Speeding fines collected by the Lothian and Borders police via the use of mobile cameras has increased, triggering criticism that speed guns are being used as a revenue source. However, Police Scotland maintain that no such agenda exists and the focus remains on reducing road deaths and serious injuries, the Scotsman has reported.
According to data obtained by Thinktastic, a public policy strategy group based in Edinburgh, the use of speed guns led to a total of £252,000 collected from speeding fines in the area between April and December 2013. In contrast, the figure for the 12 months leading to March 2013 was £120,000. Meanwhile, the opposite was observed for fixed speed camera fines: the total amount fell to £356,000 between April and December 2013, from £483,000 in March 2012-2013. Thinktastic described the numbers as yet more proof that the police were using mobile cameras primarily as a revenue source.
Commenting on the data, Neil Greig of the Institute of Advanced Motoring said that the recent priority given to enforcement explained the speed gun figures. However, this strategy will only prove its worth if it brings about a reduction in the number of road deaths and injuries, Greig added.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson was keen to point out that Police Scotland did not reap any financial benefits from speeding fines, as their collection is entrusted to the Scottish Courts Service. Any increase in the use of mobile speed cameras is the result of Police Scotland’s unwavering commitment to saving lives on the road and reducing the number of serious injuries, Mawson stated.