Goodbye speed cameras (From Bucks Free Press)
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Goodbye speed cameras
6:43pm Tuesday 27th July 2010
In today's world of austerity measures and cutbacks it seems nothing is sacred.
Originally installed to make the roads safer now the infernal electrical speed cameras that blight our roads are poised to disappear as part of the latest scheme to save money.
In my opinion speed cameras were a good idea implemented badly.
Despite some cameras raising astonishing amounts in fines the money went to central government rather than being kept by the authority where the offence was committed.
Were the cameras effective? Well, the camera locations are known to locals so it was only those from out of town who got caught. That's not very fair is it?
Upon seeing a speed camera most motorists slow down indeed even my good self slows down to 10mph or more below the speed limit upon seeing a camera however most motorists speed up as soon as they have passed by so the camera only has a localised effect.
Amazingly it seems most of the cameras around Wycombe are actually switched off.
A few years ago one of my friends invested in a special device which could be installed on the dashboard of their car and detected the radar signals sent out by active cameras.
My friend took me for a ride in their car and to my amazement the newfangled camera detector indicated that all of the cameras we drove past were inactive.
Is it any wonder the government banned windscreen mounted radar detecting devices in favour of GPS devices which tell drivers where the cameras are located but give no indication as to their state of activity?
For localised traffic calming on the roads outside a school the speed camera is ideal even if it is switched off but as a general speed reduction deterrent they were ineffective.
What it really needs is for the funding for the fixed cameras to be used to implement mobile cameras that change location so drivers have to keep on the ball.
Personally I think the speeding fines dished out are too low. If I had my way drivers caught at more than 10mph over the limit on two occasions in a year would be banned from driving for ten years and their cars would be confiscated and crushed. They would soon learn the error of their ways.
Since the 1970's car safety has come on strides. Air bags, anti-lock disc brakes, crumple zones and seat belts were unheard of forty years ago. Maybe car travel has become too safe?
Switching off the cameras will put more reliance on the safety measures in cars to prevent injuries as a result the losers will be the children and pedestrians who get run over while the drivers are protected in the safety cells built into their cars.
In recent times the police seem to have relied on the cameras to catch the speeding drivers. I wonder if we will see more police on patrol when the cameras are decommissioned? I won't be holding my breath....
What do you think?
Comments(11)
Plus ça change...
says...
4:16pm Wed 28 Jul 10
'Caught at more than 10mph over the limit on two occasions in a year would be banned from driving for ten years and their cars would be confiscated and crushed' - Vlad Dracula would be proud of you, Ivor!
'Too safe?' - Bunk, Ivor! If you believe that...
I think it's all more profound than making people better drivers.
It's about trying to make them better citizens, improving their intelligence and educating them to have greater consideration for others.
Aboutnow
says...
5:52pm Wed 28 Jul 10
ivor
says...
7:37pm Wed 28 Jul 10
~
Yes, I too think that sometimes the speed limit wrong. Mostly the limit is too high.
~
I am all for improving the standard of drivers especially when they are reckless on the roads.
~
As you say motorists can easily be turned against the cameras if they are placed unsuitably. It's a shame there isn't more emphasis on taking advanced driving tests to encourage drivers to keep their road skills up to date.
ivor
says...
7:37pm Wed 28 Jul 10
~
Well, I think they were sacred I mean people slowed down because of their presence almost as if they wanted to take longer to pass by!
~
Surely such important issues as road safety require harsh punishments so people adhere to the law?
~
Is it possible to make people better citizens?
ivor
says...
7:38pm Wed 28 Jul 10
~
Well, the number of accidents certainly reduced when the cameras were about. Maybe the powers the be should have just switched them all off and not told anybody?
~
How many people in the UK would wait for two minutes because a red light says so? The people here would just drive on....
A VOTER
says...
11:56am Thu 29 Jul 10
ivor wrote:IVOR - Your last paragraph is total bunkum!
Re the comments of Aboutnow at 5:52pm ~ Well, the number of accidents certainly reduced when the cameras were about. Maybe the powers the be should have just switched them all off and not told anybody? ~ How many people in the UK would wait for two minutes because a red light says so? The people here would just drive on....
.
Nearly every driver in the UK will wait at red lights.
.
You are totally wrong with your statement! You have zero evidence to back-up your outlandish claim!
ivor
says...
2:59am Fri 30 Jul 10
~
There are certain traffic light controlled junctions where from what I can see a higher than normal proportion of cars jump the lights hence my comment....
A VOTER
says...
8:33am Fri 30 Jul 10
ivor wrote:IVOR - Jumping red traffic lights is different from waiting at traffic lights.
Re the comments of A VOTER at 11:56am ~ There are certain traffic light controlled junctions where from what I can see a higher than normal proportion of cars jump the lights hence my comment....
Agniesca
says...
8:33pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Most drivers go at a sinsible speed given road, weather, traffic conditions and alsothe car that they are driving. Traffic flows at a sensible speed above or below the limit without the carnage on the road that is often mooted ( hospital aquired infections kill twice as many as are killed on the roads, and smoking 50 times as many) So get real
faisal mahmood
says...
11:32pm Thu 5 Aug 10
A speed cameras watches over passing cars.
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Craig.... says...
1:18pm Wed 28 Jul 10
I've said this several times before....but the speed limit is just an arbitary number which may meet some generic criteria painted on a circular sign at the side of the road.
Road safety is so much more complex than that. We should be looking at road design and layout, street furntiure, driver and pedestrian education, stricter driving tests and many other aspects.
We need to improve the standard of driving and the awareness of drivers. Fining people for doing 35mph on a quiet stretch of 30mph only serves to alienate the motorist and undermines any effort at increasing road safety.