Speed cameras designed to catch motorists driving in excess of 70mph are to be installed along hundreds of miles of Britain's motorways for the first time.
The so-called 'stealth cameras', which will be painted grey rather than yellow, are to be installed along stretches of the M1, M6 and M25.
Until now, most motorway speed cameras have been situated mainly on stretches undergoing roadworks in order to enforce variable speed limits; however, the Highways Agency is now looking at the widespread adoption of cameras which would catch all motorists exceeding the 70mph limit.
The news comes just months after the government announced trials of a new 80mph limit would be carried out on some sections of motorway and just weeks after a proposal suggesting a 60mph limit along a 32-mile stretch of the M1.
According to the Highways Agency, the cameras would be installed on sections of 'smart motorway', on speed limits could be controlled remotely and hard shoulders opened during peak times to ease traffic flow. Similar systems are already in place on stretches of the M25 and M42.
But motoring groups are claiming that the system is not about safety and traffic levels, but about generating extra revenue from motorists.
Roger Lawson, of the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD), said of the proposals: "We are opposed to speed cameras in general.
"The evidence of their success in promoting safety is not good and in reality what is happening now is that the police are using speed cameras to fund their other activities through speed awareness courses."
"If these cameras are grey rather than yellow they are going to be harder to spot and so will have no impact in slowing traffic down. If there is a good reason for the traffic to be slowed down then the cameras need to be as visible as possible."
A spokesman from the Highways Agency addressed these claims, saying: "These are not stealth cameras. They are more visible that they were before. These motorways are not about speed limits. They are about smoothing the traffic flows and increasing capacity."
"The onus is on the driver to abide by the speed limit."
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