During the early evening of Wednesday, August 13, I saw a mobile speed camera being deployed on a fairly quiet stretch of the Dorchester Road.

Nothing particularly divisive or unusual about this, of course, but the thought occurred to me that this camera might have more value and significance if it was positioned round the corner on the stretch of Weymouth Way that has recently witnessed several fatalities.

I have lived in Weymouth for the past 31 years, and in all this time I have never heard of a motoring fatality in the area of the Dorchester Road being scanned by this mobile camera. In my view the leading objective of cameras positioned in this way is to catch the unsuspecting motorist who has slightly tripped over the 30mph.

This is more likely to raise money than save lives.

Placing mobile speed cameras on stretches of road without a history of frequent accidents is, as one very senior policeman recently admitted, like shooting fish in a barrel.

Peter Jarvis

Woodward Place

Weymouth