The Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership has launched a hard-hitting advertising campaign warning drivers who speed to be aware of the consequences. The campaign is running across eight radio stations and 300 bus rears within the former Strathclyde Region area over the next six weeks.

The Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership comprises of Strathclyde Police, the 12 local authorities in the former Strathclyde area and the Trunk Roads Network Division of the Scottish Government.

The Partnership operates safety cameras, speed and red light, throughout the Strathclyde area to help reduce crashes and casualties. Research produced by the Department for Transport in June 2004 showed a reduction of 34% between 2000 and 2003 in the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites in Glasgow that was the first area to be piloted.

Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Committee, Councillor Douglas Campbell said: “Within South Ayrshire during 2003, 9 people died and a further 89 were seriously injured in road crashes.

“There is no excuse for speeding, speeding drivers can wreck their own lives and the lives of others. I would ask all drivers who speed to take a moment to think how they would feel if a member of their family was seriously injured or killed in a road crash. Better to take a few minutes longer to finish a journey than never to finish it.”

Project manager, Gladys Cadden, said: “The series of adverts, which feature a young driver, a business driver and a school-run driver, highlight the effects of losing your licence through speeding. Despite lots of publicity about road crashes many people think that death or injury will never happen to them if they speed so we are making it clear that penalty points or loss of licence can also have a major impact on their way of life.”

She continued: “Our cameras are located at recognised accident hotspots to deter drivers from speeding and to reduce accidents and casualties. All camera sites have clear advance signs to alert drivers to their presence and to reduce speed. We also publish all our sites on the Internet at www.strathclydecameras.com so there is nothing to hide. Our message is simple, the cameras aren’t ’t there to catch you out – their purpose is to encourage you to slow down.”

March 2005