New claims by a pressure group representing motorists are sure to add more fuel to the rumbling debate about speed cameras.

After casting an eye over cameras the length and breadth of the county, they point out that the number of serious traffic accidents is still on the increase.

Although the overall number of accidents has been falling over the last year, the Association of British Drivers reckons the number of serious injuries in Bedfordshire has actually gone up.

A spokesman said: "This obsession with speed in excess of the limit being the root cause of every accident is proved by these figures to be completely wrong – cameras just aren't working."

The association admitted that the statistics seem to show an improvement in road safety, but put that down to 2002 being a particularly bad year for fatalities.

And it reckoned the overall trend shows serious accidents are still on the increase, although the overall number of accidents has fallen.

The spokesman added: "The Camera Partnership submitted 34 cameras and mobile sites to a recent 'independent' study and the results make sobering reading.

"62 per cent of the cameras made no difference or increased casualties. 38 per cent apparently reduced casualties - hardly a ringing endorsement."

A spokesman for the road safety team at County Hall admitted that the number of fatalities has gone up over the last year.
But he said: "The fact is that speed cameras dramatically reduce people's speed and ergo the overall number of accidents.

"Cameras aren't everywhere though, and people do tend to let go when they knows there's no camera.
"We have also seen an increase this year in the popularity of motorbikes. And as we have mostly got front-facing cameras in Bedfordshire, when they break the limit their registration plates usually can't be read."