NINE lives have been saved in Lancashire since the introduction of speed cameras according to road safety experts.

And in Blackpool, it is reported that the number of people involved road deaths and serious accidents has been reduced by a fifth and across the county by more than 12 per cent

An additional 22 speed cameras will be installed in Blackpool with the aim of reducing the number of the resort's road casualties even further.

According to the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, there are nine fewer deaths and 265 fewer injuries on record in the county in 2002 compared with the previous year. In addition to the drop in casualty figures, road speeds have fallen dramatically.

However, although average speeds at all camera sites reduced by 11 per cent, the number of speeding tickets issued in Lancashire - 127,840 - was six times higher than the previous year.

And at £60 per offence, this represents a colossal £7.7m in fines collected from drivers each of whom also picked up three penalty points.

A total of 8,475 motorists recorded at travelling up to five mph above the restricted level, opted to attend a speed awareness course as an alternative to proceedings.

The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, which was launched in November 2001, launched their campaign to highlight the dangers of excessive driving speeds and instigated the introduction of a further 150 fixed speed cameras together with mobile enforcement (72 sites) last year. Ian Bell, partnership project manager, said: "There has been a rolling programme to install speed cameras at accident 'hot spots' sites throughout the county and unitary authorities.

"Early indicators show that the Lancashire statistics mirror those of the eight pilot projects recently announced by the transport secretary, Alistair Darling.

"We will continue to monitor the effects of cameras, but these initial results show that the introduction of cameras combined with the other road safety initiatives we are running in Lancashire, including an intensive education programme, are being highly effective in reducing casualties and speeds and indicates we are on the right track."

Project member, chief superintendent Mike Barton described the figures as 'very encouraging'.

"They clearly demonstrate that speed cameras save lives," he said.

"Nine lives saved in just one year is excellent news as it is nine fewer families suffering the loss of a loved one."

John Shaw, head of technical services for Blackpool Borough Council added: "The introduction of speed cameras at casualty hot spots has had positive benefits. The cameras have only been placed where excessive or inappropriate speed has been identified as a contributory factor in crashes. Vehicle speeds have been reduced and safety for all road users has been improved."

To build on the success of the first year, the partnership aims to develop initiatives specifically designed to reduce the number of motorcycle casualties.