One in four high-mileage drivers sceptical of benefits of speed cameras
Such drivers are more likely to think speed cameras have ‘little or no influence’ in reducing the numbers of road casualties in the UK, according to the white paper issued by the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ (IAM) Drive and Survive division.
The paper also found 28% of high-mileage drivers have a negative view of speed cameras – 10% more than other drivers.
And the research on ‘Speed Cameras – The Views of High Mileage Drivers’ also found that more than half of those surveyed felt they were little more than a ‘money making tool’ – more than another category of road user.
Some 60% of respondents to the survey of 1,001 high, medium and low-mileage drivers thought there were other reasons why speed cameras had been installed, other than at accident black spots.
This compares to 39% of medium mileage drivers and 47% of low-mileage drivers thinking the same.
High-mileage drivers are also the most divided on whether the money generated from speed awareness courses should be used to operate speed cameras.
And just over a quarter (28%) of high-mileage drivers believe speed cameras have not assisted in reducing the number of road casualties – the highest of any group. Some 27% of high-mileage drivers held this view, compared to 20% of medium-mileage drivers and just 16% of low-mileage drivers.
When asked how acceptable is it for authorities to use speed cameras at the side of the road to identify vehicles involved in speeding offences, 28% of high mileage drivers said it was unacceptable, compared to just 18% of medium-mileage drivers and 17% of low-mileage drivers.
Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “It is clear that there is a very big task when it comes to making high-mileage driver see the worth of measures to reduce overspeeding. While we know that speeding is not the only cause of accidents and injuries, it is one of the major ones.
“Employers need to work with their employees to ensure that they appreciate the part they play in making our roads safer.
“The figures we have found show the great extent to which high-mileage and company drivers are involved in incidents. Therefore this educational task needs to happen sooner rather than later,” she added.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
