THE Association of British Drivers is calling for Britain to follow Canada's lead and scrap speed cameras.

The association says the incoming government in British Columbia has honoured election pledges to scrap photo radar.

The body says governments of Ontario and British Columbia have ditched all forms of photographic speed detection, such as the GATSOs used in the UK, because they have realised it is motivated by revenue; it has no safety benefits; it must be propped up by a well-funded spin machine to survive; it is heavy handed and arbitrary; it undermines respect for the law and law enforcement and it invades privacy as a Big Brother device.

When speed cameras were abolished in Ontario, the incoming Premier, Michael Harris, called photo-radar a Government cash grab, and an Orwellian cash machine.

The ABD wholeheartedly agrees with the views expressed by these two gentlemen.

ABD Chairman Brian Gregory said: "Few, if any, of Britain's drivers now believe that speed cameras are there for safety reasons, recognising instead that they're there to make money for the police.

"This is fleecing, not policing -- a cynical 'dash for cash' by the police, aided and abetted by local councils who obligingly lower speed limits to unreasonable levels to increase the number of drivers caught and maximise the 'take'".

As Canada does away with its speed cameras, what are British police are planning to install another 4,500 cameras and treble the number of tickets issued to £10m a year, the organisation says. These plans were announced a few weeks ago and are being championed by Richard Brunstrom, Chief Constable of North Wales Police, who has since admitted on national radio that he himself exceeds the speed limit.