The move to withdraw speed cameras from Swindon will have little effect on the number of people killed and seriously injured, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) claimed today.

Swindon became the first town in the UK to do away with fixed-point speed cameras last night.

The nine-strong cabinet of the Tory-run council yesterday voted unanimously in favour of withdrawing from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership.

But Neil Greig, IAM Research and Policy Director, feels this decision was foolhardy.

"Road safety impact is greatest at fixed camera sites, which are - or should be - at locations where speed related-crashes and casualties occur most frequently," he said.

"That is where the greatest casualty reductions should be. This move by one local authority smacks of tokenism -and may fuel public cynicism that the priority is saving cash rather than saving lives." He then rubbished the council's statement that safety camera revenue is like a tax, but admitted it did make for an emotive argument.

"Properly placed fixed safety cameras are just one road safety tool not a substitute for active road policing or long term engineering improvements; they should be in addition to 'cops in cars', not scrapped," he added.