Speed Camera Showdown: 8 in 10 Drivers Back Average Speed Cameras Over Traditional Snappers
Eight out of ten drivers reckon average speed cameras are the real deal when it comes to making roads safer – far more than old-school single-location speed cameras. A fresh RAC poll of 2,172 motorists shows 79% think average speed cameras, typically used over long motorway stretches, slow drivers down better than the mere 9% who back traditional spot cameras.
Average Speed Cameras: Winning the Safety Race
While 70% of drivers admit that fixed cameras can make folks ease off the gas – but only right where they’re set up – a whopping 80% say they don’t really change speeds beyond that point. In contrast, 86% believe average speed cameras – which track your speed between two or more points – push drivers to stick to limits much more effectively. Just 12% aren’t convinced.
Fairer to Drivers and Smoother Journeys
Nearly half (46%) say both camera types share the same mission: improving road safety. But 25% reckon average speed cameras are fairer to drivers, compared with just 7% who think spot cameras get the thumbs up for fairness. Among those who back average speed cams, 81% say they encourage smoother, more consistent speeds rather than sudden braking near a single camera.
- 53% think average speed cameras are fairer for minor, brief speed slips.
- 17% say their signage is clearer and easier to spot than traditional cameras.
What’s the Real Purpose? Safety or Cash Grab?
Opinions split on what speed cameras really aim to do. About 37% say it’s to cut crashes at blackspots, 36% think it’s a mix of safety and ticket revenue, and 27% suspect cash is the main driver.
“Some drivers remain cynical, feeling cameras are more about raising money than saving lives,” said RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams.
Yet, the latest stats show growing belief that cameras help save lives. Mr Williams highlights the success story of the A9 in Scotland, where fatal crashes halved after average speed cameras were installed between Dunblane and Inverness in 2014.
He adds that average speed cams – combined with smart motorways and variable speed limits – might be shifting driver attitudes towards accepting longer distance speed enforcement. “Speed kills in many crashes. Measures that slow down traffic over long stretches save lives and prevent devastating injuries. Meanwhile, fixed cameras often fail to change behaviour beyond their exact spot,” he noted.
For motorists keen on cracking the camera code, the RAC Drive website offers a handy guide to all UK speed cameras.
