Industry News from Yes Insurance

Far from shielding them from road accidents over half of British drivers believe speed cameras actually compromise their safety by putting them off their driving, new research shows.

According to a survey by RoadPilot, 53 per cent of motorists think the installation of roadside speed cameras has a detrimental impact on their driving standards.

This is because keeping an eye out for the yellow boxes distracts their attention from potential hazards in the road ahead and sometimes causes them to drive erratically.

Indeed, one third of respondents said spotting a speed camera had caused them to brake impulsively regardless of how fast they were travelling at the time.

James Flynn, chief executive of RoadPilot, said it is "worrying" that so many people believe devices that are meant to improve safety are having an adverse effect on driving standards.

According to the Department for Transport speed cameras "encourage changed driver behaviour" and are proven to "make a significant contribution" to improving road safety.

Car insurance customers may be interested to know that if they are caught by a speed camera they can still acquire cheap premiums if they shop around.