Tories promise to remove 'failing' speed cameras

The Conservatives yesterday promised to review the use of speed cameras and increase the speed limit on some stretches of motorway to 80mph as they accused the Government of "waging a war on drivers".

The Conservatives yesterday promised to review the use of speed cameras and increase the speed limit on some stretches of motorway to 80mph as they accused the Government of "waging a war on drivers".

Damian Green, the shadow Secretary of State for Transport, promised to audit every speed camera in the UK to gauge their effectiveness in preventing accidents. He also pledged to put more traffic police on patrol while removing "cash-guzzling" cameras which have not reduced accidents.

In an attempt to woo motorists, the party also promised to tackle the problem of unclear road signs which confuse drivers about how fast they can go.

But David Jamieson, the Transport minister, said most people supported speed cameras and a survey commissioned by the Government had found just 5 per cent of cameras were having little or no effect.

"What people want is safer communities, they want their children to be safe crossing the road," he said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.