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UK Wants Speed Cameras without Warning Signs

In the near future, British motorists might not be warned in advance about the existence of speed cameras in the areas they are driving. According to The Telegraph, a local authority in UK intends to install more speed cameras without warning signs to let the drivers know they risk a speeding fine if they don't comply with the legal limit.

"Signs which are indicating that cameras are being used to enforce speed limits are safety critical," said Kevin Delaney, head of road safety at the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

In UK, such warning signs are installed to deter motorists from speeding and evidence shows that they really work well in this perspective. The idea that they are driving in an area where speed cameras are installed discourage motoring to exceed the legal speed limit. The old warning signs won't be removed, but new ones won't be installed when new speed cameras become operational.

"The idea of a speed camera is to slow people down. With a new camera, even regular users of the road won't be aware of its existence," explained Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA.

Warwickshire already has 28 installed speed cameras and eight others at traffic lights. There are a further 111 mobile sites in the plan.

In fact, the idea of installing speed cameras without warning signs is already popular in other countries such as Germany or Australia, where many speed cameras are hidden or painted gray so that motorists are not aware of their existence. The initiative is also supported by some road safety campaigners who believe this will reduce the risk of crashes.

"I think it is a good idea to give people a little bit of uncertainty," said Rob Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.

More importantly, the Council believes installing speed cameras without warning signs will be much cheaper.

However, the policy is believed to attract the anger of some motoring groups.
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