It was reported in the local Daily Echo that fixed speed cameras are to be phased out and replaced with SPECS cameras in Dorset. Dorset Police's Assistant Chief Constable, said the fixed cameras had "done their job" but it was now time to move on to new technology to help further reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
He said: "We are not going to sack all of them but move away from them to 'time over distance' cameras, and carry on with mobile cameras at sites where the public have asked us to deal with reports of speeding motorists."
The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership, which is part of the Dorset Road Safety Strategic Partnership, will disband, but the agencies and organisations will continue to work towards keeping the roads safer by rolling out SPECS continuing with mobile enforcement and officer patrols, as well as educating drivers about the dangers of speeding through the use of the Driver Awareness Scheme.
Whilst some might rejoice at the thought of fixed speed cameras disapearing, I think it will cause more speedo watching and even less attention to the road. They don't even see the mobile camera vans when they are parked in a visible location.
I've lost count of the the number of times I have seen drivers pass me on the 50mph DC going into Poole, and then hit the brakes as they see the camera van too late.