So, here in the West Midlands this week those familiar little yellow boxes at the side of the road that takes your picture when your over the speed limit are being switched off.
Supporters say they are there to reduce the risk of accidents by forcing motorists to slow down,
Those against say they are only there so the government can get more money from motorists.
The Police, as far as I am aware have always towed the "it cuts accidents and makes the roads safer" line.
Today they (the Police) are saying we no longer need them and the risks won't be any greater on the roads.
Local authorities say that they are simply to costly to run, using old technology films have to be replaced and developed the cost of upgrading them to digital is simply too much for local authority budgets.
They probably do bring in a decent sized revenue but if those funds are not then redistributed back to the authorities that instigate them then yes the cost to authorities is a one way (outward) system.
The West Midlands Police have doubled the size of their mobile camera fleet to compensate their loss, (from 2 vehicles to 4)
But what do you think folks, good thing, necessary thing, stealth tax or anything else ?
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SPEED CAMERAS
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The Speed Evangelists out there will say that if just one life is saved because of a speed camera then they're worth it *shrugs*
For me they're a feckin pain but I think I'd rather a speed camera than these ridiculous speed ramps that seem to be cropping up everywhere, stop/start/crunch jeepers how annoying are they and you tend to speed up inbetween the ramps anyway. One stretch of road about 25 miles from me and where I have to trap to at least once a week has recently had in less than 1 mile 25 ramps put in (I kid you not), it's a bloomin nightmare and totally so not required.
There is no easy cure for speeding, I suspect we all do it ( I know I do and most of the times it's altogether not intentional) and now they're reduced many of the speed limits by 10mph it's even harder to keep to the limit.
How long you think it will be before they roll out nationally those point to point speed cameras where your average speed is calculated over a particular distance and if you're above the limit expect a ticket.
But regardless, they'll soon find another way to grab some revenue for speeding (maybe in car detectors etc)
For me they're a feckin pain but I think I'd rather a speed camera than these ridiculous speed ramps that seem to be cropping up everywhere, stop/start/crunch jeepers how annoying are they and you tend to speed up inbetween the ramps anyway. One stretch of road about 25 miles from me and where I have to trap to at least once a week has recently had in less than 1 mile 25 ramps put in (I kid you not), it's a bloomin nightmare and totally so not required.
There is no easy cure for speeding, I suspect we all do it ( I know I do and most of the times it's altogether not intentional) and now they're reduced many of the speed limits by 10mph it's even harder to keep to the limit.
How long you think it will be before they roll out nationally those point to point speed cameras where your average speed is calculated over a particular distance and if you're above the limit expect a ticket.
But regardless, they'll soon find another way to grab some revenue for speeding (maybe in car detectors etc)
yep, it was all poppycock. Another way of taxing you, same with mobile cameras (safety cars) if they really want to slow people then put more traffic cops on the road.
And I am afraid I agree with the placing of speed bumps and rumble strips in accident areas, schools, hospitals etc.
If you have trouble keeping to 20 mph you may need to look at your style of driving.
And I am afraid I agree with the placing of speed bumps and rumble strips in accident areas, schools, hospitals etc.
If you have trouble keeping to 20 mph you may need to look at your style of driving.
Sex God
The problem with speed cameras is that road safety figures tend to suggest that they work .... oh bugger how inconvenient
They're being turned off because of cost ... see lives don't really count but cash now there's something important
They're being turned off because of cost ... see lives don't really count but cash now there's something important
Sex God
Quote by starlightcouple
motorists are being slowed down by all the potholes on the roads anyway.
some of them are killers for motorbike riders even at slow speeds.
As I almost jolly well found out today tyracer, when I got the mothballs off of my bike from the deep winter break.
Ahhh.... Biker now are we? Seem to recall some nonsensical abuse from you about me being a biker not that long ago.
Motorist, motorcyclist and biker - I just choose the most appropriate vehicle for the journey.., And you said ?............
I am all for having speed cameras, i hope those in my county arn't turned off although at the moment that's not likely to happen thank goodness !
I think anything that lowers accidents, injuries and deaths on the roads is good and important to keep
I had a very close family member die follwing a RTA and the trauma and long standing problems that that death caused all family and friends is huge and i would hate anone else having to go though that
I do remember the Serious Collisions Unit police saying that speed cameras are a good way of stopping deaths.
I am proud to admit that i never speed, even before the death in our family i didn'nt speed.
I think anything that lowers accidents, injuries and deaths on the roads is good and important to keep
I had a very close family member die follwing a RTA and the trauma and long standing problems that that death caused all family and friends is huge and i would hate anone else having to go though that
I do remember the Serious Collisions Unit police saying that speed cameras are a good way of stopping deaths.
I am proud to admit that i never speed, even before the death in our family i didn'nt speed.
Sex God
The unfortunate truth is that speed on it's own doesn't kill. It contributes to the effects of an incident, but dangerous manoeuvring, handling and driving are the root cause of most RTI's.
Speed camera's are in principal a good idea IMHO, however their number increased dramatically a few years ago and most don't appear to be related to so called 'accident blackspots'. I remember hearing people say in the past that they didn't mind paying the fine but that it should go to the Police, not the government. Funny thing was that when the rules were changed to allow the Police to directly benefit from each and every fine the number of cameras expanded rapidly.
If a camera is situated in the right place it can have an effect on road safety, but in the wrong place it is a cash cow and a blot of the reputation of the Police.
Speed camera's are in principal a good idea IMHO, however their number increased dramatically a few years ago and most don't appear to be related to so called 'accident blackspots'. I remember hearing people say in the past that they didn't mind paying the fine but that it should go to the Police, not the government. Funny thing was that when the rules were changed to allow the Police to directly benefit from each and every fine the number of cameras expanded rapidly.
If a camera is situated in the right place it can have an effect on road safety, but in the wrong place it is a cash cow and a blot of the reputation of the Police.
Quote by Too Hot
motorists are being slowed down by all the potholes on the roads anyway.
some of them are killers for motorbike riders even at slow speeds.
As I almost jolly well found out today tyracer, when I got the mothballs off of my bike from the deep winter break.
Ahhh.... Biker now are we? Seem to recall some nonsensical abuse from you about me being a biker not that long ago.
Motorist, motorcyclist and biker - I just choose the most appropriate vehicle for the journey.., And you said ?............
No you see TH there are bikes and there are bikes, and I have a bike.
When are you going to learn that you should never believe everything you read or see on the internet. There was me thinking you was a bit smarter than the average banana on the internet.
Quote by nellie-mwgc
I am proud to admit that i never speed, even before the death in our family i didn'nt speed.
What not even 2mph over the limit? Sorry Nellie that is just purely impossible, and if it were at all possible that would mean you would be looking more at your speedo than the road ahead which is ten times more dangerous than the speed itself, as you are not watching the road ahead at all times.
Everyone creeps over the limit whether you are in a 30 or on a motorway. Even my Elderly Father who thinks 40mph is faster than a space rocket can on occasion creep over the 30 limit and can even get to 33 mph.
Quote by starlightcouple
I am proud to admit that i never speed, even before the death in our family i didn'nt speed.
What not even 2mph over the limit? Sorry Nellie that is just purely impossible, and if it were at all possible that would mean you would be looking more at your speedo than the road ahead which is ten times more dangerous than the speed itself, as you are not watching the road ahead at all times.
Everyone creeps over the limit whether you are in a 30 or on a motorway. Even my Elderly Father who thinks 40mph is faster than a space rocket can on occasion creep over the 30 limit and can even get to 33 mph.
I never speed.
I am considered a good and safe driver by those in the know.
I would only ever speed if it was to get away from an accident happening around me or if i needed to get to my children or grandchildren or husband in an emergency.
I have been drinving for many many years both as a car driver and in the past on motor bikes
I have been involved in one accodent as a car driver (non on a bike) and that wasnt my fault, the other driver was prosected by the police.
I drive every day usually (not at the moment due to having had an operation so not allowed to drive for a few weeks) and i drive happily all over the country, in the past i have also driven in France.
As i said before .... I am proud to say i dont speed
Sex God
I'm proud to say I drive safely.
Sex God
Simple cash generators ...
A stretch of road near to me has had camera's on it since the day it opened...
How on earth it can be an accident blackspot without ever having had an accident on it beats me...
A stretch of road near to me has had camera's on it since the day it opened...
How on earth it can be an accident blackspot without ever having had an accident on it beats me...
Sex God
If you just happen to accidentally creep over the speed limit ,you are not in control of your vehicle and therefore a hazard to other road users ... if you do it deliberately you are an irresponsible idiot
Sex God
Yeah, I really don't get the constant whinging about them from motorists. By definition they can only possibly affect you if you break the law by speeding. There's laws against destruction of property and stealing and murdering people too. You know how I avoid getting done for them? I don't destroy property, steal or kill people. Simples. What is so objectionable about that?
Sex God
Quote by Staggerlee_BB
If you just happen to accidentally creep over the speed limit ,you are not in control of your vehicle and therefore a hazard to other road users ... if you do it deliberately you are an irresponsible idiot
I find myself totally hand in glove with you on this point.
On a separate note I am always surprised by the number of people to claim they are safe drivers just because they passed a test once in the past, that may well have been their umpteenth try.
I have to resit my driving test, my LGV test and my blue light qualifications on a regular basis. I hasten to add that although I failed my first LGV (HGV as it was at the time) test, I have never failed any of my almost 60 tests!
It doesn't mean I am a safe driver, just that I am more aware of the safe driving techniques appropriate at the time.
And lets face it the 30% discount I get on my car insurance through the Institute of Advanced Motorists is not to be sniffed at lol.
Sex God
Been thinking about this thread again today. Hey, I was bored at work knee-deep in spreadsheets and had exhausted my usual fantasies so for some reason this popped into my head. Go figure!? Anyways, what I was wondering was . . . how many of those who so often vehemently proclaim their opposition to speed cameras on threads like this would be first in the queue to endorse CCTV cameras in our city centres for the prevention / detection of other kinds of criminal offences?
I'm guesstimating it would be a rather large proportion, which strikes me as odd. You know, that motorists seem not to view their own criminal behaviour in quite the same light as they would view the criminal behaviour of others, the risk of causing injury or death being equal in some circumstances depending on the behaviour engaged in.
Just sayin'.
I'm guesstimating it would be a rather large proportion, which strikes me as odd. You know, that motorists seem not to view their own criminal behaviour in quite the same light as they would view the criminal behaviour of others, the risk of causing injury or death being equal in some circumstances depending on the behaviour engaged in.
Just sayin'.
Quote by neilinleeds
You know, that motorists seem not to view their own criminal behaviour in quite the same light as they would view the criminal behaviour of others, the risk of causing injury or death being equal in some circumstances depending on the behaviour engaged in.
Just sayin'.
To class a motorist caught for speeding as a criminal just seems so wrong, sure if they cause injury/death/damage then perhaps so but plain speeding and they're a criminal? I would also 'guestimate' and say that a very large percentage of motorists at some point in their motoring career have gone above the permitted speed limit ( I have ) .....which if you think about it makes the majority of the motoring community 'criminals' the same category as rapists/murderers/thieves/paedophiles/muggers/pickpockets whatever.
Also, jus saying
Sex God
The speed limit is set as the maximum legal speed you can travel along that road. If you exceed the legal speed limit you are driving illegally and therefore having broken the law you are a criminal. It's black and white.
I speed, most of us do at some point or another. We all seem to accept that there will be consequences if we are caught by the Police, but very few people will think of the other consequences, such as killing someone.
Speed cameras might slow people down for a small stretch of road, but they don't stop speeding altogether or prevent dangerous driving.
I speed, most of us do at some point or another. We all seem to accept that there will be consequences if we are caught by the Police, but very few people will think of the other consequences, such as killing someone.
Speed cameras might slow people down for a small stretch of road, but they don't stop speeding altogether or prevent dangerous driving.
Quote by Trevaunance
Speed cameras might slow people down for a small stretch of road, but they don't stop speeding altogether or prevent dangerous driving.
The only thing that can do that is attitude. When folks don't associate breaking the law with being a criminal, irrespective of the law that is broken, then attitudes won't change.
Quote by Rogue_Trader
Speed cameras might slow people down for a small stretch of road, but they don't stop speeding altogether or prevent dangerous driving.
The only thing that can do that is attitude. When folks don't associate breaking the law with being a criminal, irrespective of the law that is broken, then attitudes won't change.
Proportionally the amount of speeding instances occuring each day (in the millions most likely) to the amount of accidents caused by speeding would probably be almost insignificant? Attitudes or awareness don't need to change, I doubt many are unaware of the consequences of speeding and if they perhaps should not be behind a wheel.
Quote by Trevaunance
I speed, most of us do at some point or another. We all seem to accept that there will be consequences if we are caught by the Police, but very few people will think of the other consequences, such as killing someone.
So essentially we're a nation of criminals based simply on the majority of us when driving go on to speeed. Luvvly!
Quote by Toots
Proportionally the amount of speeding instances occuring each day (in the millions most likely) to the amount of accidents caused by speeding would probably be almost insignificant? Attitudes or awareness don't need to change, I doubt many are unaware of the consequences of speeding and if they perhaps should not be behind a wheel.
Surely if you are unaware of the consequences of speeding then your attitude of being blase and complacent does need to change? And I suggest you are quite right that if it doesn't change then they should not be on the road!
Quote by Toots
So essentially we're a nation of criminals based simply on the majority of us when driving go on to speeed. Luvvly!
Being a criminal means breaking a law, so yes.
Sex God
Quote by Toots
Proportionally the amount of speeding instances occuring each day (in the millions most likely) to the amount of accidents caused by speeding would probably be almost insignificant? Attitudes or awareness don't need to change, I doubt many are unaware of the consequences of speeding and if they perhaps should not be behind a wheel.
Inappropriate speed (exceeding the speed limit and driving too fast for the conditions) contributes to 14% of all injuries, 15% of serious injuries and 24% of deaths on the road. Almost 500 people are killed each year on Britain’s roads, and 3,000 are seriously injured, because drivers and riders travel too fast.
On its own, exceeding the speed limit, contributes to 7% of all seriously injured road casualties and 14% of all road fatalities, resulting in the deaths of 241 people, and serious injuries to almost 1,500 more people, in 2010.
Unfortunately, most drivers exceed the speed limit at some time. Around half (46%) of car drivers exceed the 30 mph limit in urban areas during free flowing traffic and on 40mph roads, 23% speed.
Sex God
I've no objection to speed cameras (mobile or fixed) ....
I was nabbed by a mobile camera 15yrs ago and paid my fine and took my points with no quibbles as it was my own fault and I shouldn't have been so careless..
I DO object to them being described as being sited at accident blackspots in order to reduce accidents there when clearly they are not....
I was nabbed by a mobile camera 15yrs ago and paid my fine and took my points with no quibbles as it was my own fault and I shouldn't have been so careless..
I DO object to them being described as being sited at accident blackspots in order to reduce accidents there when clearly they are not....
