In message
Chris Tolley (ukonline really) wrote:

Graeme wrote:

In message
Chris Tolley (ukonline really) wrote:

Graeme wrote:

In message
Chris Tolley (ukonline really) wrote:

Quite. But in my logical way of looking at things, all a speed camera
can do is penalise those who don't stick to the speed limits.

A somewhat simplistic arguement that begs a lot of questions.

It's not a simplistic argument. It's unarguable really. It's a simple
statement of fact. Cameras record people in the act of exceeding the
limit. It's all they do. In any other circumstances, they are merely
road furniture. They may induce people to check their speedos and slow
down, but then so may any other roadside sign that mentions a speed
limit.

It is still a simplistic arguement that begs a lot of questions.

The reliance on speed cameras to police our road system has distorted the
perception of what is safe. As far as the cameras are concerned an idiot
driving 1 metre behind the car in front at 70mph and weaving all over the
road is perfectly safe, someone driving at a steady 60mph on a road designed
for 70+ but somebody has decided to designated as a 50 limit for no logical
reason is defined as driving dangerously.


There are many other factors in accidents. Speed may be a factor in the
cause of some accidents, simply because it cuts down the time people
have to respond to a contingency, but I would have said that the real
difference that speed makes is in the severity of the consequences.

That normally applies far more to urban areas where the difference
between 30 and 40 can be literally life or death. How many speed cameras
do you see in 30mph limit areas? Very few because they won't raise
enough revenue. It is that level of cynicism that has brought them into
disrepute.

I reckon that I encounter more speed cameras in 30 limits than any other
limits. Cheshire police often set up a mobile camera a couple of miles from
where I live, to protect a 30 limit on the A54. The nearest fixed cameras
to where I live protect 40 limits. T'other day I went to Stalybridge and
the cameras I encountered (as far as I can recall them) were protecting
limits of 60, 50, 30, 30, 30, 30, 50, 50, 60 respectively.

How many of those 30mph limits were genuine urban areas with
houses/shops/schools and pedestrians in close proximity and how many were on
through routes that just happened to be in the appropriate urban sanitary
district?

Cheshire's not so bad for them, but there seem to be a superfluity in
Staffs.


Different areas do things differently it seems.

--
Graeme Wall

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