Traffic Cameras or Stealth Tax

NigeWick

Weyres wrote:

Poor driving habits caused by speed cameras and complete blindness or lack of knowledge of the road in which they are driving

External "things" do not cause poor driving habits. Poor drivers cause poor driving habits. I keep seeing reports of "dangerous roads." How can an inanimate object be dangerous? It's the dangerous people using our roads that cause all the problems.

Individuals seem to blame everything except themselves for the way they behave. Taking responsibility for one's own actions would go some way to starting to find answers to "problems."

Nigel.

Tony_H_3

I've already stated that I agree with the changing of penalties eg 2 points & a small fine for small excesses of the speed limit.

Q. Should highly qualified drivers receive lesser penalties for speeding offences, where driving without due care etc are not a factor. On the same theme should highly qualified driver also receive higher penalties for driving without due care etc?

shiller_supreme

Everybody on here seems to be goody two shoes who never break the law or do anything wrong .I wish i was perfect like you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :T

BFG_2

The main reason cameras are popular is that they are easy and cheap and 'non-arbitrary' enforcement. ie there is no grey area. The problem is that less police are now available to deal with 'careless driving' incidents.

So you're more likely to be done for doing 70 on a 60mph dual-carriageway, but much, much less likely to be done for:-

• having front and rear fog lights on (on a clear evening)
• failing to use indicators
• using a mobile while driving
• tailgating
• sudden manouevres [sic]
• parking like a muppet - eg on a brow of a hill
• driving like a muppet in general
• wearing a shell suit whilst driving

All of the above require time, money and a person to enforce it.

Cameras give the impression of 'action being taken' - which is what the politicos want to say.

A cynics advice would be 'drive within the speed limits, but other than that you're free to be a complete idiot, coz you'll not get caught!!'

pinkfluffybabe

BFG - you forgot to mention other things such as:

Talking on mobile phone while driving
Eating/smoking while driving
Parking on corners
Illegal tyres

I could go on. I agree with you that cameras at least give them statistics and make it look like action is being taken.

BrightonLad

Hey look at this, this camera is just down the road from me...


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4463961.stm

my dad was one of the 12500 people to get caught on it !

dougk_2

I feel it is more dangerous to drive at 40mph on a clear sunny day on a duel carriageway than drive at 75mph. Slow drivers cause accidents rather than have themsleves.

With regards to schools and speed limits., perhaps we should use the idea i believe is used in the USA - speed limits are halved at times when pupils arrive and leave. Is it dangerous passing a school at 40MPH at 10pm at night with no-one around.

To me there are many areas where speed limits are not clearly signed and there are some places you bounce between 30mph, 40 mph and 50mph in a few hundred yards - up and down like yoyo's this isn't safe of sensible either. I think a total reassessment of every speed limit area is now needed and variable limits should be put in place (like those that are on the M25, which are clearly displayed)

NigeWick

shiller_supreme wrote:

Everybody on here seems to be goody two shoes who never break the law or do anything wrong .I wish i was perfect like you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :T

You can have my three points then

Nigel.

NigeWick

BFG wrote:

Cameras give the impression of 'action being taken' - which is what the politicos want to say

Politicians are the cause of many of the paperwork and other challenges for the police. Think about it, many MPs are lawyers. Do really believe that they would introduce any laws that they couldn't defend in court?

Nigel.

NigeWick

dougk wrote:

To me there are many areas where speed limits are not clearly signed and there are some places you bounce between 30mph, 40 mph and 50mph in a few hundred yards - up and down like yoyo's this isn't safe of sensible either

Are you saying that you are incapable of spotting different limit signs and complying with them?

Nigel.