Enforcement cameras were first introduced into the UK in 1991. A number of research studies have proved that they are an extremely effective mechanism for reducing road casualties. There is an established relationship between reducing speed and reducing collisions: research by TRL (TRL Project Report S8 by Finch, D.J. et al.) in 1993 showed that just a 1mph reduction in speed reduces collisions by 5%. This figure has now been validated in a more recent study in 2000 also by TRL (TRL Report 421 by Taylor, M.C. et al.). In December 1998, the then DETR, Home Office and Treasury agreed that fine income from speed and red light cameras could be used to fund additional camera enforcement - a recommendation from the original 1996 report. This process was termed hypothecation (although `netting off' is a more technically correct term and will be used in this summary). Because of the complexity of the arrangements needed to make netting-off work, it was decided to pilot the approach in a number of areas. The pilot aimed to demonstrate how best to develop a workable relationship between local partnerships comprising local police forces, highways authorities, magistrates' courts and, where appropriate, the Highways Agency. The areas chosen were Cleveland, Essex, Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Northamptonshire, South Wales, Strathclyde and Thames Valley. These pilots went live in April 2000 and the pilots have been monitored against a number of criteria. The main criteria are: (1) Speed and casualty - can the partnerships demonstrate an effect on speed and casualties in camera locations? (2) Public acceptance - do the public acknowledge that the primary reason for speed and red-light cameras is road safety? and (3) Financial aspects - have the financial arrangements worked without distorting operational priorities? This article is a summary of the full report for the first year of operation published in October 2001.
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