[punkeyfunky]

Quote: Originally Posted by Max

This website was the subject of a news item this week. The BBC were defending the right of the site to challenge UK Government policy on speeding.

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/

Any comments anyone?

max fast

Looks like an interesting read. I've long believed that camera do more harm than good. Rather than everyone driving more slowly, the proliferation has made us all very adept at spotting a camera, drop the anchors, go thru, speed up.

Various other sources (most recent, Evo mag) show that figures from the government/police are at best selectvely presented (ie not the full picture).

I'd like to know how the police are intending to use camera to spot/capture/prosecute:
- drunk drivers
- bald tyres
- non-operational lights
- hit & run
etc

What I find most infuriating is that I *know* that I should do 30mph in town. I *know* how fast I can drive given a particular set of circumstances. I don't need the nanny state to be watching just in case I accidentally do 33mph in a 30mph zone.

If this site debunks the myths are raises awareness, I'm all for it.

In fact, any politician that truly stands up for the motorist can expect to be returned to No 10 very quickly indeed...

Flame jacket ready

Lee

[mikeythemini]

Fully agree, Iam all for 20 limits by schools at the required times but in a modern car 70 on a motorway feels like your standing still. Driver education is what we need.

[snek]

Quote: Originally Posted by Max

This website was the subject of a news item this week. The BBC were defending the right of the site to challenge UK Government policy on speeding.

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/

Any comments anyone?

max fast

This is the US equivalent: National Motorists Association

[Goonery]

Its a very emotive subject, I reckon that a big part of the problem is ignorance , sheer bloody mindedness, and the medeival state of some UK roads, as for speed cameras, put em where they are actually needed and it'll stop a lot of the problems, but to have cameras on the A40 where its completely open country and not in town centres where Novaboy is doing 70, is complete madness.

BTW, a Dark Silver 'S' is about in the Thames Valley area M4/M25/M40, thoughtfully it has two slender antennas either side of the tailgate, an LED Police stop sign and blue/red strobe in the rear window (not always illuminated), two blue strobes in the lower front grille, and as a pleasing little comedy moment the
badge on the back says COPPER 'S'
53 Reg, first letter R, second could be F or maybe E laughing too much at the Cooper letter switch Spotted last night on way back from Oxford

[Paul]

I don't fully get what that website is really driving at? What do they want?

I've seen speed cameras working very well in the right places, but they're usually in the 'wrong' places. The fact they usually seem to position them in revenue generating areas more than safety areas like schools speaks volumes to me.

I think you need speed limits, the message they give about speed limits often being too slow or fast for the area is very true, but what can you do, set a new speed limit every 300 yards and have a whole range from 15 mph to 85 at 5 mph intervals?

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

I don't fully get what that website is really driving at? What do they want?

I've seen speed cameras working very well in the right places, but they're usually in the 'wrong' places. The fact they usually seem to position them in revenue generating areas more than safety areas like schools speaks volumes to me.

I think you need speed limits, the message they give about speed limits often being too slow or fast for the area is very true, but what can you do, set a new speed limit every 300 yards and have a whole range from 15 mph to 85 at 5 mph intervals?

I think the answer is to have normal speed limits as a guide only. The police should use selective enforcement to determine if what you are doing is bad or not, and choose to penalise you accordingly. Descression is a wonderful thing. Speed cameras don't do descression at all well. Of course this will never happen, as it's money and quotas to them.

The issue is that if the UK is like Aus, then you can do whatever it is that you want on the road, and as long as you're not speeding all is well. In Aus, the policing of vehicle velocity is the only form of enforcement that you ever see on the road.

I want policing, not fleecing

[Paul]

I agree that there are FAR too many unfit and/or dangerous CARS on the roads, not even starting on the people driving them. The police are not given the resources or incentives to stamp down on this, where's the profit?

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

I agree that there are FAR too many unfit and/or dangerous CARS on the roads, not even starting on the people driving them. The police are not given the resources or incentives to stamp down on this, where's the profit?

Agree on the dangerous cars, buses, trucks etc, what about the drivers, there are people out on the roads now who wouldnt pass the basic test if you put them through it today, and probably would'nt if you gave them lessons for months.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by goonery

Agree on the dangerous cars, buses, trucks etc, what about the drivers, there are people out on the roads now who wouldnt pass the basic test if you put them through it today, and probably would'nt if you gave them lessons for months.

I've just been sat at a roundabout WAITING for the guy to my right to actually take up his right of way and get going past me! He just sat at the junction, staring at me all confused! How hard can it be?! In Milton Keynes!? I didn't want to go in case he figured it out and ploughed into the side of me, his right of way, so my fault if that happened.

[geist]

I've just been in to Swansea City Centre, I took my usual route along the road that runs by Trainers BMW/MINI. There are 3 speed cameras along this stretch of road, in both directions on which the speed changes between 30 and 40 (probably to catch people out !!!) The distance is probably a couple of miles. I hit the roundabout at the bottom went towards the centre and guess what they are now planting another Speed Camera in either direction. That now gives a total off 8 cameras to be caught with. That is before you find any Mobile vans on the A48 as well.

Road Safety, I don't think so. Its a shame the cameras didn't stop the amount of people with defective lights and cutting in and out of lanes along there.

The argument is that speed cameras are not doing anything for road safety, which is the line we are always being spun !!! What everyone wants is driver education, not a robot on the side of the road that just takes photos, bcos you lost concentration for a short time and went slightly over the limit. After all the government fleeces car driver enough already in heavy taxes.

[diverse]

Quote: Originally Posted by Max

....and I know that this has been posted elsewhere on here, but this is one of my favourite websites, which makes the case for speed cameras as a revunue generator rather than a road safety feature...

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm

max

No, the Dutch know how to do it:

http://www.tuftufclub.com/english/index.htm

http://www.tuftufclub.com/fotos/sloo...slooppaal.html

[swamos]

You people might be interested to know that the cops here think it's all a bit of a joke

Hooded Hoons