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£600k - but not a penny of speed fines spent on road improvements
MORE than half-a-million pounds was collected from speed camera fines in the North East last year – but none of it has been spent on road safety.
Motorists paid out 610,520 in speeding fines last year – all of which went straight back to the Government.
Today campaigners slammed the Government for "cashing in" on drivers and said cash raised by fining motorists caught breaking the speed limit, should be ploughed back into making our roads safer.
Tony Vickers, from the Association of British Drivers, said: "I have a problem with so much money being taken and squandered especially when the number of deaths has hardly been reduced at all. It is just a ploy to make local authorities look good but it's not really improving road safety.
"Where the money goes is less important than how it is being spent. It should be spent on better education for drivers and better engineering of roads. For instance, getting rid of accident black spots instead of cashing in on them with speed cameras.
"I don't think most drivers know where the money is going but I do think they are left feeling resentful at being persecuted at what they believe to be a minor offence," he added.
Pensioner Joyce Brown, 79, was caught speeding three times at the same place inWhitburn in just 30 minutes.
Widow Joyce, of Roker, speech and drama teacher, said speed camera fines should be spent on improving road safety.
"I think the money would be better spent taking away police officers that sit in vans at the side of the road. That's a waste of the police."
Coun David Potts, a Conservative member of South Tyneside Council, also blasted the Government for its use of the cash.
He said: "I believe the public has lost faith in the way speed limits are being enforced. Many believe there is a war on the motorist, and cameras are being used to raise money as cash cameras, not as safety measures."
The Home Office denied it had been misleading the public, saying the money from fines has always gone back to local authorities.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport, said: "The money collected goes in to the public purse and that money goes back out to local authorities." He surprises us with everything he does.”
And dad, John added: “He deserves it. He takes everything in his stride. I knew he would win.”
After beating 1,370 entrants David, a karate black belt, scooped a contract with the nationwide Catwalk Modelling Agency and a free place on the agency’s prestigious catwalk and grooming course.
He will also grace the front cover of The Bridges Christmas magazine and feature in the centre’s advertising campaigns.
David said: “I want to continue with my studies. I’ve always been interested in modelling and you can just go for what you want in life.”
Lindsey McKenna, marketing manager for The Bridges said: “I think we have found a star. He’s a local lad, very intelligent, unassuming and natural. He’s got real potential to make it.”
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
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