The number of speed cameras in Sussex will more than double in the next two years.

The total of 36 will rise to 78 and drivers who break speed limits will foot the bill for them instead of local taxpayers.

Sussex councils and police have won approval from the Government to recover the cost of new cameras from money held by the Treasury for speeding and other safety fines.

The partnership intends installing 18 new cameras at accident blackspots in the county between now and next April and a further 24 the following year.

More traffic light cameras are also planned.

Cameras have come under fire for adding more restrictions for motorists but Tony Reid, transport councillor for East Sussex County Council, said safety was paramount.

He said: "Sussex is a beautiful place to live, work and visit and we would prefer people to admire the scenery rather than become part of it."

East Sussex has seen a 19 per cent reduction in fatal and serious crashes over the past year and is aiming to meet Government targets to halve them by 2010.

East Sussex has highlighted 41 accident black spots and wants to introduce cameras first at four locations - the A259 in Eversfield Place, Hastings, the A2021 in Kings Drive, Eastbourne, the A22 Eastbourne Road at Halland and in London Road, Uckfield.

Brighton and Hove City Council has earmarked Coldean Lane as its first choice for a camera.

West Sussex County Council has a list of 53 potential sites but no decision has been made on which will be first to have cameras.

The councils' partnership, which includes magistrates' courts and the Highways Agency, is to make cameras more visible with more yellow boxes and signs on the approaches to sites.

Simon Battle, Brighton and Hove's transport councillor, said: "The scheme is designed to save lives, not fill local authority coffers. Any surplus must be returned to central government.

"Ultimately, we would like to see this project run at a loss. That would mean drivers were travelling at appropriate speeds and not being fined for breaking the limits.

The Sussex safety camera scheme will run for a trial period of six months.

The partnership is aiming to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Sussex roads by at least 30 in the next three years.

Last year there were 980, 68 more than in 2000/2001.

Sergeant Paul Huntley, of Sussex Police traffic division, said cameras slowed traffic and made drivers think about their speed.

"Driving is a skill like any other and you need to be focused on it to be safe."