The Government Says No to New Speed Cameras

The Swedish Transport Administration wants to start measuring speed between speed cameras. This could, according to the authority, save seven lives per year. But on Thursday, a message came from the government, which says no.

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The Government Says No to New Speed Cameras
Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

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We have announced in the infrastructure bill that we currently do not intend to proceed with that type of proposal, says Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD).

The Swedish Transport Administration wrote to the government earlier this year that Sweden is ready to do as Norway has done since 2009 and start measuring average speed between speed cameras.

According to a Norwegian study from 2014, which DN has reported on, the number of fatal accidents on the affected roads was halved. And in Sweden, the Swedish Transport Administration has estimated that seven lives could be saved on the routes each year with such cameras.

"Other measures"

But on Thursday, the government announced in the infrastructure bill to be submitted to the Riksdag every four years.

The Swedish Transport Administration has pointed to a number of other traffic safety-enhancing measures that we will continue to look at, says Andreas Carlson.

The issue has been important for the Sweden Democrats. The party's traffic policy spokesperson Thomas Morell wants to see more uniformed personnel on the roads, and believes that only talking about speeds is wrong.

We have people driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, vehicles with driving bans, and quite extensive illegal professional traffic. And that's what you're letting go of if you just focus on cameras and think that will solve the problem of fatal accidents in traffic. Now we've said no.

L: Interesting question

Helena Gellerman, member of the Liberal Party in the traffic committee, has a different opinion.

We think it's an interesting question, I've worked with traffic safety for twelve years. So all measures to address higher speeds are important. And just with the cameras that are in place today, you can reduce speeds.

The Swedish Transport Administration states that today's speed cameras save around 20 lives per year and prevent more than three times as many from being seriously injured.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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