Record number of drivers caught speeding by cameras

The numbers of those snapped by fixed, mobile or motorway cameras has dramatically risen over the past five years, with more than 90,000 caught in 2014.

Road safety bosses said fixed and mobile speed cameras were behind more fines being issued to drivers and revealed there had been a decline in road collisions since 2009. Speeds as high as 137mph were caught on camera along some of the region's most notorious roads.

A total of 370,465 vehicles were caught going too fast in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Herefordshire and Worcestershire over the past five years.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show the numbers have drastically increased since 2009, when 61,139 drivers were caught, rising to 81,423 in 2011 and 76,976 in 2013. Between January and December 15 this year, a total of 91,138 motorists were caught speeding by fixed and mobile cameras in the West Mercia Police region.

Dyfed Powys Police, meanwhile, recorded that more than 65,000 drivers were caught by mobile cameras over the past three years.

Cameras stationed along the M54 and the A5 in Shropshire during recent roadworks led to more drivers paying fines.

From 2009 to March 2014 a total of 333,786 overall fixed penalty notices were issued in the West Mercia Police region. Almost two thirds of these were handed to men. The most prolific speeding roads in the force area were revealed as the A46 Sedgeberrow bypass near Evesham and the A40 Ganarew in Herefordshire.

Police chiefs said the vast increase reflected a change in how officers enforced speeding fines. Vicki Bristow, from Warwickshire and West Mercia Police Safer Roads Partnership, said: "Speeding is a key issue in many communities so it's great that we are able to address this."