A Government will always face problems when ordinary members of the public are suddenly moved to break the law in protest at what they see as unjust legislation.

The classic example was the poll tax, which led to many law-abiding citizens risking jail rather than pay it, sparked riots in the street and finally brought about the downfall of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister.

The other day, as I drove from Stockton to Sedgefield, I witnessed a piece of urban vandalism which made me consider whether speeding laws are now seen as so unjust they are on the verge of sparking a similar rebellion.

It is a 60mph stretch of road and, at the side of each carriageway, is the usual large speed camera housed in a metallic yellow box.

As you approach there is an enormous sign warning motorists that there are speed cameras ahead. On this sign someone has spray painted the words "Both f****d".

Then, on the yellow box of the camera, a large smiley face has been spray painted.

There is no doubt that excessive speed leads to death on the road and I do not condone this vandalism. But, as the psychologist Edward Thorndike highlighted, the quickest way to make someone aggressive is to frustrate them.

I suspect that the person who carried out this vandalism is not an habitual criminal but someone driven to it by a feeling of injustice.

The Government is in danger of losing the argument with regards to speeding if it continues to allow self righteous police officers to dictate national policy. These officers need to realise they are servants of the people. The public priority must be their priority.

One chief constable has even called for speed cameras to be placed in cats' eyes to catch speeding motorists. Why is he not calling for cameras in street lights to catch yobs?

The Government and police have failed to persuade the public that speed cameras are about safety. Instead, they are seen as all about income generation. The police are seen to be spending their time persecuting an easy target rather than the harder graft of catching burglars and yobs.

In Sweden, motoring legislation is even more severe but there is no rebellion in the streets. Under the Vision Zero initiative, which aims eventually to reduce fatalities to nil, the government is employing the latest technology to analyse roads to see if they can be made safer through developments such as better surfacing, improved visibility and high impact crash barriers.

It is seen as a partnership approach with motorists expected to do their bit by using seatbelts, driving within speed limits and not under the influence of drink or drugs. Every fatal accident is seen as a failure of the road transport system as a whole.

As Mayor, I have tried to be fair with motorists. For example, I have decided that we will no longer put parking tickets on cars in meter bays before 9am. Meters are not supposed to be about income generation but about controlling the traffic flow. There are plenty of spaces to go round before 9am so there is no need to limit use.

I want to see the Government adopt more of a partnership approach with the public with regards to policing our roads. Otherwise I fear more and more motorists will be driven to rebellion.

Published: 21/10/2005