A one-mile stretch of road covered by eight speed cameras has seen crashes slashed - despite them not even being switched on.

The string of Gatso cameras were introduced to Leeds Road, Shipley, in October and since then there has not been one accident.

But the cameras are not even due to be switched on until the middle of this month.

And more cameras could be installed further up the road in Thackley later this year.

Six people were involved in serious accidents on the stretch between Briggate and Cote Farm Lane this year before the cameras were installed.

Four cameras were installed on either side of the busy stretch of the A657 to try to reduce accidents where there have been 87 in the past four years.

Speed limit signs, warning drivers that the limit is 30mph, have also been erected.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, which installed the cameras, said: "The effect of the cameras on Leeds Road has been quite dramatic and there has been a change in driver behaviour since the 30 mile per hour speed signs and speed cameras went up.

"We know that many people are unhappy about driving so slowly but it is really difficult to see there being any casualties on this stretch of road now.

"The cameras run down into town and give protection there too."

The programme was carried out with £140,000 from Bradford Council's roads improvement scheme. It is supported by West Yorkshire Police, the Highways Agency, West Yorkshire Health Authority and the Magistrates' Court Service.

Speeders risk a fixed penalty of £60 and three points on their licence. Those caught by all four cameras will be prosecuted for the highest speed.

The spokesman said the 30mph signs have also made drivers slow down as they approach and leave Shipley, making the busy road much safer.

"Pedestrians can now get across the road without having to take their lives into their own hands. All this has been achieved before the electricity in the cameras has actually been switched on.

"People who have to live on the road have to put up with traffic seven days a week and the traffic flow is constant. At least now the traffic flow is a lot slower than it had been before."

He said the cameras would now be switched on sometime in January and added plans are being discussed to install cameras on Leeds Road in Thackley later in 2003.

But the cameras have not been universally well received.

Vince Yearley, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said he was surprised so many cameras were installed on the stretch of road.

"This number of cameras does sound a bit excessive," he said. "We have known cameras not being activated for a period though and this isn't unusual but obviously the drivers don't always know that.

"The main reason for the cameras though is for compliance with the law rather than capture."

But Councillor Mark Blackburn (Lab, Shipley East) said he was pleased drivers seemed to be slowing down on the road.

"I drive down Leeds Road almost every day and I've noticed driver behaviour seems to have changed since the cameras were put up.

"I don't want people to get caught but once the cameras are switched on hopefully the word will go round that speeds must stay down."

Across West Yorkshire, the number of speed cameras is to be doubled from 68 to 136 during this financial year.

Speed cameras are also to be introduced on Cottingley Cliffe Road in Shipley by March."