Speeding drivers in Kent forked out more than £2.8million in fines last year, according to the latest Home Office figures.

The Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership (KMSCP) confirmed that there were 77 yellow box cameras across the county, as well as around 50 mobile speed trap sites.

But all the money collected from them goes to the Government rather than the KMSCP - which comprises police, councils and the courts - which has raised concerns that revenue raised is not being ploughed back into road safety.

Mark Wallace, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This confirms many people's suspicions that speed cameras and fines are used first as a way of raising revenue and only second as a way of enforcing the law.

"That's not fair on motorists and it's not a good way to enact criminal justice."

But Chris Rogers, project manager at KMSCP, said: "Avoiding a speeding ticket is very easy: keep within the limit and you won't get ticketed - and you will probably save petrol as well."

However, he confirmed: "We don't know where the money goes - but what we do know is the Government pays us a grant every year for road safety projects.

"This is in the region of £3million so maybe it is the same money."

Mr Rogers added that figures for the first half of 2008 were lower than in 2007.

Now we want to know what you think about speed cameras. Are they just a 'cash cow'? If they are principally there to raise revenue does that matter, given that the fines are issued to people caught breaking the law? Join the debate on our SpeakOut >>>