Word reaches me that this year more than two million motorists, many of them HGV and van drivers, are likely to find themselves picking up points on their driving licences thanks to the spread of speed cameras. This stark warning comes from beatyourban.co.uk which is helping drivers fight back against the relentless march of the speed cameras.

''In 2008 many more HGV and van drivers will find themselves facing a ban. Just imagine what would happen if you lost your licence. Could you be in the 20% we surveyed who fear they would lose their jobs? How would you manage?" says beatyourban's founder Gary Wells. (That's him pictured above).

Apparently beatyourban.co.uk's insurance cover pays out if you're banned under the 'totting up' procedure. The policy pays up to £1,000 a month for the duration of a typical 6 month ban. The money can be used to pay for taxis or to hire a driver. Policy holders also get access to a free legal helpline, to advise them on how to fight a pending prosecution.

According to the company: "The Government's vast expansion of the speed camera network means that since 1997 the number of fixed penalty notices for speeding has trebled from just 700,000 a year to almost 2 million. In 2008 the number is likely to be even higher. This means that speeding tickets now raise £120 million a year, most of which goes back into funding yet more cameras, but figures show our roads are no safer" says Gary Wells adding, "Our recent beatyourban survey showed that 78% of drivers believe speed cameras are failing to make the roads safer. Yet in spite of this in 2008 millions more of us will be penalised for breaking the speed limit by just a few miles"

"More than a million British drivers are now on the brink of losing their licence because of the increase in speed cameras. Five million more now have six penalty points on their driving licences. 6,000 speed cameras are located nationwide and there are plans to double this number in the next 3 years."

Of course you could always take the alternative approach as suggested by BLB...don't drive faster than the speed limit. Just a thought.