Q - Why do you make your cameras so conspicuous? Surely you would catch more people if they didn't know where they were.
A - We are not looking to catch people out, but save lives. If the public know where cameras are, then they will understand that it is a problem area & adjust their speed accordingly.

Q - Why are you obsessed with speed, there are much worse offences?
A - Speeding is a very dangerous offence, as it increases the risk of danger to yourself, to other motorists & to pedestrians. We are working alongside many other organisations & initiatives to make Greater Manchester all together a nicer & safer place to be.

Q - Won't people just slow down at camera sites and then speed up after they have passed them?
A - Yes, we recognise this as a problem, mobile enforcement teams are sent down to set up just after the camera. Since 2006, various 'route' sites have been approved across Greater Manchester, where enforcement teams are allowed to set up any where they wish within a long stretch of road.

Q - Shouldn't the police be using their resources to catch criminals instead of bashing innocent drivers?
A - All speed enforcement is performed by Civilian Technicians & Traffic PCSOs, leaving Police time freer to utilise their resources most effectively.

Q - Are speed cameras only put up in the areas that the police think most people can be caught?
A - No, the Police have no control over where safety cameras are sited. It is down to the Department for Transport, the Casualty Reduction Partnership & the Local Authority to decide where they go. Sites must meet Department for Transport criteria, with consistent high average speeds & a high number of people being killed or seriously injured. Our only aim is to slow everyone down. If no-one is caught, then drivers are complying with the speed limits and we are doing our job well.

Q - Why are cameras left in place despite collision problems being resolved?
A - Motorists don't often mean to speed & just by seeing a camera housing, they will often have their conscience triggered & slow down. They are a good piece of traffic calming, even without a camera in.

Q - Why are cameras not placed outside schools and hospitals and in areas with a history of crashes?
A - Local Authorities gather information relating to collisions from GMTU & work with us to decide where cameras would be most suitable. Very often, other speed reducing initiatives are adopted outside schools, as cameras are typically the last resort, after all other avenues have been tried & ruled out.

Q - Aren't speed cameras not just a waste of tax payers money?
A - No, cameras are only ever bought out of the money taken from speeding fines. Therefore, it is only the speeders who pay for the cameras and not tax payers.

Q - Don't you think cameras make the area more dangerous because people are slamming on their brakes as they approach them and are fixated by their speedos?
A - If motorists were always driving at or under the limit, they wouldn't have to worry about seeing an unexpected camera. Experienced motorists should be able to tell approximately what speed they are travelling at without constantly looking at their speedometers. We recommend you don't go above 3rd gear in a 30 mph zone & not above 4th gear in a 40 mph zone. This will prevent the car from wanting to go faster.

Q - What is the point of mobile camera units?
A - Mobile sites are located either where the number of people who have been killed or seriously injured doesn't meet the fixed camera criteria, or where it would be logistically impossible to place a fixed camera. They are an excellent way of keeping speeds low, as motorists typically stick to or under the limit, in case they are enforcing as they pass by.

Q - Don't you think the cameras are set to go off too close to the speed limit?
A - All Greater Manchester's Safety Cameras are set in accordance with the ACPO threshold. This allows adequate leeway for all motorists.

Q - Is it true that the installation of cameras have had no impact on the number of KSI's over the last few years?
A - No, KSI's are down by an average of 25% at all camera sites, including mobile, fixed speed & traffic signal site.

Q - How many safety cameras are there currently in Greater Manchester?
A - 156 Fixed Camera Housings comprising 8 Truvelos, 142 GATSOs, 6 Redspeed Fixed and ATS combined , 80 traffic signal.

Q - What other tools are being used to combat excessive speed?
A - If possible, Authorities typically try initiatives such as speed humps, vehicle activated signs, rumble strips, chicanes etc before applying for a fixed camera. Cameras are seen as the last resort.

Q - Why don't you increase the penalties for speeding?
A - The fines are decided by the Magistrates Courts & are reviewed regularly.

Q - Why don't the government fit vehicles with speed limiters?
A - This is something that is currently being researched & could be a possibility in the future.