Some cameras make money but do not save lives, the Tories say

The party has pledged to review all cameras in England and Wales and scrap those which have not reduced accidents if they come to power.

Speed limits could also be increased on motorways and cut in areas around schools and hospitals, the Tories said.

Ministers say cameras save 1,000 deaths or serious injuries on roads each year.

We want to make driving less of a misery Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Damian Green

Shadow transport secretary Damian Green said the Tory measures would encourage safer driving by introducing realistic speed limits and targeting dangerous drivers.

He said: "We want to make driving less of a misery.

"What we are proposing is a series of common sense practical measures which will get the government off the back of the sensible driver and restore confidence in the way we enforce the speed limit."

'Cash-guzzling'

Prime Minister Tony Blair backs speed cameras, and his transport minister David Jamieson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that 80% of people supported them.

Mr Jamieson said: "Of course people don't like being caught by them, but the vast majority of people are not being caught."

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He said a government audit of speed cameras found that 95% saved lives and injuries.

The Tories claim the Treasury received more than �15m from fines last year, with millions more going to 42 safety camera partnerships across England and Wales.

The party describes the partnerships, mostly set up jointly by local councils and police to administer the cameras and fines, as "cash-guzzling" bureaucracies.

It plans to audit the position of all 5,000 cameras and remove those where accident rates have not dropped.

The Tories also propose increasing the speed limit on some motorway stretches to 80mph, while reducing it to 20mph near schools and hospitals.

The Tories say many drivers are confused by unclear speed limits

The party claims motorists are often confused about what speed limit is in place and pledges to make signs clearer - with the limit prominently displayed by every speed camera.

The Conservatives also argue that resources should be spent targeting "criminals in cars" rather than on cameras, promising to put more traffic police on patrol.

This would help detect unsafe vehicles and "rogue drivers" who are uninsured, untaxed or without a licence.

Mr Green told Today that uninsured drivers were 10 times more likely to have been convicted of drink driving. He said action may be taken to allow uninsured cars to be seized.

BBC political correspondent Jonathan Beale said: "Most of these policies have already been unveiled. Presented together, though, the Tories hope they will prove popular as drivers head for the roads this summer."