A new whitepaper published by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has revealed the significant proportion of high-mileage drivers across the UK who believe the impact of speed cameras on road safety is negligible.

According to the publication by the IAM's Drive & Survive division entitled 'Speed Cameras – The Views of High Mileage Drivers', this group is more likely than any other to hold a negative view regarding the benefits of speed cameras.

Overall, 28 per cent of high-mileage road users are of the opinion that speed cameras bring little benefit to the nation – this is compared to 18 per cent of the general motoring population.

At present, the UK has more than 6,000 speed cameras in operation across the country's road transport network, with the generally accepted reasons behind their use being that this technology serves to identify those individuals that are breaking the law in terms of excessive speed, as well as acting as a high-profile deterrent for this type of dangerous behaviour.

The whitepaper was based on the results of a survey of 1,001 UK drivers who were each asked to identify the typical amount of miles they drive each year, as well as giving their responses to a range of questions relating to the use of speed cameras up and down the country.

Respondents were classified into one of three bands:

1. low mileage (up to 3,000 miles per annum)
2. medium mileage (between 3,000 and 12,000 miles per annum)
3. high mileage (more than 12,000 miles per annum)

It found that 60 per cent of drivers in the high mileage category believe there to be ulterior motives behind the positioning of speed cameras on some routes, other than at accident black spots. This compared to 47 per cent of low-mileage respondents and just 39 per cent of medium-mileage motorists.

Furthermore, more than one quarter (27 per cent) of the high mileage group stated their belief that the installation of speed cameras has not helped to reduce accident numbers in recent years, in contrast to 20 per cent of medium mileage drivers and 16 per cent of low mileage road users.

Interestingly, the survey also revealed that the use of the technology to highlight at-work driving offenders was not wholly supported – despite the fact that these individuals have an even greater need to demonstrate best practice when out on the roads due to the increased time they are likely to be in charge of a vehicle.

Figures recently published by Driving for Better Business showed that around one in three accidents on the UK's roads every year involve an at-work driver – it is therefore essential that companies take their training responsibilities seriously and ensure all their staff are aware of the dangers of excessive speed every time they take to the roads.

Responding to the data, IAM chief executive Sarah Sillars commented: "It is clear that there is a very big task when it comes to making high mileage drivers see the worth of measures to reduce overspeeding. While we know that speeding is not the only cause of accidents and injuries, it is one of the major ones.

"Employers need to work with their employees to ensure that they appreciate the part they play in making our roads safer.

"The figures we have found show the great extent to which high-mileage and company drivers are involved in incidents. Therefore this educational task needs to happen sooner rather than later."

What the results do show is that the vast majority of UK motorists remain in favour of the use of this technology to better monitor road users and to identify those individuals that place both themselves and others in danger through reckless speed.

Encouraging a more widespread understanding of the benefits of speed cameras (and particularly the reasons behind the placing of individual equipment) could therefore be a way forward in improving the image of this potentially life-saving technology.