Speed cameras are said to be effective safety devices

The region's Safety Camera Partnership says provisional figures for last year show a drop of 15%.

The Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership was launched in 2002 with the aim of reducing the number of road collisions which result in serious or fatal injuries.

Between the two counties, the average number of incidents involving injuries in the three years up to 2003 was 753, but last year that number fell to 641.

The partnership says these new figures prove the cameras are effective in reducing drivers' speeds and cutting the number of accidents.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Fixed cameras are aimed at reducing drivers' speed and have been placed throughout the two counties.

"At these sites there has been a marked decrease in the number of injury accidents."

The force also said mobile cameras were also deployed throughout both counties to enforce speed limits.