Tomorrow (October 13, appropriately enough...) marks a birthday most here will probably want to forget. According to Transport for London it was 20 years to the day that Britain's first speed camera was activated, a Gatso device on Twickenham Bridge on the A316 in south west London.
The westbound stretch was called an "accident blackspot" by then Minister for Transport in London, Steven Norris, who was quoted in the Richmond and Twickenham Times the following week.
Judging from data from the camera trial, drivers certainly hoofed it round this 40mph-limited right-hand bend. The police officer leading the camera program, Roger Reynolds, told the paper the trial camera snapped 22,939 drivers travelling over 65mph in just 22 days.
And when it was switched on, it caught 20 cars running over 70mph in the first week. Hilariously the drivers faced not just a fine (income dependent) but 'possible disqualification', according to the paper. You could be caught doing anything up to double the urban speed limit and still just receive the £32 fixed penalty notice.
