SPEED cameras bring in more than £2 million a year in fines across Hertfordshire, one of the highest figures in the country, according to newly published research.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Taxpayers ' Alliance and the Drivers' Alliance discovered that Hertfordshire drivers caught by cameras, including those jumping lights as well as speeding, were fined £2168,260 in 2008/9, the ninth highest in Britain.

Furthermore, they have performed more research casting doubt on official claims that cameras have improved road safety and saved lives.

Casualty rates on Britain's roads fell between 1978 and 1990, but the decline slowed after the introduction of speed cameras.

Policy analyst Jennifer Dunn said: " Using the road casualty rate from 1978 to 1990, it can be estimated that 1,555,244 more road casualties have occurred from 1991 to 2007 than they would have of the trend had continued."

Other evidence against speed cameras quoted by the report's authors includes the lack of any increase in accidents in Swindon, the first town in Britain to scrap them.

Hertfordshire County Council's head of road safety Theresa Casbard responded that the level of fines in the county was was falling.

She said: "They are reducing.

"That shows we have made drivers more aware of their speed, and the message is getting across.

"We have the busiest roads and the number of fines as a proportion of all drivers is probably less than in other counties.

"In Hertfordshire there were 1,566 deaths or serious accidents in 1980.

"In 2009 there were 413.

"That is a huge reduction. It isn't all down to cameras as we do many other things such as education and traffic calming, but cameras have their part to play.

"We only install them where there has been a history of road accidents due to excessive speed.

"There are many places where residents want us to put cameras."