Alan Buckingham, from Bath Spa University College, analysed U.K. and Australian data to see if there was a correlation between speed cameras and road deaths. He found that a reduction in fatal accidents in the U.K. until the early 1990s... due largely to driver education... stalled when cameras were introduced.

But in other countries such as Germany, where there are no speed cameras, there was a steady fall in deaths. The sociology lecturer, who says he has never had a speeding fine, accused the police of targeting drivers who break the limit by only a fraction and ignoring more serious infringements.

We have all become accustomed to the message that "speed kills", but my research shows that there is no simple relationship between speed and death,' he added, 'Speeding is rarely the primary cause of fatal road accidents.'

My data actually shows it is the slowest drivers who are the most dangerous.' The number of speed cameras in Britain has at least trebled in the past five years to an estimated 4,500 - up 1,000 on last year alone. But this has been at the expense of traffic patrols, so drink-drivers and motorists who are driving dangerously are not being stopped.

Edmund King, of the RAC foundation, said: 'What this report shows is that road safety is more complex than the slogan "Speed kills". 'There are other things on the road that lead to accidents, including tailgating, drugs and alcohol. We would say to the Government: If this is not about money, then set up more driver awareness centres.'