Prosecutions down after traffic camera switch off

The decision to switch off traffic light cameras to save money has resulted in an 80% reduction in motorists prosecuted for jumping the lights.

Road safety campaigners have branded the cost-cutting measure as a threat to 'life and limb', warning of catastrophic consequences unless the lights are switched on.

They said the latest numbers prove that the move has failed and urged all local councils to reverse the decision taken by the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board, who ordered more than 300 cameras be turned off.

The numbers started to drop in the West Midlands in 2013/14 after all 305 fixed traffic light and speed cameras were switched off in the cost-cutting exercise.

At the time the Road Safety Partnership Board said they believed police mobile camera sites would actually catch more speeders.

Greg Marah, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said: