Deaths leap in speed-camera county

Road deaths leaped by 30 per cent last year in Essex - a county renowned for its tough speed-camera campaign.

A total of 123 people died in crashes in the county - 37 more than in 2000, a police report reveals today.

The toll rose despite police erecting nearly 60 new cameras on roads with a speed problem.

Today transport experts said the figures placed serious doubt over the effectiveness of the county's camera campaign, especially as Essex had scaled down the number of officers dedicated to policing the roads.

However, the Essex Police report shows the number of crash injuries overall fell, and the force claims its fixed speed and red-light cameras, which now total 102, plus 15 mobile cameras make an "important contribution to saving life and limb".

Essex is one of an increasing number of police forces keeping revenue from speed cameras to spend on road safety work, as part of new government attempts at reducing accidents.

Last year, the force revealed Britain's most feared speed camera after the device caught a record 2,000 drivers in one day. Even on "quiet" days the camera on the M11 at Woodford catches up to 1,000 drivers travelling at more than 50mph.

But Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Speed cameras are very good at getting people who go above 50mph in a specific location but, unlike trained officers, they do not spot dangerous driving, tailgating, drug-driving, drink-driving and general bad driving that can lead to deaths."

Essex Police, however, say there has been only a "slight" decline in traffic patrols.