Depressing speed camera thingy in local rag

[al78]

My point was that a camera does NOT do the same job as an officer. Only a small part of it. I think most people do not feel 'taxed' when they get done by a real copper. They feel bang to rights generally.

No, they just complain that the copper isn't out catching "real criminals".

 

[BrumJim]

No, they just complain that the copper isn't out catching "real criminals".

+1

 

[BentMikey]

I was only going over 30 when I overtook you. LOL!

 

[Davidc]

At least most of the comments are opposed to the article.

My views are far too well known on here: Lower limits, more cameras, higher penalties.

I have to drive a lot, I also use the roads on a bike and walking. I want them to be safer.

 

[ufkacbln]

CAmeras in most cases are run by Safety Camera Partnerships and catch thousands of motorists who re too stupid, incompetent or arrogagant to drive legally.

They contribute to policing numbers by releasing officers to other traffic duties.... a point deliberately avoided by the ABD and others. Some (Norwich) actually employ additional officers to investigate more serious offences again increasing the number of Police.

Secondly given the proof that speeding is unequivocally linked to other poor practices such as dangerous overtaking, tail gating, failing to stop at junctions, we ae al;so identifying the dangerous drivers en masse - something Police would not be able to do.

The anti-camera brigade know that there would be less chance of being caught and hence the remove the cameras and replace with Police red herring.

SEcondly, as before - when the Police do have high profile clampdowns on bad motoring.....

We get the ABD et al spouting reasons why it is unacceptable to Police the roads. victimisation, exploitation, revenue raising, distracting motorists from the road, causing them to look at their speedo or search for the highly visible Police Vehicles instead of looking for hazards....

The plain and sorry fact this that there is a significant minority who feel they have a righ to drive like pillocks in a dangerous and antisocial way and any form of Policing or censure is unacceptable.

 

[BentMikey]

Errr, no.

 

[Davidc]

We get the ABD et al spouting reasons why it is unacceptable to Police the roads. victimisation, exploitation, revenue raising, distracting motorists from the road, causing them to look at their speedo or search for the highly visible Police Vehicles instead of looking for hazards....

I've often thought it's a shame there isn't an equally vocal group of motorists with brains who will praise the police when they run safety campaigns, call for more speed cameras and lower limits, and so on.

The reality is that the ABD are a minority and the sane drivers a majority. If that wasn't the case we'd have total carnage instead of a steady kill rate.

 

[zizou]

the area i live had a bit of a campaign against speed cameras and they seem to have stopped putting them in and instead put in numerous speed bumps all around the place to regulate speed - they are much worse than a speed camera yet dont seem to get the complaints. They are not good to cycle over on a road bike because of their size and shape - but also not good to drive over either and presumably inefficient too having to brake then accelerate constantly. Would be much better with a 20 mph limit enforced by a speed camera than the speed bumps.

 

[Black Sheep]

Some of those comments are dumb. No surprise there, but no-one has asked the question;
Would people prefer a camera or a traffic cop at each point?

traffic cop.

He / She is capable of spotting bad driving and doing something about it, or spotting dangerous cars (such as the metro down the street that leans so far to the right while driving along that if it were a ship i'd be calling the RNLI)

they are also capable of disecration, I was with a friend who exceeded the 40mph limit (went up to 50mph) through a mobile speed trap in order to get quickly and safely past a tractor and trailer. after completing the maneuver he dropped back to 40mph and started panicking that he was going to get pulled, all that happened was we got a thumbs up from a police biker that came past a little bit later!

back to my point, and the point that ''brian'' my alter ego has just posted on the site.

the problem is, as they say, not speed. speed is fine in the right place, it is inappropriate speed. Most of the schools near here have a 20mph limit outside the gates, most people do 20mph.

Just after passing my driving test back in 2001, most of the roads near my parent's house were national speed limit A and B roads. I could actually weave my Dad's mazda demio down them at just above the limit, staying within my lane, not lifting off the throttle or braking. A little bit silly I know now, the car wasn't the most suitable for the job, BUT, i would never do it in the wet, there were quite a few corners I'd brake for in the wet, partly cos I could see the flowers attached to trees due to other people driving too fast in poor conditions.

so the problem in my view is not speed but people's inability to drive at a speed suitable to a road in a given condition. in response to the number of incidents on these roads the speed limit dropped - showing that the average driver needs to be told what a ''safe'' speed is for the worst condition on these roads.

I find it amusing that the A roads are 40 or 50 mph but the single track unclassified roads leading off them are still national speed limited!

 

[BentMikey]

Sorry, maybe it's the sound quality, but you sound like you're a Kiwi or South African in that clip.

Yeah, it's not you, it's a Zimbo accent. Close to Jaapie, but not quite.

desecration,

LOL! As for the rest of what you wrote, it's misguided and wrong. Drivers prove repeatedly that they are not capable of driving at safe speeds.

 

[Black Sheep]

Yeah, it's not you, it's a Zimbo accent. Close to Jaapie, but not quite.





LOL! As for the rest of what you wrote, it's misguided and wrong. Drivers prove repeatedly that they are not capable of driving at safe speeds.

that is my point.

there are drivers who can judge a safe speed for the conditions but many of them can't. hence the lowered limits due to people having got it wrong and crashed.

"so the problem in my view is not speed but people's inability to drive at a speed suitable to a road in a given condition. in response to the number of incidents on these roads the speed limit dropped - showing that the average driver needs to be told what a ''safe'' speed is for the worst condition on these roads."

 

[BentMikey]

Oh right. No offense intended.

What's Jaapie?

Another word for Saffa.

No offense taken - I was joking with you a little.

 

[Black Sheep]

If a driver ever judges that a safe speed is above the posted limit, then ironically he's displayed that he's not capable of judging a safe speed for the conditions.

again, my english teacher was right, I'm not the best at getting my point across

all that I said was intended at judgement of conditions within the posted limit.

a road that is safe to do the posted 60mph limit down in good conditions may only be safe to do 40mph down on a very rainy day, people need to judge that and drive accordingly, they don't, they crash, the limit gets lowered.

i did mention that I had once or twice gone a little over the limit due to being young and foolish - something I look back on and think i was stupid to do.

 

[Black Sheep]

the words speed and safe put together?

i think safe speed are a bunch of numpties.

i'm against speed limits being raised, as i just envision people speeding into the back end of trucks.


nearly got T-boned by a sierra RS cosworth 2 weeks after passing my test - was pulling out of an un listed road onto the A61 (both roads national limit) and can see for about quarter mile each way, thankfully it was summer and I had the window open, lifted the clutch a little and heard the RS' engine so tucked back into the end of the road, a moment later I saw it, and then it was gone.

nice car, stupid driver.


I have told the owner of a 60's E-type that he didn't deserve his car

we were in 20mph motorway traffic and he was on the phone, tried to persuade him to swap for my beaten up company C2 van

 

[BentMikey]

I certainly used to drive badly back home, it's only since coming to the UK that I've considerably improved my record (and have a lot more still to do, I'm sure).