Swindon, the first town in the UK to switch off its cameras in July last year, has seen a fall in the number of road accidents to 315 in comparison with 327 the previous year, according to a report.

Accident data reveals that in the first nine months after the cameras’ removal in Swindon, two fatalities were reported compared with four in the same period a year earlier, and serious injuries dropped to 44 from 48.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Swindon’s latest figures were taken by road safety campaigners who claim that speed cameras do little to stop problem driving.

Many parts of the country are predicted to follow Swindon’s example after the government reduced funding for the Road Safety Grant from £95m ($150) to £57m ($90m).

A local transport official said the funds could be used on other physical road safety measures such as vehicle-activated warning signs.