I wonder if anyone has considered planting evergreen trees IN FRONTof speed cameras to obscure the lense, preventing the persecution of innocent people who want to be able to drive using their own judgement and skill and allowing them to focus on the road and hazards rather than the threat of being snapped. It would show the strength of feeling towards the government's lies and at the same time be beneficial towards the environment!

Alex, Hemel Hempstead, England

For all those who go on about the "law is the law, tough", then make the hypocritical police also stop people who think it's ok not to indicate, who use front fog lights instead of headlights and who think it's ok to undertake on the inside lane and then indicate and cut in. And what about those who may not speed but tailgate you? Also I've lost count of the number of times police cars have sped past without any flashing lights, been held up up by traffic and haven't used their sirens at all. I saw an Astra non traffic car whizz past only to slow down into the left lane and pull off later. Frankly I don't believe these are emergencies it's just one rule for them and another for us. It's about time we had some realistic speed limits. Go on any motorway and most people do 85 and only slow down when they see a police car. How many accidents has that caused???

David Adler, Harrow,

Speed camera's do have possitive benifits, especialy when positioned outside schools and black spots etc, but what about us steady drivers who, like most drivers do travel slightly over the speed limit (com on, when was the last time you sat at exactly 40mph on an open road) when conditions allow and seems safe to do so. Im no boy racer but got cought out a few times over the last four or five years with camera's, and Im talking just a couple over the speed limit. If a police officer was to stop me I would get a ticking off and sent on my jolly way, not any more. It cast me my licence and nealy my business (which involves mainly driving) due to a six month ban, reduced to two on appeal.
Camera's don't take the situations into account.
Ok, the law's the law but what about common sence!!!

Oz, Sutton Coldfield, England

im stunned at the rubbish i have just been reasing , how can anyone support speed cameras !? there are not there to save lives at all, its purely money that drives the system , there are at least 5 schools within a mile or so of my home and you will not find a speed camera outside any of them !
I think if we have to have them then there should be able to be seen by all as it is now , the number of tickets handed out by these cameras is crazy now ,if they go ahead and start hiding them again that number is set to rise , i wouldnt be suprised if it doubled , at the end of the day this is not going to ruduce accidents and more poor people are done for speeding because they cant afford things like sat nav which alerts you of a speed camera's .
I think the speed limits need to go up ,after all they were set in a time when cars were no-where near as safe , the highway code states you need 315ft to stop from 70mph ,most cars stop in half that these days !

s, Bournemouth,

Regardless of whether the police are making money out of it, the law is the law. However unpopular it is does not factor into the situation and has nothing to do with (our admittedly Orwellian) government. Suggesting that anything more than the speed limit is acceptable to police and motorists due to the fact that so many people break it is like saying it is ok to serve alcohol to kids because so many kids drink. Everyone likes to drive fast, myself included but if you get caught you get caught, unlucky!

Alex, York,

We all know that the "effective" limit on motorways is 80-85MPH. Police and road users have arrived at this as the best compromise between the advantages of speed vs the inherant risks. I am all in favour of stricter controls IF the limits are sensible. 70 MPH on a good road in normal conditions is not.

Alain, Oxford, UK

Research concerning driving suggests that competence is enhanced by engagement with driving conditions. Strict adherence to arbitrary speed limits, can cause disengagement with driving conditions, the mind wanders, and attention goes to more pressing thoughts. Speed also seems to be a mood elevator, 40mph makes you feel like things are happening and you are going somewhere, 30mph and you feel depressed and your troubles start crowding in on you, actually distracting you from the semi-automatic driving behaviour.
The Police always have a fixation about law-breaking, and punishment, with speeding this has become enshrined in a road safety policy which clearly is not working, and not convincing insurance companies.
My recent impressions, have been, that fear of speed cameras is making many drivers nervous and their driving has become erratic.
I would like the authorities to set up a FREE,serious and scientific longterm study to determine just exactly what road safety messures are needed.

Jeff Lawrence, London, Greater London

This country and it's police force are proving that George Orwell was correct with his predictions in his book 1984

John McLeod, Holywell, North Wales

If the police don't have the support of the public, then they are no longer providing a public service, surely they would be seen as an enemy to the same extent as the criminals...

Paul Mahao, Hull,

If you carry the arguments of some of these people to their logical conclusion for not hiding speed cameras burglers would plead not guilty if caught red handed if there was no neighbourhood watch notices posted in the area,shoplifters would protest that it was`nt right that they should be prosecuted because there were no signs telling them it was wrong and all police officers would at all times have to wear uniform and a flashing blue light on their helmet. It`s not a game,you are in charge of a potentially lethal weapon which is obviously more lethal the faster its moving so grow up.

jerym eedy, caerphilly, uk

Despite the proliferation of speed cameras there has been no corresponding drop in road deaths. There are very few accidents and fatalities which are principally the result of excess speed - 3 to 5% seems to be about the best guess according to Government sources. The real figure is even lower, because in a proportion of those accidents the driver(s) were not exceeding the speed limit, just driving too fast for the conditions. As has already been pointed out the law abiding (taxed, registered and insured) motorist is a soft target. In fact it seems that the law abiding citizen is increasingly disadvantaged in this once marvellous country of ours. Can't get planning permission? No problem. Just become a 'traveller' and build where you like - retrosective planning permission will be given because to do otherwise would infringe your human rights. Speed limits are pretty arbitrary. There is no discernible logic behind the selection of 30 as the urban speed limit or 70 on dual carriageways.

John Young, Banbury, Oxfordshire

It does seem odd that the police are not allowed to use hidden cameras and such trickery to prosecute burglars except in exceptional circumstances and after a lot of paperwork. But drivers, it seems, deserve no such consideration. And, of course, not all drivers but just the middle classes who somehow feel it wrong to register their car at an address unsuitable for service of an NIP or summons.

Easily visible speed cameras have a fair level of support amongst the general public, hidden ones do not. Chief officers of police should remember that they are there to serve the public.

Derek Smith, Brighton, UK

It was only a matter of time before some big shot police man would come out with these spy and ensnare tactics. The system is fair cop as it stands although I hate the mobile cameras I can live with the average speed cameras. This horrible proposed notion will lead to more contempt for the police and this Orwellian new labour state we live in. Our civil liberties are being flushed down the toilet and we are becoming a laughing stock in this world. It won't be long before we become part of North Korea. I have no faith in the police anyway they just seem to say these days what do you want me to do about it. This is backwards thinking country with no real ideas of direction? Well I will have to drive at 10mph from now on and crane my neck looking for suspicious holes in wheelie bins in the middle of nowhere.

Shaun Fowler, Hull, UK

1. The case against greed cameras has been well made so I don't know why this anti-motorist Nazi is even talking about them.
2. If we accept (which we don't) that the intent is to slow us down, keep the greed cameras yellow. If the intent is to make more money, hide the greed cameras. QED, it's about money not speed.

Brian, Horley, Surrey

Sounds like it was a good to emigrate to Canada. Over here you must drive with at least one object in hand, mobile or coffee are most popular, you can use any lane at anytime, steering with any part of your arm is permitted, but if the hand touches the wheel it must be in a position to obscure the overall control of the vehicle. Stopping at red lights is optional as is signalling. No MOT's to hinder your progress, maybe stopping ability though. However break the speed limit at your peril! (Sic) Hidden speed traps everywhere. How to combat, drive on cruise everywhere. Cash grab, you betcha. Edmonton, Alberta has the worst driving standards in Canada; funnily enough they also drive the slowest. Speed is a factor in any accident, if it wasn't no one would be moving and no one would get hurt. Driver training and discipline are paramount, but then this wouldn't raise revenue, after all it's just business.

Danny, St. Albert, Canada

Here in Japan we have very low speed limits but essentially no fixed speed cameras. So although the limit on "motorways" is only 80km/h, the police normally don't get hands on until you exceed 120km/h. But don't quote me on that. UK Authority must have decided that gutless Brits will never revolt, so they can infringe civil liberties with impunity. Persecution of the motorist: Worthy of a top ten place on your "Reasons to Emigrate" list.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano

Won't hidden cameras just result in more police officers being caught speeding, for the relevant police authority to cancel the fine / points ?! Or will the officers be briefed on when and where camera enforcement will be ?

Alan Owen, Northampton ,

I dont know what all the fuss is about all speed limits are there for a reason.I suppose the moaners dont think speed limits, drink driving,not wearing seat belts apply to them.
Speed limits are set by local authorities for a reason

T Jones, Bangor,

Won't hidden cameras just result in more police cars being caught speeding, only to have the fines / points cancelled by an accomodating police force ?!

Perhaps 'new technology' such as GPS tracking of vehicles could be trialled in police vehicles, which seem to be involved in a disproportiantely high number of accidents at the moment.

Alan Owen, Northampton ,

God forbid we actually have any real Police on the roads. It has been proven time and time again - even by Police and Government studies, that whilst speed is invariably a factor in many accidents it is rarely the specific cause (carelessness/stupidity/lack of concentration etc etc). The amount of appalling, inconsiderate and often dangerous driving I see on the roads is almost beyond belief - speed cameras do nothing to prevent this. Let's see some real Police on the roads - I'd welcome them with open arms!

Daniel Jeffery, London, UK

Why is it necessary to levy fines, with all the associated bureaucratic processes, clogged courts etc (unless to raise revenue)? In France they have a simple system - a speed sensor coupled to a set of traffic lights a bit further down the road. Speeding car turns lights red - any benefit from speeding totally negated. Driver dealt with there and then with no money changing hands.

Any UK authority brave enough to go for the simple solution?

Peter Finch, Berkhamsted,

Think of all the extra administration as the police haave to let themselves off even more offences.

Mark, Oldham, UK

So Brian Mudie - Nice to see a calm, reasoned argument coming from a motorist. This sort of vitriolic outburst is stereotypical of a minority of egocentric individuals who think that motorists should be handed the roads on a silver platter and that anyone "in the way"" should be run over. Dear Mr Mudie, please drag yourself kicking and screaming into the 21st century and just get on with your life. So Brian, as you can see anyone can have a rant, it doesn't make you right though. Personally, I'd like to see more hidden speed cameras and larger fines. Do I own a car and drive? Yes, regularly, but I don't have any points because I don't break the speed limit. Ah yes, I cycle and walk as well, but you'd probably figured that out by now.

Paul, Andover, Hamsphire

Speed cameras are degarding peoples opinion of the police. We are are now bringing up our children to rsent the police and to look on them as revenue collectors (which is true of course). I never thought that at 50yrs old and a law abinding citizen I would resent the police as much as I do. They police our communities by consent, which is sadly now running very low.

If police cameras are covertly monitoring roads they simply think are dangerious then maybe the reasons the road is a danger should be explored before police mugging technology is used.

Paul Wood, Chester, Cheshire

What is the % of accidents where the main cause is speed , not just a factor but the main cause?

Let's see the figures , not fudges then let's tackle the cause of the deaths.

By the way - what is the logic behind forward facing cameras ? They catch speeding cars by surprise but at the cost of letting motorbikes through - and the police wonder why the public are sceptical about their motives

Elliot caldwell, Winchester,

A local 70mph dual carriageway has a hard shoulder and only occasional on/off sliproads.
You can be nobbled by mobile video vans at 80mph, in broad daylight, bone dry road, light traffic.

But at night, video vans don't operate, there are no fixed cameras, no other police presence. So on slippery wet evenings, the local youth have tremendous fun howling along at hundreds of miles per hour, carving people up in their slammed ninja plastic-surgery boomboxes. Millimetres clear of Jemima, doing 45 mph in her Austin, returning from the cribbage tournament.

Relatively safe genuine daytime travellers (who actually need to get somewhere) end up with more points than da yoof.

As most major roads have weather stations along them,
can't HMGov base main-road speedsign values on daylight, traffic, temperature &rain sensors? Eg:

Dry, light, sparse traffic: 85mph
Dark, damp, heavy traffic: 70
Very wet, medium or heavy traffic: 60
Ice or snow present: 40

N McRae, Edinburgh, UK

People need to be taught about how to drive safely at high speed. If our country employed the same lane changing decency as the continent then I am quite sure accidents of the serious kind would lower. As for car cloning; a new level of car identification needs to be used, seems ludicrous to step up the ways of catching people speeding if your not sure of the true owner of the car!

Andrew Campbell-Burt, Madrid, Spain

I understand that only 7% of all accidents are attributed to excess speed. Why is it that police overstate the truth and spend so much time and money on cameras when they could be addressing the other root causes of accidents.? Is it a convenient way to avoid contact with the public ? Causes such as tailgating, no lights on a vehicle in reduced visibility, drugs, alcohol, joyriding, failed headlamps etc. seem to be largely ignored. Speed cameras are a soft touch to gain statistics. In an age when the efficiency of car braking is infinitely better than before, isn't it time for an increase of speed limits in some areas and 80 mph on motorways to reflect the advances in technology ? I think the motoring organisations no longer fight for the motorist, they merely cowtow to politicians and police.

Austin, Wales,

Has it not been proved that light up warning signs have a better effect than speed cameras ? They can be clearly seen and do act as a deterrent.
Are the new breed of speed cameras (and most of the old) discriminating against car drivers as they are forward facing and so cannot register motor cyclists, perhaps the group who break speed limits by the most significant amount. Are these a deterrent to motor cyclists ?
Perhaps we would have a little more sympathy if road users were disuaded from other dangerous offences such as using mobile phones, centre lane hoggong etc.

John Morrish, Derby, UK

To Adam in Cardiff:
Perhaps you were told that all traffic police were too busy because they really were too busy. What needs to happen is for the number of traffic police to be increased, which might only be realistic if taxes go up. As for a "pathetic speed camera rant", I fail to see how it was either pathetic or a rant - Med Hughes was just giving his opinion. And the "real issues"? Well if you mean that road deaths are not falling fast enough then he specifically addressed that. Stop moaning!

Matthew Cousins, Sutton, UK

Excellent, we also need more mobile cameras and cameras recording the driver as well, checking for mobile phone use even if they are within the legal speed limit. The Morons that speed and/or use mobile phones while driving should not be allowed to get away with it.

Graham T, Glasgow,

I am astonished and appalled that Meredydd Hughes of all people should be calling for more speed cameras. He is perfectly well aware, and has confirmed to me that he has both read the figures and reported the issue to the relevant ACPO Committee, that TRL548, published by the DfT in Jan 2003, and the masses of speed camera data shows beyond rational dispute that vehicle activated flashing signs are MASSIVELY (ie 50 times or greater more cost effective than speed cameras, with no need whatever for penalising motorists or wasting police or court time.

The full story of how, when asked by the Commons Select Committee for a comparison of cost effectiveness of cameras and signs, Stephen Ladyman and the DfT submitted figures that were wildly wrong - by a factor of 50 or more, claiming that cameras were more cost effective, and how I forced him using DoI to admit huge errors and apologise, is on www.safespeed.org.uk/vas.html.

To their shame, the Committee still refuse to act.

Idris Francis, Petersfield, UK

The speed camera is a blunt instrument that identifies only one parameter in it's function. There are no (genuine) statistics that prove any improvement in safety due to speed cameras. In reality, they are yet another hazard on the road and a distraction for drivers. Excessive speed accounts for a small fraction of road accidents (from government research) and clearly more effort needs to be placed on other issues. Policing by machines is an abdication of responsibility with the useful side effect of huge revenue generation.

Ian Ross, Woking, UK

How many accidents are caused by the action of speed, and how many are caused by incorrect lane discipline, pedestrians stepping into traffic, buses violating the Highway Code and pulling out suddenly into adjacent cars etc?

Mr Hughes, the traffic police and this government should be focusing on the 97% of accidents caused by bad driving and stop this irrational waste of money spent on randomly detecting an attribute of 3% of accidents.

For example, every middle lane driver is violating the rules of the road, and causes others to undertake the most dangerous move on the motorway - that of a lane change - 4-6 TIMES to get round them. Not to mention the massive congestion problems they cause by effectively removing the use of the inside lane, since we are not permitted to undertake them. Tell us Mr Hughes, how many arrests have been made for middle lane driving? I'll give you lots of freedom to respond here, let's say EVER?

Laura Roberts, London, UK

The real issue is that Drivers know where the cameras are and so fewer are caught by them, the police have become so dependant on this revenue that they have to resort to ever more desperate measures to convict more motorists.
This comes at a time when the number plate is said to no longer be a secure or safe method of identifying vehicles.
The outcome is that those operating outside of the law, will run around in cloned cars or cars with false plates, will be able to continue to drive as fast as they like where they like, and accidents and deaths will continue to rise. The law abiding citizens will be clobbered more and more for fines.

Marcus , Sheffield, UK

Nigel of Torbay is right. Years ago, driving a motorbike to work, I followed a police car being driven (conservatively and safely, in case anyone thinks I'm criticising the officer's driving skills) at an indicated 65mph where the official limit was 30. No question of an emergency; after a few miles he slowed down (reasonably - a residential zone) then pulled over and parked by a parade of shops.

I was always thankful to him for setting such a cracking pace and allowing me to be a few minutes early for work. Without his good example, I'd have been too scared of the cops to do quite that speed.

Michael Bruce, Selby, Yorkshire

I wish someone would have the balls to deal with properly. When, every day, I drive up the motorway at 85mph and am constantly overtaken by a stream of cars, there's obviously something wrong with the law. Laws that are be broken millions of times a day are laws not worth having. It's time speed limits were reviewed, laws were enforced and the whole subject was treated in a more mature fashion.

Tobin, Brighton, UK

Show us one single accident or death caused by the action of speed. (not excessive speed for the road conditions, not 100mph round a corner, not 70mph approaching a T junction = all of which are stupid bad driving and not sensed by any speed cameras).

So, prove to us really that "speed kills", and then we might listen. Until then, and whilst we see traffic police doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about all the real causes of accidents, don't be surprised that motorists throughout the land ignore the pleas to slow down. If you lie to us, we ignore you. It really is that simple.

James, London, UK

Of course speed cameras should be hidden. Evidence from New Zealand and the continent shows that hidden cameras help enforce speed limits throughout the limited area rather than just at the spots where cameras are. Painting speed cameras yellow re-inforces the view that you only need to obey a speed limit where a camera is.

Speed limits and their enforcement are necessary. We simply cannot leave it to individuals to decide how fast they should travel based upon their own (often pathetic) judgement.

As Britain has the highest %age pedestrian deaths on the roads in Europe it should be patently obvious that we are not doing enough to reduce speeds in our towns and villages.

So lets have lots more speed cameras and all of them hidden.

Rod K, Warrington, Cheshire

Over a year ago, after several complaints by residents, a police/council speed check was set up in my road in a 30 mph zone in a small village. Over 60% of vehicles were recorded at speeds between 40 and 60 mph. Result - no action. Unless we have deterrents with teeth, speed limits will continue to be ignored. Rather than fixed cameras, we would like to see mobile cameras in unmarked vehicles, with heavier fines and loss of licence for repeat offenders.

Mel, Bedfordshire, UK

Nice to see a calm, reasoned argument coming from a cyclist. This sort of vitriolic outburst is stereotypical of a minority of egocentric individuals who think that cyclists should be handed the roads on a silver platter and that any "horseless carriage" should have a man (or woman, let's not forget political correctness here!) waving a red flag walking in front of them. Dear Mr Edwards, please drag yourself kicking and screaming into the 21st century and just get on with your life.

Brian Mudie, Grangemouth,

I accept that speed cameras can help in reducing road accidents and raise a lot of revenue for the police. However, there are many other ways the police can ensure that drivers do not speed. One way would be to have a flashing warning lights showing the speed of a car making the drivers aware that they are driving too fast.

Accidents can be caused by slow drivers as well when they hog the road and make the other drivers take actions resulting in an accident.

Chander Chadha, Cardiff, S glamorgan

Are there any studies that show how many accidents are caused by drivers being distracted by having to keep a wary eye out for such devices and having to spend an inordinate amount of time monitoring the speedometer detracting from the task in hand. ie driving safely. Probably more distracting than the use of a mobile phone whilst driving.

Med Hughes the Chief Constable calling for the hiding of such devices therefore removing their visual deterrent appears not to be as interested in safety as he is in making these devices more profitable.

Taking up Phil Dysons point why do we not have laws that force all money raised by these devices to be forcibly spent on improving roads in their locale and so actually making a valid contribution to road safety.

Alan Green, Kingswinford, West Midlands

Enforcement of speed limits is the absolute minimum needed to tackle the car plague. Licence cars as weapons.
Drastic measures are needed to shake the driving fraternity out of their mass psychosis.
Statistics of road deaths (of pedestrians and cyclists) are meaningless while most people are too afraid to cycle or even walk, where roads are infested by the petrol fraternity. How many car drivers would even dream of cycling the routes they take, let alone transporting their small children this way?
Perhaps in addition to the removal of the licences, those convicted of dangerous driving, could be forced to cycle and experience the hazards for themselves.

Steven Edwards, London, UK

Complete hypocrisy. Tonight driving home I follow a police car at 50 MPH less than 2 cars lengths from the vehicle in front. 15 minutes later I see a police driver, in a lay-by with engine running, on a mobile phone. This in a force area where 3 days ago a police vehicle not on an emergency call hits a ten year old cyclist and critically injures her.

Nigel, Torbay,

Rather than having hidden cameras why not simply limit the speed of cars using satellite or wi-fi technology. Admittedly this solution would not generate any revenues for whoever currently receives the speed camera fines but if the issue really is saving lives rather that "catching" people then this is the most appropriate solution. A spinoff would undoubtely be a reduction in the number of fast and powerful cars being purchased as they would no longer be required thus helping the environment. Unfortunately fuel tax revenues would also drop so the government would need to find an alternative method of fleecing the public for both revenue shortfalls - however, perhaps that would allow a reduction in the number of traffic and speeding fine police.

M Jeffs, Bucks, UK

I find it hard to believe that an intelligent (presumably) senior police officer subscribes to that old chestnut that speed, and speed alone, kills. Any really intelligent person knows that it is speed IN THE WRONG PLACE that is the problem - 20mph on a busy high st may be too fast; 120mph on a quiet motorway at 0200hrs may be perfectly safe. Most thinking drivers realise that all speed limits are imperfect.
If the ultimate could happen whereby nobody anywhere speeds over 12 months, who will pay for the overtime, vans and cameras??

R Duxbury, Corsham, Wiltshire

Driving around the country it is noticable that some roads have plenty of speed restriction signs; others have speed cameras. If I were sceptical about speed cameras I would suspect a hidden agenda but instead have to assume that there is some technical reason why it is not possible to finance both on the same road.

Colin Arnott, Sevenoaks, Kent

If speed limits were more reasonably HIGHER on clear major open roads, such as motorways, and tied into weather and traffic conditions I'd imagine most 'speeders' would be more happy to keep to them. 70mph is rIdiculous on motorways in quiet conditions, and TOO HIGH IN BAD CONDITIONS, the moden car and driver have move on since the fuel crisis based 70mph was introduced many decades ago. A long trip in a modern family car bristling with safety features with modern traffic warnings and happy to sit at 80-90mph is a drudge at 70, and so boring as to be dangerous re lack of alertness.

Conversely, the busy hectic urban/city road should often have LOWER speed limits and speed limits be strictly and heavily enforced.

What ever anyone says, early cameras were often placed to catch the motorist, last 50 yrds of a 30mph zone for example, hidden behid walls or bushes, pure 100% cash trap. Just wrong.
Where is the sense in our traffic laws? Was there ever any??

Paul, Bristol,

Med Hughes is cleverly moving the goalpost from an issue of safety to an issue of law enforcement.
The problem for him is the whole concept of speed limits is wrong. They were first introduced in the 1930's as a political answer to a problem with statistics that innumerate public officials couldn't understand.
Research shows that 85% of people will travel at a save speed for the conditions. By having speed limits set by political bodies, rather than experts, we end up in the situation where the public feel that they are being taken for a ride.
If I was Med Hughes, I would be campaigning for speed limits to be set realistically, using a process which splits the difference between an experienced driver and an irresponsible one. This will save lives - even if it doesn't fit the simplistic world of local politics where one outcome has only one causation!
Once he does that, then he will find people will be only too willing to support his campaign of reducing speeding.

Oli Rhys, Deeside, Wales

Given the sophistication of modern camera technonology I cannot understand why speed cameras are not also being used to catch drivers who use mobile phones while at the wheel, and to identify vehicles that are untaxed and/or uninsured. Both of these offences are ones that are knowingly committed by the drivers concerned, yet all too often they get away with it, while huge numbers of safe, responsible and fully street-legal motorists are fined and have points on their licences as a result of momentary lapses of concentration.
This is massively unfair and causes a huge amount of anger and resentment, but while the status quo continues to feed ever increasing sums of money into the coffers of local or central government it is hard to see how anything other than an organised rebellion can change things.

P Hardy, Beverley, E. Yorks

We know what the police really think about speed limits, by their actions not their words; thousands of them are spotted every year speeding. Only a minority are on a mission, let alone an emergency - most of them are just driving, in one reported case to pick up a sandwich. A minority are traffic trained; most are just coppers with licences. They have no magical powers to avoid accidents.

These officers are not reckless, dangerous or careless. They are just doing as every other responsible driver does: driving according to the road conditions. They are simply lucky in that unlike the rest of us they can get the ticket "knocked".

The police know, and act in the belief that, limits are often badly set. They know, and drive in the belief that cameras and other traps are usually placed where it is safe to speed. I know several police officers. In private, off the record, none will defend the current trend in motoring law. In public, their jobs depend on toeing the line.

Michael Bruce, Selby, Yorkshire

I firmly agree with some previous comments that speed cameras are more focussed on generating revenue than reducing road accidents. We’re yet to see conclusive evidence to the contrary. In addition if speed cameras are erected at accident blackspots, surely the public have a right to know these locations so that they can take extra care? I’d also like to see a thorough review on what the revenue created by speed cameras is being spent on.

Phil Dyson, Leeds,

Of course speed cameras should be hidden. If we don't approve of speed limits, we can campaign for them to be abolished; we should certainly campaign against inappropriate speed limits. But so long as the law imposes speed limits, they should be enforced. To support speed limits but complain about their enforcement makes no sense at all.

Henry Haslam, Taunton, UK

It has become blindingly obvious that speed cameras do not work and are about the greed and money associated therewith. Nothing to do with safety whatsoever.

If the financial incentive to put these infernal devices up in the first place were removed altogether, I wonder if the partnership would be quite so keen on installing them.

A couple have already mysteriously disappeared on one stretch of the A45 -thank God !

John W., Warwickshire, UK

Med Hughes needs to stop talking a load of nonsense! Can he tell me if speed cameras have released officers to other duties, why is it when I called 999 after a serious accident I was told all traffic police were "too busy"? Stop your pathetic speed camera rant and address the real issues!

Adam, Cardiff, UK

I agree with Mr Hughes. Speeding is potentially lethal, its not a game.

John, High Peak, UK

The last country I visited in which the police were so fanatical about speeding was East Germany. Driving from West Germany along the corridor to Berlin, I would pass police manned camera posts with netting over them to hide from the unfortunate motorist who was about to be fleeced. I think we are becoming more and more like that clapped out Stalinist state.

Pete, Waddington, England

In my 30 years as a police officer I have noticed two main changes in the way police officers deal with offenders. Burglars, thieves, rapists, et al are treated much more fairly, with rules and regulations which must be followed to ensure that police methods are above-board, honest and there is no trickery. This has been the major step forward in my time.

No such consideration is given to motorists who are now to be plagued by hidden cameras. If police want to use such invasive techniques to catch burglars (who would be cautioned for the first two or three such offences they were caught for) there is a plethora of conditions attached. And quite rightly.

I’m proud of the way that police forces have changed with regards to the way criminals are treated. I cringe when I think of the way drivers are targeted by underhand trickery and deceit. Aspirants to higher ranks and ACPO spend too little time in proper policing, such as dealing with the public on a day-to-day basis. They therefore forget that their function is to serve the public, not to oppress it.

Derek Smith, Brighton, UK