motorists when thinking about his plans for 2005.'

    Share Ideas Day is non-for-profit initiative organised each year on September 12th with the aim of encouraging everyone in the community to generate and share ideas and has created a series of 'ideas banks' at its website www.share-ideas-day.com