The 70mph motorway speed limit was introduced at a time when cars could barely do much more than that and braking systems were far inferior to today's. If the government were to introduce more realistic speed limits, especially on motorways more people would support speed cameras.

Nigel, Bishops Stortford, UK

Well done Swindon. Put cameras where they will save lives. The trouble with the bureaucrats is that they have brought their use into discredit by putting them where they will trap motorists who drive at appropriate speeds in areas with inappropriately low speed limits just to make money

ian, sheffield,

it doesn't matter what speed I drive, people pull out in front of me without looking (even if I put my headlights on full and sound my horn, they still pull out, forcing me to brake). some kind of front-mounted machine gun is what is required, not more cameras.

jem, london, uk

Suspect a critical mass anti-speed camera consensus has already been reached. It seems the majority of UK resident Brits strongly dislike HMG, and whether they realise it or not, are seeking "common cause". Destruction of speed cameras is a very visible way to galvanise public support. The government are unwise to allow cameras to become a focus of public resentment. So post-revolution, have you got the details in place?

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Oh what`s happened to my country, the political classes are dictators.I am being watched whatever I do. This has never been voted for, together with mass immigration and federal Europe.At least it looks like I can have sex in public,something the politicians have been doing to me for years.

Peter, London,

Speed limits have to be sensible to be acceptable to the public. No problem with 20mph in town or 50mph in a contraflow or at busy times on Motorways. If this is to be used on open Motorways then a limit between 80-85mph as in France ( 130kph ) would be more acceptable.

J Haslam, High Wycombe, UK

This is not going to make a lot of money. In fact I think it will cause a lot of financial problems for the 'safety' camera partnerships because people will comply. Next car must have cruise control!

Colin, shrewsbury,

Long live communist Britain. Leave while you can I say. I already have.

Steve, Perth, Australia

Great, lets slow the whole road network to walking pace just like the rail network Call me old fashioned but isn't this just another money making scheme in an already rip off Britain. Time for a change.

Tony Davies, London, UK

Incredible, another easy money maker. The best one is yet to come with pay per mile then all the greenies get taxed as well. Can't wait to see this country collapse under its own stupidity. Oh, it already has.

Gerrard Thomas, Oxford, uk

ChasnDave. Agreed - 40 in a 50 limit is ok, but so is 50 in a 50 limit. Your last sentence "drive at a more sensible speed..." tells me that you think you know better. Remember - if people want to save fuel that's their decision not yours to try to impose. Bet you also do 40 in 60 and 30 limits.

George&Mildred, Basingstoke, UK

If motorists could be trusted to drive at sensible speeds, there'd be no need for speed limits. Unfortunately, too many drivers only think of themselves and have no regard for other road users or residents who live on the roads. So the only thing is to legislate - it's all your own fault.

David, Paris, France

Come on you slaves, how much more are you going to take. We Irish would be laughing at you except we are next. When are you going to stand up for yourselves and reclaim what the British have lost. Their SPIRIT.

We Irish are also behind you 100% to back up the people.

P Pearse, Dublin, Ireland

Almost everyone (including the police) recognise that at times it's perfectly safe to drive above the speed limit, just as at times it isn't safe to drive at the speed limit. That's why so many people "break the law". Blanket enforcement will cause huge resentment.

Rich, Surrey,

Wake up people.

Our government is a business and like all businesses they're out to make a profit. If they really wanted to improve road safety they would actually listen to the conclusions of numerous road safety reports. Speed does not kill, bad driving does. cameras do not stop bad driving.

wayne, sheffield, england

Sticking to the limit would be fine, Ben Adamson, if that's what you were doing. The reason people get impatient is probably that you are assuming your speedo to be accurate but in fact are doing rather less than the limit.

Dave, UK,

Where is this survelliance society going to end, chip implants at birth so the government can monitor our every move? George Orwell with 1984 was out by 25 years, but we are definitely well on the way to the society he describes. Maybe the next government can restore some of our civil liberties??

Alan, Guildford,

Fair enough. But raise the speed limit on Motorways to at least 80-85. It's the over 90mph, the tiered, the drunk and the stupid that cause accidents. Cars are so reliable now! Stop lorries from overtaking while you're at it, or force the slower to drop by 5mph until the fast has overtaken!

Chris, Preston, UK

I have no problem with average speed cameras, although an increase in the national speed limit to 80mph wouldn't go amiss!

What I have a problem with is how many other drivers behave in these areas. If you want to lose your licence, fine; but don't get impatient with me for sticking to the limit!

Ben Adamson, Manchester, UK

George Orwell ment '1984' to be a warning, NOT a template!

Peter Harrison, Norwich, Norfolk

I live in Germany and regularly do 150 mph but due to CO2 and diesel prices, cruising speed is 120 mph. In modern cars, this is safe. Most accidents are caused by ignorant white vans pulling out without using mirrors. Proposal 1 (pt 1) : increase speed limit to 125 mph, link to weather conditions...

Richard C, Frankfurt, Germany

Road Safety Minister:"...cameras would bring significant safety benefits". Not so! A77 Girvan-Symington, has had this system for years. Motorists wishing to speed simply use other (narrower) rat runs round the 'traps'. Consequently, lower accident rate on the A77 but huge increase on the B roads.

David, Maybole,

This measure will simply make drivers check their speedometers far more frequently, thus more attention will be on checking their speed instead of on the road itself. Expect more accidents to happen as a consequence!

"Land of hope and glory, mother of the free" - that is 'Great' Britain no longer!

John Evans, Regensburg, Germany

Monitoring speed over a long distance and declaring that compliance = safe progress is flawed. Drivers need to adjust speed and vehicle position continuously. The whole idea of an arbitary speed limit is ludicrous and blanket enforecement will furher dumb down drivers' skills increasing risk. NO NO!

David, March, Cambs

The Autobahn, at which traffic averages 120 MPH is the safest motorway in the world. Speed doesn't kill, bad drivers do. I'm all for regulation on rural roads, but motorway speed limits need to get with the times; cars are far more advanced than they used to be and can handle speeds in excess of 70!

Mat, Altrincham, UK

Ok, so we should all stick to the speed limits, but I have a nasty feeling that if HGV's stuck to the their legal 40 mph limit on main roads, there could be an increase in accidents as other frustrated motorists risk over-taking where perhaps they may not previously have considered it to be safe.

Jim, Yeovil, Somerset

How many cars are designed to travel at 40 mph in top gear when you are stuck behind an HGV doing it's legal 40 mph limit. ?? None i suspect !

Jim, Yeovil,

I recently did a speed awareness course instead of paying a penalty and incurring points for speeding. For those who argue that speed alone does not kill consider this. At 30 mph you might just stop short of a pedestrian. In the same situation at 32mph you are doing about 10mph when you hit them!

Kevin Miller, Tonbridge, Kent

Elsewhere on The Times website is an article where the reporter is given a ride in a police car where the officers race up busy London roads where there is no emergency- just to show what they can do. I think its time the police were subject to the same laws and penalties as the rest of us.

Doug Whitmore, London,

So your'e stuck, fuming, behind a motor doing 40 on a 50 mph road... You're nicked.

EXACTLY! - a 50 mph limit is that , a LIMIT, there's no law to say you must drive at any limit although many posters here seem to think this is the case. Drive at a more sensible speed watch your fuel bills fall!

ChasnDave, Cumbria, UK

And will there be a minimum speed limit so those idiots who drive so dangerously slow can also be fined? Driving slower is not always the key to safe driving! I've seen plenty of bad situations where slow drivers have almost caused crashes.

Cara, Aberdeen, Scotland

Gordon has to raise the money somehow for the Bank bail-out.....

Richard, London, UK

Now I understand, why the hate our "freedom"

Boris, Arles, France

These laws have been in place for may, many years now, so why is there such uproar that the government is enforcing them? Surely, if you're doing nothing wrong, there's nothing to worry about?

Richard, Marlow, UK

Quick survey - anyone here want to vote Tory if they run on a platofrm to get rid of these things?

This will all be moot in 20 years as cars begin to drive themselves. Factoring in low fines due to broad compliance, I doubt very much the cameras will pay for themselves in that time.

Liz (Brit in US), New York,

So youre stuck, fuming, behind a motor doing 40 on a 50 mph road. You've got a chance to overtake (according to the Highway Code Section 163 you should "move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking" ) so you put your foot down and to get past safely hit 60 for a few seconds. You're nicked.

Ken Whysall, Hemel Hempstead,

absolute rubbish. when im sitting in traffic going at 5mph max and the road signs say max 50mph, i expect the government and 'traffic police' to think of ways of using money to ensure i can travel faster up to 50mph instead of ending up with migraines and road rage before i reach my destination

kaz, london,

What makes drivers think breaking speed limits is OK? Stopping their dangerous behaviour is seen as a terrible infringement of their civil liberties. Why? A 9/11 every 18 months happen on our road. The petrol heads need to stop living in the past. Zerro tolerance and 20mph on all roads in towns.

Mr Bike, kingston, surrey

And as for pollution, the most fuel-economical speed is about 56mph. Any speed limit below that *increases* pollution.

Graham Rounce, London, UK

The government and the police gave up catching criminals years ago and decided instead to concentrate on apprehending normal, otherwise law abiding folks. After all - it's so much easier! And then they wonder why a whole generation are growing up with no respect for the law...

Mark, Preston, England

" ♪... Britons never ever will be slaves"... hahahahahaha

P, London, UK

Speed is only one factor to accidents. I have seen plenty of reckless driving that is far more dangerous carried out within speed limits. I would rather see careless and dangerous driving targeted rather than arbitrary speed limits.

Phil G, Birmingham, UK

An utter farce...typical of the focus of the government. Surely there are more important matters to be concerned with. Any chance of bringing cash in to the treasury to balance out each and every financial mistake made by a poor Labour party. Excellent...bring the countries morale down further...

Richard Thompson, Liverpool, UK

Too many people ignore the speed limits, they flash behind you if your not driving fast enough.  Drivers have passed the test they should know to follow the speed limits.  It's not rocket science.  If people continue to ignore this part of the traffic laws they should be filmed and fined

Steve Hysted, Andover, UK

At £300k a pop, with any luck the coming recession and bail-out of the banks will mean there won't be any money left over for this orwellian nonsense.
Here's a better way to reduce accidents; ban advertisement posters at junctions. Ah, but that would reduce local government income. No chance.

Richard, Manchester,

i have noticed some righteous comments from cyclists on here. Would they be the ones that ride 2 abreast,no lights,ignore red lights,wobble along dual carriage ways and ride on the path and pay no road taxes?I am a coach driver and have seen it all.Poor driving and impatience causes more accidents.

martin, darlington, england

Nice to see the Home Office and Money Making (Safety) Partnerships concentrating on making driving an enjoyable experience.

Please do not approve this idea as there will be no turning back from an oppressive big brother network of cameras!

Rob, Carlisle,

Averaging more than 60 on an A road for more than a couple of miles would be a miracle given every fourth vehicle is a truck doing 40. You could still go 90 to overtake though and not be detected by this system. Have they nothing better to waste money on?

rich, Chester,

To stop speeding you just need speed-limiters to be fitted to all new cars. If you want to increase taxes however you cannot allow that - you need to allow people to make mistakes - then hammer them with 'fines'.

Simon, Birmingham, Britain

Having driven around the UK for many years, I now find that speed zones are not identified clearly by signs. Not only the signs but areas such as shopping/ domestic houses and domestic houses only vary with some at 30MPH and some at 40mph.
Again there are short runs of 40 mph followed by a 30mph.

Frank McGuirk, Barton on Sea, Hampshire

In all seriousness, what significant difference to injuries does it make if you have an accident at any speed over 60mph?

It would be far better to get rid of speed limits ( save for 30/40s) and instead insist on a much higher standard of driving - with repeat tests every 10 years.

Simon, Birmingham, Britain

Welcome to a world where the driver spends more time looking at the speedometer than he/she does looking at the road.

Safety? As safe as putting speed cushions outside schools (guess where the driver looks then?)

Tom Jeffs, manchester, uk

As someone living on a narrow road without pavements who regularly encounters speeding vehicles flying by, I welcome this news. However, I doubt my local Council will pay for them in residential areas.

David, Bromley, Kent

The vast majority of people behind cameras have good intentions. I have installed cameras myself.
However the temptation to use them beyond the purpose they are installed for is very strong. It's the pull of the dark side. Recored images are immensely powerful and that power is in someones hands.

Wayland Sothcott, Braintree, Essex

Take a trip to Ireland, espically the west, it reminds me of England years ago, the sense of freedom is wounderful.
Almost no camaras, nobody watching you!! It makes me so sad. England`s gray and surveillance land. And I fought and risked my life for this in `82. For this! What have we done. '~'

Mike, London, UK

Those describing the UK as 'a police state', 'fascist regime' or the like are dangerously naive. The very fact that you can express these views proves that it is nothing of the sort.

In a democracy, petitioning the government is one way to change unpopular laws, not breaking them.

Richard, Marlow, UK

Does anyone think the same speed limit should apply on a sunny day with clear visibility as at night in pouring rain? Most of the time people will be driving at infuriatingly unrealistic speeds while being electronically supervised with flicks of the financial whip. This improves quality of life?

Graham Rounce, London, UK

As the government has failed to control Iraq and Afghanistan, they decide to take it out on the only people who they can control, namely us.
World war 2 was fought to rid the world of Tyranny. Yet new labour have decided to turn Britain into a fascist police state. They want power and control.

Paul, Southampton, Uk

Who and where are the people that invent and 'improve' such cameras?
Let's see them in the flesh in a television documentary explaining their idaes to help society. They might be recognised as a nosy neighbour.

Paul Downes out of UK at the moment

Paul Downes, Lauro de Freitas, Brazil

It's time to leave this country, regardless of the road safety aspect, must we suffer even more spying on us.
We live in a situation where the rich and famous can get away without being prosecuted for drugs offences etc, while the majority are penalise for going afew mph over the limit. Orwellian!!

basha, Birmingham, UK

I wonder how many people will plough up the back of an HGV because they were busy watching their speedometer? I saw a major RTA caused by a mobile police camera when a driver saw it, braked and was hit by the driver behind - absolutely ridiculous. Another reason to emigrate.

Mark Holmes, RINGWOOD, England

Why dont the government just implant a control device in our brain that prevents any free thinking, any form of entertainment, & any form of decent or rebellion & introduces the ability to control us 100%.
Talk about creating a powder keg!

Pete, St Albans, England

What Richard Rolph said.
And cameras should only be allowed to monitor specific locations where speed has contributed to an accident. Otherwise, speeding is a crime without a victim, T Anderson, and it's not for you to dictate your pollution policy to me.

ja, london,

i can't remember the last time i saw an accident between 6a and 10 on the M1, but then i also can't remember the last time i managed to go over 30mph through that same section. This has nothing to do with speed cameras and everything to do with raising money from the hard working tax payer

marcus, horndon on the hill, uk

I wish the cameras could also monitor and prosecute people who travel without leaving a safe stopping distance of the vehicle ahead.

You know the law on speeding - if you chose to break it accept responsibility and your punishment. Take responsibility for your own life!

Katie, Darlington, England

How about putting these cameras in all banks and trading rooms
and fining anyone who buys or distributes too many toxic debts.
That way it could for once benefit the whole of society rather then
just being another intrusive money making device.

Ludovic Bois, London, UK

Councils are actually not going to like these cameras. Since they are so good at what they say, the fine income looks like it is going to be WAY too low for them. Central government will have to subsidise it so they get their spying info which I think really has them licking their chops.

Steve Bush, Cirencester, UK

The pro camera lobby seems to think that if you're anti camera, you must be anti speed. Which isn't the case at all.

cameras won't catch people doing 30mph in a residential area near a school at 3:30pm. They also won't stop you tailgating 70mph in the very dense fog that can occur on the M5. etc.

Clare, Birmingham, UK

What would happen if cars pulled up in all the lanes and drive the speed limit,cameras watching or not? there would be tail backs and traffic jams from hell. All am saying is with the current trend things are traffic regulates itself from 60,70, 80,even 85 miles per hour and everybody is safe.

mac, northampton, northants

well done! big brother did not go this far, were will it end in the bedroom, we are filmed everywhere all the time , i am of to a country were i can live freely again goodbye!!

john, bridgend, wales

"On the M1 casualties halved between junctions 6a and 10."

because its been almost impossible to get above 50mph through the roadworks no matter what the time of day

the cameras themselves can be fooled by simly switching lanes everytime you pass one so dont go claiming credit for saftey

David Fenn , london, uk

"On the M1 the number of casualties halved after average-speed cameras were introduced on a contraflow between junctions 6a and 10. "
Possibly. But how much of that was due to the appalling congestion which meant that nobody was travelling at more than 10mph or found rat runs around it?

Danny, Ashford, Kent

I am for anything that makes people drive within the posted speed limits. Sure it won't stop bad driving, but it helps to reduce the seriousness of injuries or the number of deaths that result from idiot drivers crashing into other motorists when travelling at excessive speeds.

Dom, Reading, UK

“There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws.”
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

matt, falmouth, uk

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Are we as a nation becoming more lawless as a protest against government interference, or is the government interfering because of the spread of lawlessness? I don't think we realise how good we have it here compared to many other countries...

Richard, Marlow, UK

Ealing council pay £12,000 a month rent to a family of immigrants who aren't working but Gordon wants to clamp down on motorists who accidentally pop over the speed limit slightly.
Gordon is a fruitcake - he has no idea of how his government comes across to ordinary people.
OUT OUT OUT.

Joe, Bristol, UK

Brilliant. £300,000 per set.
How many traffic police and associated equipment could that pay for? And those officers could catch people without insurance, tax, dangerous drivers..but oh no, someone's 5 mph over the speed limit...

How long is the public going to take this lying down?

Giles Hinton, Bracknell, England

Will the cameras prevent motorists from using mobile phones whilst driving - No. Will the cameras prevent motorists from drink/drug driving - No. Will the cameras prevent motorists from falling asleep at the wheel - No. I'd rather see these causes of accidents tackled than see more speed cameras.

Khaled, London,

I was wondering how the Government planned to recoup a large chunk of the money they've just thrown at the banks and HERE IT IS!!!!!!!!

Martin, England,

Yet again a solution is devised to hit the generally hard working, honest people of this country who might creep slightly above the speed limit, whilst the ever increasing numbers of great unwashed; untaxed; uninsured, unlicensed and uncaring dangerous drivers just have a laugh...

Paul, Bournemouth, Dorset

While I am not opposed to the idea or even use of speed traps and safety camera's I am opposed to them being put up to suppliment government income.
All fines should go to improving the ROAD system which is currently in such a bad state because they spend their budgets on camera's....
Lunacy

Matt, Woking, Surrey

At the moment, cameras don't bother me. I drive UNDER the speed limit because it saves me a lot of money. My round trip to work is 70 miles each day. I drive between 60 and 70 on the motorway and between 50 and 60 on A roads.
It saves me between 50 and 100 pounds per month.

MikeB, Bath, Avon

If only this government was as effective on knife crime as it was at raping the motorist.

Martin , London, UK

CCTV cameras do not stop crime and speed cameras will not stop accidents.

All it does is give contractors more of tax payers money and give more work to the law industry via the courts. Jobs for the boys.

We don't have a financial problem, we have a political one (as in a corrupt system)

Paul Davis, London,

Dave, Derby, IK
"Or should we turn a blind eye or any shoplifting below say a £5 limit?"

In case you were unaware you can legally steal up to £200 worth of goods for the price of an £80 fine. A profit of £120. Crime pays. Except when you drive a car over an undemocratically decided speed.

David Smith, Stourbridge, UK

if those spec 3 cams cost 300 large a pop. and less people break the speed limit, how are they going to pay for them? better still, how big iare the fewer fines going to be to cover their costs? dont want to be on that end...

Ronald, London,

I think Stuart needs to check out the Maths... It's more likely that traffic jams will add hours to the journey rather than "crawling" along at 70 mph. I travel regularly on a route that already has the average speed cameras and it's a whole lot safer with them than it was before! I'm in favour!

John, Sheffield, UK

State owned surveillance cameras = Panopticon

Panopticon (n) A prison so contructed that the inspector can see each of the prisoners at all times, without being seen.....
a new mode of obtaining power of mind over mind, in a quantity hitherto without example.

Lukie, Paris, France

So we the taxpayer end up paying for these expensive, money grabbing, slush-fund creating, methods of highway robbery, AND THEN we have to pay fines for averaging over the speed limit? Anyone that travels at 70mph on a motorway is a hazard. Some of us are good enough drivers to move at 80mph, or 90.

Rich, frodsham,

"A pair of cameras on the M4 between junctions 10 and 12 issues only one penalty for every 10,000 drivers."

At £300k per network assuming a £60 penalty charge that would mean 5000 tickets need to be issued to break even. At that rate 50m motorists will need monitoring per network. Disgraceful!

freedom, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

FYI Dave
The minimum level for the police to turn out to a shoplifting case is already around the £100 mark. At £5 they would laugh in your face.

Jay, loughborough, England

I've been driving for over 40 years and have *never* had a single point on my licence in my entire life. I am still very uncomfortable at the spread of constant surveilance of innocent citizens by the state authorities that so many here seem to welcome.

Peter Dixon, London, UK

And yet the government cannot afford to maintain our libraries, so our going to turn them into noisy places with coffee, mobile phone calls and even video games! They are monitoring and dumbing us down at the same time! Churchill will be turning in his grave.

Vision Aforethought, Oxford, England

I'm more disturbed that the government is buying cameras such as this...What happened to the sobering words of the Traffic Division of the police?
Also, as many seemed to have mentioned, the cause of big accidents is usually not just speed, but tailgating, drunkenness, or drug abuse.what's important

tim, naples , italy

Some roads do not have the correct speed limit imposed, this can prove dangerous even if it is below the speed limit. Also, the only people to be fined will be the owners, drivers, tax & insurance payers and license holders. These are the people who tend to adhere to the rules anyway!

Joe, Liverpool,

Why not spend the £300,000 per network on extra motorway police patrols watching out for (and clamping down on) bad driving? Simply making everyone do 70mph isn't a magic cure to prevent accidents. Bad driving happens at all speeds.

Ben, Morecambe,

I am a stickler for speed and don't intentionally break the limit - howeer, I find 50 mph on wide, striaght roads/dual carriageways is taking it a bit far - at least making it 60 mph would ensure people stick within the national speed limit....but then one ponders how would they make their revenue??

R Kaur, Nottingham,

This will simply serve to further alienate the British public as a whole and criminalise the already beaten motorist. Not good timing when the voting public is worried about their livelihoods due to economic errors outside of their control, now their livelihoods are threatened in yet another way!

matt, Hereford, Herefordshire

Someone said: "Can some one tell me why it is acceptable to break the speed limit?".
And I say: Can some one tell me why it isn't acceptable to break the speed limit?.
Speed limits are unnatural, there are roads where it is an objective fact that you can go faster without compromising safety.

Fer, Ferrol, Spain

Look forward to an increase in cloned/missing numberplates and an increase in unpaid fines. The unfortunate generally law-abiding inadvertent speeder will pay up. The reckless moron will either avoid detection or fail to pay

C Byrne, Pinner, UK

This has nothing to do with reducing accidents and everything to do with controlling and monitoring movement.
How about cameras that monitor tailgating, lorries that just pull out or people that cut you up.
It's inappropriate speed for the conditions that causes a lot of accidents, eg.70mph in fog

Paul , Ripley,

As a cyclist and motorist I support these measures, despite getting a ticket myself recently. However, they are no substitute for police presence on the roads, the lack of which is leading to dangerous and aggressive driving becoming commonplace.

Ben Garside, Loughborough, UK

With these new camera's they would just be able to tell footballers average speed was x mph. Had there been actual police on patrol perhaps they would have seen his driving and stopped him before it was too late.
Even though speeding was involved sure the outcome would have been the same at 70.

Jon, Wolves,

Camera's have their place as part of a greater campaign. On their own they are part of the problem. These cameras are fine on motorways in roadworks, however in urban areas they will force drivers to concentrate on their speedo and not on the hazards found in towns and cities. We need common sense.

Martin, Bath, UK

I assume that once a number plate has been 'read' it can then also be checked against computer records for theft, road tax, insurance cover etc. All add-ons under the 'stealth' banner of speeding, but potential cash cows none the less.

Bob, London, England

I always used to think my boyfriend was a bit paranoid about the state wanting to control us, but I'm afraid I have to agree with him. This is completely insane. Plenty of roads are 60mph, but cannot be safely navigated in the rain at more than 40 - cameras do not fix bad judgement!!

freya, London,

Sorry but you can only complain about being monitored if society behaves itself. But we don't, and drivers are just as bad as everyone else. I live in a 20mph street where kids play and drivers will frequently blast through it doing about 40mph. If that's you then your emmigration is welcome.

Mark, Glasgow, UK

It is not necessary speeding that is the evil here - poor lane discipline, no signals, driving dangerously slowly... Unless your car has cruise control, it is becoming necessary to drive with your eyes permanently on the dashboard to check the speed. Why does our government hate us so much?

Martin, Bristol, UK

stuart, exeter says:
"driving at 70 is not plausible. It can add hours to a journey."

So does queuing in Tesco. So, should we not be fined if we just walk out without paying? Same logic applies, that would also be breaking the law. Why can we break the law in a car and not on foot?

Rupert, London,

It's simple - stay within the law and you won't get caught. If you think the legal speed is too low - campaign for it to be raised. But don't shoot the people trying to implement the law that exists. Or should we turn a blind eye or any shoplifting below say a £5 limit?

Dave, Derby, IK

Don't break the law and then what's the problem with then?!! If installing these slows down the selfish and irresponsible speeders, thereby saving one life, then who can possibly argue that they're not a good idea?! Bring them on, and the sooner the better!

Dave, Suffolk,

Nanny state ..... with high charges..... can't abide this country anymore it has gone to the dogs litterally, so can anyone tell me : how many times we get charged on our vehicles . we buy one we get taxed, to put it on the road you need road tax, to run it you need fuel Taxed extortianatly etc etc.

adam, coventry, rip off britain

These comments are parodies right? Speed is fun but the golden era of motoring is history. Aside from being illegal, dangerous (except of course when you do it!) and environmentally damaging, speeding offers a good taxation opportunity: if you can afford to burn more fuel, you can afford the fine.

Pete, St Albans, UK

We should park all our cars in central london lock them and leave them.
Enough of this labour lunacy.
How much more will you take??

rick, newcastle, uK

Most people who released they had been caught by the 1st camera doing 40mph, would probably slow down to 20mph on the next camera ... how will that reduce congestion?
If u stick to 30mph at all times, sooo many people will try to overtake u making drivers angry & unsafe.

Kate who averages at 34mph, Manchester ,

great- that's one in the eye for the foam-at-the-mouth divine right to speed brigade. NB speed is not just dangerous it is very noisy too as any villager will tell you. crush their cars!

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

What a stupid fact to give that accidents have reduced on m1 J6 has anyone been through there who did the tests , the traffic is rarely above 30 mph camaras or not!
Do these new cameras only take registration number from the front? like current ones. I hope so as they cant get me on my motorbike !

IAN, Hemel hempstead, UK

Brian Gregory: "It’s so boring driving through these sections at a constant slow speed that people are going to drop off". So we'd better drive over the speed limit and erratically change speed? Ridiculous argument.

Emma, Kent,

Bry Barnes: You'll be old someday, reactions are slower as they get older, doesn't mean they can't see. They learned to drive when there were hardly any cars on the road, so be a little more patient, I'll bet serious road accidents are not high in the older age group. Probably bump and scrape.

CtM, Hayes, Middlesex, England

And what more ? Endless stupidity !!

A. Mascarenhas, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Only two days ago the government announced their wish to monitor us in the electronic world; now they want to extend this to the road network as well? If Labour by some fluke win the next election I'm leaving this country - while that's still legal.

David, Basingstoke,

Driving in this country has become a complete pain, with signs and restrictions all over the place. The Association of British Drivers is right, it will be so hard to maintain concentration at mind numbing speeds.

And local authoirities wasting their yearly allocations on pathetic obstructions.

Roger, Leeds, England

Whilst many people as well as ministers still think that it's speed alone that kills, if you watch many of the cop programes you will see that it is drunk, drug and wreckless driving that causes many of the incidents on our roads which are not detectable by these speed cameras. It's revenue raising.

Lyn, London,

The problem with average speed cameras is it just makes me look at my speedo a lot more than I normally would, thereby making my driving more distracted and dangerous. With only 3% of accidents being accounted to speed we need more traffic police, not more distractions to safe and attentive driving.

Looking at the speedo, London,

This could make a slight improvement to the quality of life of millions of people by reducing the noise, pollution and percieved danger caused by speeding vehicles. Would it not be better though to get speeding motorists to have to pay to install speed limiters in any vehicle they drive?

Clive Stringer, Devon, England

Till now all the pro-camera lobby said the old cameras were good - now we hear they are all rubbish. I like the Average Cams - I can drive at 10mph annoying people and then 150mph for a bit. Not once do I have to signal, I can send texts all day long and I can drive drunk in the wrong Lane as well.

Paul , Milton Keynes,

Speed does not kill, but the sudden stop often does. These cameras often only have a small effect on the total number of accidents, but reduce deaths and injuries hugely due to the speed reduction - look at the A14, locally, maybe 20% reduction in accidents but an 80% reduction in injuries & deaths

Jamie, Fen Ditton, UK

The anti speeding group fail to acknowledge that the anti-camera group are PRO POLICE PATROLS - we don't like cameras because they don't reason and they can be used to monitor our movements. Roll on the Clarkson revolution

paulo, Milton Keynes,

Cost of Camera around £300,000. Maintenance contracts no published costs. This money would be better spent on training more police to be on the streets, because cameras do not detect, dangerous or drink driving.

The police presence will be even more scarce if this camera option is put in place.

Allen, Windsor, UK

What a bunch of sheep we are.
We are policed in the maner we deserve because we don't have enough people saying 'enough'. This added to the news about very phone call and internet transaction being fed into GCHQ should tells know about the kind of country we have become. Vote them out.

k b, doncaster,

how about we educate people on motorway driving as a solution. For those of us who have to travel hundreds of miles on the motorways, driving at 70 is not plausible. It can add hours to a journey. Another example of the Gov monitoring our movements!

stuart, exeter,

These cameras are used on the M25 at junction 28 and have not lessened congestion or queues. Interesting that accidents have reduced on the M1 J6-10 which is 50 mph contra flow and any regular users will tell you is mostly stand still anyway.
Another opportunity to increase the tax on motorists.

Peter, Cambridge,

Ultimately this will reduce drivers speed so it is a good idea. Though, I would implore the government to put as much effort and attention into respectful behaviour as they do with road safety and smoking.People should receive heavy fines for littering and spitting

Ben Thomas, London,

Logically how can you be against speed camera's. Speed kills and it is illegal - simple answer dont speed. What is the argument against - sometimes I should be able to speed legally???

Abolish fines - 1 speeding tkt = 2 week ban; 2 = 1 mth; 3 = 3 mth; 4 = 6 mth; >4 12 mth. No appeal basis.

Jason C, Selby, UK

More cameras. Just what Britain needs. We're already the CCTV capital of the world. ID cards, cameras everywhere, email, text message and phone monitoring... Time to emmigrate I think.

M. Farren, Manchester, England

£300,000 per network eh? And the money is coming from where? Haven't we got to sort the banks out first?

Barney, Huyton, Liverpool

What difference does it make?If accidents were to occur those responsible just get a fine and a slap on the wrist.The football player who was drunk while driving killed 2 children, received a 7 year sentence and probably be let out in 4 years.Is that justice?

Sarah Jones, London,

Can some one tell me why it is acceptable to break the speed limit? I havent actually heard the reason for this yet.

cyclist.

samarius, Leeds,

Ian Bingley "bad driving that causes accidents" - surely speeding is one element of bad driving, duh!!

lenny d, goole, UK

The amount of people on this comment page saying its bad driving that causes accidents etc.

Well we have news for you speeding is bad driving,
These cameras are a good idea and will actual reduce the amounts of fines we will recieve, while making roads safer

Wheres the problem.

keith, chester,

I think a better solution would be to train drivers to a higher standard. Make it manadtory to renew your license every 3 years say, whilst undergoing simulator training, and give drivers eye tests. A lot of older drivers are so blind that they can't even see out of their cars.

Bry Barnes, Somerset, Uk

Since it now costs so much to fill up a car, tax it, park it, fix it and insure it, any speeding fine is very insignificant when compared to the annual cost of running a car. Why not have done with this 'taxing the motorist' debate and bin the fine altogether. Too many points = lost lost licence.

Adam Brown, London, England

Speed can kill, but so can the person driving dangerously at 30mph, or the drunk behind the wheel. We need more police on the streets instead of spy cams.

Jas, London, UK

More cameras = More Big Brother. Whatever the excuse.

John, Colchester,

There is no mention of cost. Given the money just spent this must be low on the list of priorities. It also has totalitarian features about it. One reason for congestion is the number of people in a family who have cars. If we made the age to drive 25 that would cut congestion at a stroke.

Dr Ian Burgess, Bristol,

It has to be better than the current situation where the driver in front suddenly slams on the brakes and slows to 10 mph before taking off again at a rate of knotsevery time they see a camera.

what we have now is plain dangerous.

Martin, Southend on sea,

Good news, especially about the huge reduction in offenders (and therefore in fines - these are not money making machines).

I wonder why people who are normally supporters of Law and Order are so unwilling to obey the simple law of speed limits? Do they not understand accident statistics?

Brian Hughes, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

It is shocking how many people on this comment page are against this. I drive 20 miles to and from work everyday on the motorways and rural roads and have witnessed my fair share of accidents and near misses because of speeding drivers.

Those of you who say it is another way of bleeding money out of you, don't speed and it won't cost you! Hardly 'taxing the motorist' is it Mike from London.

Ash, Doncaster,

It is bad driving that causes accidents and cameras will do nothing to detect or prevent it. When will the government realise that it needs to have another strategy so that driving standards are improved?

Ian, Bingley,

Here we go lets make some more money to pay to the guys who messed up the banking system and keep them rich

paul farmer, london, uk

Who's getting the contract to supply these cameras? And what information can their pitch contain to possibly justify the expense?

I suppose that the "if it saves one human life.." argument is a difficult one to counter but how far should that extend? No drivers at all?

Simon, Perth,

Another reason not to return to live in my beloved homeland.

Faustino, Brisbane, Australia

"On the M1 the number of casualties halved after average-speed cameras were introduced on a contraflow between junctions 6a and 10."

Casualties have probably dropped because of the roadworks, not necessarily because of the speed cameras....

Richard Rolph, Nottingham, England

This may be unpopular, but if the benefits of reduced congestion and accidents is shown, then it's probably worthwhile. The state will also be able to monitor car movements: useful for the police and for revealing true road usage.

john, london,

Dave from Notts, UK said: "More money raising. Just money raising, no matter what the liars in the government say."

Contribution to the collection is optional. You don't have to give - just drive at or under the speed limit and it won't cost you a thing!

Jim, Herts, UK

A 97mph football millionaire drunk driver kills 2 children

The irony is that there was no shortage of film footage of him breaking speed limits. Just no coppers around to stop him and he gets a light sentance that doesn't deter drunk driving

Is the lack of cameras really the problem?

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK

So let me get this right, if your travelling 15 miles or more you have to obey the speed limit but someone driving locally can overtake you at 120mph. So we will see who is local and who is travelling a longer distance because they will be the ones poodling along. Could only be NU LIBOR.

Steve , Surrey, UK

As a potential tourist, I am having second thoughts.

B Mitchell, Alberta, Canada

We are getting very close ot the quality of life enjoyed by the USSR at the height of its powers. Why cannot people realise that this Government is driven by Communist State principles? Cameras, fines, taxes, snooping... Did someone mention revolution?

Richard, London,

Has there ever been a British government more antipathetic to its citizens than this one? It can't create anything,It can't build anything, it can't improve anything, all it can do is spy, tax ,and waste.

Martin, London,

No mention here of one of the great advantages this system gives the authorities. The cameras will keep a record of where everyone is going all the time - i.e.spying on innocent people.

Chivers, Freiburg,

Living in this country is becoming unbearable. We are being driven to distraction by a malevolent state apparatus that wants to control and tax our every move. I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more... but of course I will because we always do.

PRF, Harrow,

Arizona, USA is right on your heals. We still have wide open nice roads in the other western states. Come quick and puch it before it all turns into utopia.

Laurence Budd, Fort collins, USA/colorado

Its just another form of Taxing the Motorist, its very obvious, this has nothing to do with road safety at all. The streets are already at horse drawn carriage speeds anyway, dictated by traffic congestion and traffic lights, get more police solo´s on unmarked bikes if they want to catch the idiots.

Mike, London, UK

Maybe British Local Authorities have lost so much to Icelandic Banks they wont be able to afford them.

Ian Gurney, Tanpere, Finland

The fatal flaw is the assumption that safe driving can be determined by an act of county council. When car GPS systems are linked to cruise control so drivers need do no more than steer, how will we explain the persistence of accidents? Compliance is not safety. Regulation can't make a safe driver.

richard, Horley, UK

What is the problem with 90 to 100 MPH on an open stretch of motorway? I hope these will be kept to built up areas but I doubt it. This will damage sales of performance cars and motorcycles and make England with its weather and crowding even more boring.

Richard Surrey

ryoig, Farnham,

Why do so many drivers think they have the 'right' to break the speed limit? The fact that reducing speed reduces accidents and also lowers pollution does not seem to penetrate their selfish minds.
Cyclist , Bournemouth.

T. Anderson, Bournemouth,

So this will stop congestion? Right haha. It is about time we all stood up against these fools. A recent study had it that speed alone is only a factor in 3% of accidents. The ones that need to be curbed are the dangerous, reckless and inept.

Quite how this will be cost effective I fail to see.

Nick, Plymouth,

If enough drivers are banned, surely this will have a negative impact on the UK economy. But the way things are going, food riots are on the horizon. Britain's washed up, get out while you still can.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

When will the Government raise the limit for HGV's on single carraigeways from 40mph to 50mph? This in my view and experierence will increase traffic flow, stop car drivers from making risky overtaking manouvers and let british trucks drive at the same speed as camera jumping foreign plated ones!

Andrew Stokes, Syston, Leicestershire

Link up this system with the CCTV coverage of most urban areas, include the £12bn e-mail and telephone eavesdropping system reported earlier this week, add a liberal dose of ID cards, and the state will be able to monitor every individual's whereabouts and his or her political affiliations.

Dwight Vandryver, Scholar Green, UK

Makes you so proud to be British, doesn't it? I guess these will be needed to recoup some of the £13000 per taxpayer that the government spent today.

Roll on 2010.

J Jenkins, York,

This is nonesense. So over 15 miles I can drive at 120mph, go for a cup of coffee and then Carry on at 120mph and not get caught. Or if I cut too many corners I can appear to have been travelling alot faster than I have been.

rob, ashbourne, uk

More money raising. Just money raising, no matter what the liars in the government say. We want a REVOLUTION NOW!!!

Dave, Notts, UK