Specs3

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has approved a new generation of cameras that are linked wirelessly and operate in clusters, meaning that speeding drivers will be caught whichever route they take across a wide area.

Unlike earlier speed cameras, Specs3 are digital and never run out of film. They read numberplates automatically and transmit data instantly to a penalty-processing centre.

Average speed cameras are very effective in persuading drivers to slow down, with 98.5 per cent obeying the limit. Half of drivers ignore the 30mph limit where there is no speed enforcement.

But the key question, obviously, is what aspect of this excellent measure can the ubiquitous Edmund King find to whinge about?

Here’s what:

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “Most people would accept them as long as speed limits were appropriate. We need more flexible limits, such as 30mph when children are going to and from school but 40mph at other times.”

That’s right, Edmund. 40 mph is fine when the little blighters are at their desks, eh? The fact that most schools are in dense urban neighbourhoods filled with pedestrians and cyclists matters not a jot to crazy Edmund.