Cameras could cause dangerous sudden braking
Date: 23 October 2007
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New cameras that could be set up to enforce a possible 20mph urban speed limit may be dangerous for courier drivers and other motorists.
Hugh Bladon of the Association of British Drivers told the BBC that they posed the risk of people braking suddenly when they don't need to.
'Average speed cameras' could be used to enforce the lower speed limit, which will itself lengthen delivery times for courier drivers and other logistics drivers.
The cameras work in pairs, with one camera filming your number plate as you enter a slow zone, and the other filming your vehicle as you leave.
They use technology (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) that was first used to secure the City of London against possible terrorist attacks by the IRA.
However, Mr Bladon notes that the new cameras cause panicked drivers to suddenly brake, and can also cause long tailbacks of unnecessarily slow traffic.
"People see a camera and immediately put their foot on the brakes," he said. "It doesn't lead to good driving. You get people driving along and their eyes are glued to the speedometer rather than to the road.
"In towns people who should be looking for children between the [parked] cars will be looking at their speedometers."
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