I am trying to understand why there is now a major speed camera operation on the M4?

I have been looking at the accident statistics and have found out that many of the fatalities have nothing to do with speed.

For instance two people were killed when an old man drove the wrong down the M4 and an ambulance driver was killed when a lorry driver fell asleep at the wheel.

Maybe the information that I have received only gives me part of the road safety campaign on the M4. I can also take it from this renewed activity in bringing law and order to the area that if I call the police because I am reporting a crime I can expect a prompt reply.

I agree with every speed limit and camera that is directly providing public protection in locations where the camera is warranted where speed is the issue. But I have now lost faith in the traffic policing activity in my area with the introduction of this policy.

I cannot see how this tactic will change the behaviour of drivers. If anything camera vans cause one of the biggest hazards on the road as drivers slam on brakes 'just in case'.

Not once have I witnessed teams of officers doing anything proactive to address the issues of road safety on the motorway pulling drivers for poor lane discipline or driving too closely to the vehicle infront.

You are promoting public apathy to road safety. How does a camera van on the motorway make a driver think "the police are doing a good job in all aspects of road safety". It doesn't it changes the driver's perception of an important road safety message from being one of the police with legitimate safety concerns on a stretch of road to one of the police using the law to raise their income stream without raising driving standards in the process.

Now drivers believe sticking to the speed limit means that they are driving safely. There is a phrase that I have never heard in driving circles yet it is probably the biggest safety factor situational awareness. The current speeding enforcement policies are based on a fixed measurement.

The problem with general road safety is driving standards and not speed. For the record, I have never had any kind of motoring endorsement.

(Letter also sent to Wiltshire Police.)

C Gough

Wootton Bassett