I read recently that City of York Council was planning to go ahead with speed cameras in the area at “collision blackspots”, at what was reported as an extortionate cost to taxpayers (Speed cameras on way to York?, The Press, March 29).

There is a misconception about speed cameras that they reduce casualties on our roads, when in fact they cause drivers to increase their speed.

The term is known as “surfing”. A driver slows for the camera then speeds up immediately afterwards. This behaviour causes accidents, rather than preventing them.

Having watched a motoring programme on TV, it was stated that speed cameras reduce fatalities by ten per cent, which for the one in ten people involved in such incidents will be lifesaving.

The cost of running the scheme will more than likely involve a mobile van system, which will have no discretion at all other than setting the minimum speed where drivers will be prosecuted, ie all over 34mph in a 30mph zone will be summoned. This will cause anger, and again driver behaviour will be affected in a negative way.

For the cost involved, I believe we should be using engineering solutions at “blackspots”, such as road markings, speed reductions, chicanes, etc.

By making a physical change this should reduce, if not solve, the collision problems at these sites. As a safe and competent driver I would like my council to publish these “blackspots” so that I can avoid them and not become a statistic.

R Walker, Haxby, York.