Bring back the hidden speed trap says top policeman

Med Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and head of roads policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers, has paved the way for yellow speed cameras to be abolished.

He believes this could help catch more speeding drivers, and in turn help reduce the number of serious injuries or fatalities on the UK's roads.

Believing the number of road deaths is not falling fast enough, Mr Hughes has also suggested signs informing drivers where mobile camera vans are stationed be similarly scrapped.

Talking to The Times, Mr Hughes said: "I have always thought it strange that speed cameras were so easily identified.

"We need to think about whether greater compliance will be delivered by using technology in a less conspicuous way.

"I might put up Neighbourhood Watch signs but I don't tell burglars when I am specifically running an anti-crime operation."

Mr Hughes believes hidden speed cameras will stop the practice of motorists slowing down for the cameras only to speed up again once out the camera's gaze.

He added he remains fully supportive of speed cameras as a general road-safety concept because they "have released officers for other duties by automating the enforcement process".

The Government decided in 2001 to introduce warning signs and paint speed cameras bright yellow to make them more visible - something that split road-safety campaigners.

Mr Hughes' comments have had a muted response so far. Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, said he was against hiding all speed cameras but supported trials in which signs were erected on certain routes to say hidden cameras were in operation.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Hughes made a number of other suggestions to help reduce death and injury on the roads.

To cut down the number of drink-drive accidents he wants a more zero-tolerance approach to alcohol.

"Reducing the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg would make a valuable public statement that it's impossible to have even one drink and be certain you would pass a breathalyser test," he said.

Addressing the problem of younger drivers and road accidents, he said: "We should be teaching 10 and 11-year-olds about their responsibilities when driving a car, not just how to be a safe pedestrian or cyclist."