Any further delay in the introduction of metric speed limits is likely to push the introduction of privately-operated speed cameras into next year at the earliest.
Proposals to allow the Government to outsource the operation of speed cameras are currently before a working group set up last year and chaired by the Department Of Justice. It's expected to report to Ministers in the coming weeks.
However, whatever recommendations it makes are unlikely to be implemented before the introduction of new metric speed limits. This changeover was due to take place in December, though there are suggestions it may now stretch into early 2005.
Initially metric speed limits were to have been introduced next month but this was put back to the end of the year due to difficulty in producing signs. The changeover will need up to 35,000 new signs at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of around €30 million.
Most car firms have opted to introduce kph-only speedometers in new cars. Production orders for the New Year sales boom are normally made at this time of the year and any delay in switching to metric will worry dealers.
For car firms, the move to kph-only dials will cut costs and allow them to use the same "binnacle" or dials as on continental cars.
The change is likely to have a negative impact on the value of used cars with only mph readings, or with mph as the prominent display. It's also expected to impact on the new and used market for cars imported from Britain.
Meanwhile, in Britain the Conservative party has promised, if elected to government, to review the use of speed cameras in England and Wales. The Tories have accused the Blair government of "waging a war on drivers".
If they come to power, the Tories plan to withdraw "cash-guzzling" cameras where the accident rates have not fallen. Party transport spokesman Damian Green said the measures would be "on the side of the responsible driver".
The Tories claim that fines raised more than £15 million (€23 million) last year, with millions more going to 42 safety camera partnerships, which administer the cameras and fines. The party plans to audit all 5,000 speed cameras to gauge their effectiveness in saving lives.
Its road transport proposals also include reducing the speed limit to 20mph near schools and hospitals, and increasing the limit on some motorway stretches to 80mph.
Unclear speed signs will also be tackled. The party argues that drivers are often confused as to how fast they can go on certain roads.
The British government claims speed cameras save about 100 lives a year.