Region’s drivers pay least in country for speeding

Jun 26 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE motorists pay the least in the country in speeding fines with just 80p per head of population being paid in 2005/06.

In contrast, dividing the amount collected by the total population put North Wales at the top of the speed camera fine table – with £5.82 raised by each resident, figures obtained from the Department for Transport revealed.

Last night, Mersey- side Police said they were happy with the amount of revenue they collected from fines, and denied claims that the disparity in the level of fines collected from region to region showed speed cameras were unfair.

Instead, they said, it was the way speed cameras were operated and the way roads were policed that caused the differences.

A police spokesman said: “North Wales Police issue far more speeding tickets and have more speed cameras than Merseyside, but has a much lower population.

“This is why their figures are so much higher than ours.

“The nature of the roads both forces police is completely different.

“North Wales is full of countryside roads compared to Mersey- side’s suburban streets.

“We are able to focus our patrols on hot spots and don’t have the same problem with speeders as they do.

“Around 35% of all our Notices of Intended Prosecution are challenged – the majority of these being blue light services. And of the remainder who go on to a conditional offer to pay, 79% pay the fine.

“We are very happy with this result and that we are targeting enough motorists.”

Nationally, drivers paid £114.6m in fines in the 2005/06 financial year, 1% more than in 2004/05.