SERIOUS injury accidents have been halved since the introduction of roadside speed cameras across Teesside four years ago.

Accidents have fallen by 63 per cent in Stockton, 56 per cent in Hartlepool, 53 per cent in east Cleveland and 36 per cent in Middlesbrough, averaging a 51 per cent reduction, said the Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership.

It said there had been 469 fewer injury collisions since the introduction of cameras.

Its spokesman, Mick Bennett, said drivers who slowed down should be thanked for helping road safety.

Cameras were installed on roads where there was a record of deaths or serious injury.

Mr Bennett, a former Cleveland Police traffic inspector, said: "We are pleased with the results, which show that injury collisions are at a level half of that before we started using cameras.

"However, there is no room for complacency because, despite the excellent results, the overall number of crashes is starting to creep back up. The majority of these crashes have nothing to do with the speed of the traffic, but drivers just not concentrating on their driving.

"We have never claimed that the use of cameras is the answer to all the collisions which occur. We can only really affect those crashes that are speed related.

"However, as drivers start to see the benefits that can be achieved through sticking to the speed limit, they will also find that they have more time to take in what is happening around them and more time to react if something does go wrong.''

The presence of cameras has also led to a 46 per cent reduction in cars flouting the speed limit, according to the partnership.

Mr Bennett said: "I don't mind why drivers are slowing down, whether it is because they fear being caught on camera or whether it is just a responsible attitude towards road safety.

"Whatever the reason, I want to say thank you to these drivers, because by slowing down and sticking to the speed limit, each and every one of them are contributing to the reduction in the number of crashes.''