Are speed cameras a fair-weather deterrent?

WITH regard to traffic calming measures in Chaddesden, correspondent TK Winson’s letter articulates the reasons for inactivity very well and he makes good points in respect of speed bumps.

However, he does not deal with the deployment of mobile speed cameras.

I suspect his assertion regarding the requirement for warning signs relating to mobile cameras is not covered by legislation – if it were it would make it impossible for a police vehicle to record speeders, except in the areas covered by such signs, and that is not the case.

I stick with the view that operating mobile speed cameras in the current way makes police look like the characters out of Last of the Summer Wine – just looking for somewhere quiet to eat their chips on sunny weekdays between 9am 4pm

For example, if I was to drive out of Draycott towards Borrowash on a sunny Wednesday at lunchtime, I would quite likely encounter a mobile speed camera. And if I was doing 37mph I would quite properly get a speeding ticket. But if I jumped on to my motorbike and rode at 90mph along Dale Road, Ockbrook, my impunity is almost guaranteed

So here is a reasonable question: May we see the accident statistics that show the validity of camera placements and timings, relative to the wider picture, so these can be properly interrogated. I’m not at all impressed with the cry “bring out your dead” in order to demonstrate a need for cameras in Chaddesden

I have difficulty with law enforcement agencies protesting a lack of resources prevents proper policing. Targeted prevention would be a less costly option. It is actually us, the tax payers, who ultimately pay the bill, and it is we who employ the police. They should do our bidding and not try to hide behind badly worded or clumsy regulations.

Charles Phillips, Ockbrook