Traffic Cameras or Stealth Tax

shrek101

Here's one example of how speed cameras have improved road safety.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4443883.stm

"Twenty-five people died on the A616 Stocksbridge bypass in the first 14 years after it opened in 1988.

But since digital speed cameras were installed in 2002 there has been only one fatal accident and that was not caused by excessive speed. "

These are the new digital camera that measure time taken between one set of camera to another, and automatically send out tickets.

peter_the_piper

T4i wrote:

Even at 30mph the humps have an effect on suspension shockers. What about the people who do have a proper facination into cars but cant use certain roads becuase not enough clearance underneath with these stupid humps.

If it'll slow down those bl***y Daleks I'm all for it. They always ignore speed cameras and exterminate anyone who tries to give them a ticket.
Peter.

T4i

If it'll slow down those bl***y Daleks I'm all for it. They always ignore speed cameras and exterminate anyone who tries to give them a ticket.

:mad: :mad: :mad: Stereotypical reply!

Putting the cameras on the A616 Stocksbridge obviously has had an effect on road safety. We have speed cameras on single/dual-carridgways, 25yrs of my life and I've never seen anyone walking along one.....

People aviod using the dual/single carridgways so use the back roads (school roads) ........and gues what....they speed because they have gone long way round. I back up what I said earlier, I know of about 30 schools in this area and not ONE of them has a speed camera. Some of them have speed humps outside them, you can watch drivers 'dodging' the humps to try fit between.......great news when all the kids are waiting to cross the road! Brainy people!

T4i

20mph for all school zones is a defo! Its gotta be a main priority, gives the kids a better chance to learn road safety from a young age.

peter_the_piper

Stereotypical reply!
Maybe, but the hedges around here are testament to the fact that too many people speed in the wrong places. They need to learn to drive at the correct speed for the conditions, speed limits are conditions. If it takes a few points on their licenses to slow them down lets have more cameras.
Peter.

shrek101

A valid point about speed limits is that they should only every be regarded as maximum speed. Speeds should always be reduced if there is perceived danger, ie schools, narrow roads, near shops etc etc and if road conditions worsen. Sadly too many drivers ignore this.

EDIT
I had made a previous long post just before TDi had made at post 25, but when I came to edit it for spelling mistakes I couldn't get it to post, I tried several times, but the site just appeared to keep waiting.

T4i

End of the day if road safety is so important why ae there 2.0ltr turbo cars out there available for 18yr olds. Shouldnt the police set an example for the rest of us? I followed a police car (no lights/siren on) in a built up area and it pulled away from me when I was doing about 32/34mph. They didnt even reduce speed when approaching a junior school. Did that police officer give himself 3 points and a fine?

If our roads have a max of 70mph limit why make a car so it can do 150mph.

As if anything like that would happen...........

Saving lives Vs Making Money

Making money wins everytime!

NigeWick

T4i wrote:

End of the day if road safety is so important why ae there 2.0ltr turbo cars out there available for 18yr olds. Shouldnt the police set an example for the rest of us? I followed a police car (no lights/siren on) in a built up area and it pulled away from me when I was doing about 32/34mph. They didnt even reduce speed when approaching a junior school. Did that police officer give himself 3 points and a fine?

If our roads have a max of 70mph limit why make a car so it can do 150mph

Vehicle manufacturers want profit and will sell to whoever will pay. Government want businesses to be profitable and pay taxes.

What was the speed limit that you were in? What time of day was it? Was there a lot of traffic What sort of incident was the police driver going to? How many children were there on/near the road? Was it an advanced driver or not? Police officers do not give fines or points, they gather evidence and pass it to CPS or other judicial bodies.

Usually, vehicles that are capable of 150mph have better acceleration than the average Morris Minor. If the driver has the appropriate skills, it will be safer to overtake using the available power to get past and back to the left hand lane more quickly, thereby avoiding hazards.

juno

shrek101 wrote:

A valid point about speed limits is that they should only every be regarded as maximum speed. Speeds should always be reduced if there is perceived danger, ie schools, narrow roads, near shops etc etc and if road conditions worsen. Sadly too many drivers ignore this.

I've just passed my test (well, November!), and during lessons I drove at a speed that I felt safe at. However, my instructor kept telling me to go faster, and said that if the speed limit was 70 I should be doing at least 60, preferably more!

Tony_H_3

The police appear to be a law unto themselves, it rattles my cage when they accelerate away breaking the law as they go. Is there a legal reason why they are allowed to exceed the speed limits, use bus lanes & generally set a bad example.

I am all in favour of the previous article about decreasing / increasing fines & points subject to speed travelled in a given speed limit area.

Fundementally I agree with the general consensus that drivers should be penalised for bad driving. The original poster seemed not to understand just how horrendous the first incident was, and was lucky not to be hauled before the courts to answer charges of driving without due care and attention. In my book this is far more serious than travelling a few MPH over the speed limit (under certain circumstances).