Transport campaigners are to apply for a judicial review into government rules forcing speed cameras to be painted bright yellow.

Pressure group Transport 2000 says there is no scientific evidence that brightly coloured cameras are more likely to make drivers slow down.

In no other area of criminal enforcement do criminals get warned they might be prosecuted

Vicky Cann, Transport 2000

It is pursuing the court review along with the Slower Speeds Initiative.

Both groups believe many drivers brake when they catch a glimpse of a yellow box on the road ahead, making life dangerous for drivers behind.

Vicky Cann, assistant director of Transport 2000, said the High Court would be considering whether to look at the case.

She said the government had been backed into a corner by the motoring lobby over speed cameras.

Ms Cann said: "In no other area of criminal enforcement do criminals get warned they might be prosecuted, so why are speeding motorists any different?

"The danger of these guidelines is that speeding motorists will brake before a yellow camera and then speed away after it, knowing they are 'safe' from prosecution."

Road deaths

Earlier this year, the powerful Commons transport select committee, described the rules as "unreasonable".

"Crashes do not just occur at accident blackspots," said the committee's report.

"There was no scientific research to support this decision. People will die as a result."

In 2000, 3,400 people were killed on the UK's roads but MPs say that number could be reduced to less than 1,000 with the right measures.

The government believes making cameras more visible will make drivers slow down earlier.

Official statistics already suggest there has been a 47% fall in the number of deaths and serious injuries at speed camera sites.

The Department of Transport is attempting to hit a target of cutting the number of people killed or seriously injured by 40% by 2010.