ECHR decision is a victory for common sense

“Today’s decision in the European Court of Human rights is a victory for common sense,” Neil Greig assistant director, IAM Motoring Trust... “The suggestion that police or road authorities were acting illegally in enforcing the law clearly undermined efforts to improve road safety. The ruling provides a welcome clarification of UK law and confirms the long standing interpretation adopted by the police service. With this case now settled the focus can now return to the much more important task of reducing death and injury on our roads”.

“It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of enforcement of speed limits and traffic lights in sustaining the safety of all road users and cameras are an important, perhaps too important, part of the enforcement effort”, adds Greig. ““The case does highlight a lack of understanding among some drivers as to why safety cameras are being so widely used and also a lack of confidence in the accuracy and fairness of speed limits themselves. The review of all speed limits promised by 2011 must now go ahead as quickly as possible to restore full public confidence”.

The IAM Motoring Trust hopes that the ECHR decision will be accepted and that drivers, instead of seeking to exploit possible loopholes in the law, will concentrate instead on driving safely within the speed limit.

Media contact

IAM Motoring Trust Press Office - 0208 996 9777

neil.greig@iamtrust.org.uk