Department for Transport figures provided to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee led to massively erroneous conclusions about the relative cost effectiveness of speed cameras and vehicle activated signs.
The errors are so great and so dangerous that it is hard to believe that they were not wilful. Formal complaints have been lodged with the Police and the Parliamentary Ombudsman alleging possible misconduct or misfeasance.
While the Transport Committee claimed that speed cameras were marginally more cost-effective than vehicle activated signs, the truth is that vehicle activated signs are around 50 times more cost effective than speed cameras.
Mr Idris Francis noticed the discrepancy and set about:
- Finding our where the errors had come from
- Ensuring that the Transport Committee was aware of the problem
- Discovering that the errors were all originated by Department for Transport
- Discovering that the Transport Committee were, at best, unconcerned.
- Finally issuing formal complaints because the errors will inevitably cause scarce life saving resources to be misdirected with consequent loss of life.
In particular Department for Transport...
- used a sample figure of £7,000 for speed camera cost that was the cost of the housing and DIDN'T INCLUDE THE £35,000 COST OF THE CAMERA ITSELF.
- used a sample 1998 figure of £14,000 for TWO EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE vehicle activated signs was presented as if it were the current cost of one sign..
- used data from JUST ONE SITE of each type for the comparison when data from hundreds of site was available and would have been much more reliable and accurate.
Paul Smith, founder of www.safespeed.org.uk, said: "I simply cannot understand why Department for Transport remains firmly welded to their failed and dangerous speed camera programme. They appear determined to defend it to the ends of the earth, yet they must know that it was all an awful mistake."
"Department for Transport is not fit for purpose. They are not giving us the life-saving road safety Policies we need - instead they are giving us wildly wrong numbers, spin and bluff."
"When the errors were pointed out to the Transport Committee the indifferent response was simply astonishing."
"Vehicle activated signs - used with care - are proven to be effective at reducing vehicle speeds in areas of local danger. They do not come with the dangerous side effects associated with speed cameras."
Idris Francis, retired engineer and road safety campaigner said: "No one at the DfT, least of all Dr. Ladyman, should have believed for one moment that speed cameras cost £7,500 pa but flashing signs £14,000 pa. It beggars belief that they and the Commons Transport Committee still refuse to accept that these figures were grossly misleading and that in reality signs are far more cost effective than cameras. Do they not understand that people die on our roads when safety policy is based on bogus data and analysis? Heads must roll."
