A BLACKPOOL motorist who is incensed at the current speed and safety campaign has described speed camera police as "uniformed tax collectors".

"There are a lot of angry drivers on the roads," says David Earle, 58, of Chester Avenue, Poulton. "And angry people don't make good drivers."

David was even more annoyed when he heard a chief constable make what he considers to be an inaccurate statement during a BBC news report.

The chief insisted that following an increase in the statutory speed limit the national accident rate had never gone down.

Retired civil servant David decided to write to the House of Commons Select Committee on Traffic and Road Safety whose representative took part in the TV interview to put them straight.

"This is not correct," said David.

"In the early 1970s when speed limits were reduced from 70mph to 50mph on the major roads and motorways the accident rate during that period almost doubled overnight. It was catastrophic.

"Within weeks the speed restrictions reverted to what they had been previously on motorways and dual carriageways and the accident rate on those roads went down accordingly."

A spokesperson for the Dept of Transport confirmed that in 1973-1974 the energy crisis led to petrol shortages and an increase in fuel prices which consequently resulted in a 50mph speed restriction.

However, with regard to the accident rate, he was unable to isolate the specific period of speed reduction.

"We only have access to a national annual breakdown of accident records which actually show a reduction during this period," said the spokesman.

David Earle, who has been issued with one speeding ticket in 40 years of driving, covers about 20,000 miles a year in his Nissan Primera family saloon.

He feels that the campaign only serves to increase traffic and risk of accident on the quieter, detour routes through residential areas selected by drivers who want to avoid the speed traps.

David also believes that people's concentration is affected when they have to drive more slowly.

"If I have to constantly look at my speedometer I'm not keeping my eyes as much on the road as I should be doing," he said.

David is unhappy at what he interprets as a revenue-generating and counter-productive campaign by "motorised cash registers".

"The police always deny that speed purges are linked to the collection of additional revenue."

Linda Sanderson, communications manager for the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, admitted the campaign was resulting in a substantial increase in revenue but said this was not the aim of the scheme.

"It's about reducing the number of casualties we have on Lancashire roads. Any funds recouped from fines are re-invested to acquire more speed cameras and mobile enforcement units," she adds.

The number of speed cameras in Lancashire is set to go up from 69 to 120 by the end of this month and by a further 100 by the end of next year.