RE: FN-FORUM: [OT] Speed cameras and speed camera detectors

date posted 2nd June 2003 18:40

OK - as one of the first respondents to the original thread, I feel I =
have
to wade in with a few observations here.

A lot of the thread has strayed away from the original topic, i.e. speed
(safety) cameras. I don't believe that any reasonable person would ever
dispute that speeding is potentially dangerous, but 'speeding' is very
subjective and, realistically, is not just about posted speed limits. =20

All the figures that are bandied back & forth about braking distances,
reaction times, etc have to be based around fixed figures, probably Joe
Average in his average car driving under average conditions. =20

So, on the M25 in the rush-hour in torrential rain there's this driver =
with
poor reactions in an underpowered car, with worn wipers not clearing the
rain effectively, brake pads and tyres that have seen better days (yet =
still
with a valid MOT and 'road legal') going along at 70mph - and doing no
wrong? As hen rounds a long bend, he suddenly finds the traffic coming =
to
an abrupt stop due to a massive tailback - the chances of this car and
driver avoiding an accident are far, far slimmer than the guy in his =
modern
car, with ABS, traction control, hefty disk bakes, etc. This person is =
a
sensible motorist, he's sticking to the speed limit.

Then we have the guy in his Porsche, travelling along the M25 at 5.00 in =
the
morning with exceptional visibility and absolutely no traffic - he's =
doing
85 mph and gets zapped by a camera. Thank you, that will be 3 points =
please
and a =A360 fine - if he's lucky. He's a naughty person, he's dangerous =
and
inconsiderate and must be punished.

I speed - I don't deny it. I got a camera detector to protect my =
license,
NOT to enable me to drive recklessly, inconsiderately or dangerously. =
OK,
there are of course those people that will insist that driving over the
speed limit is all of the above, but I'm afraid that's a very =
sanctimonious
and blinkered view.

One of the biggest problems with cameras is the effect they're having on
normal driving patterns. On Friday I was on my bike travelling a route =
I
travel quite frequently - I hit a 2 mile traffic jam where the traffic =
was
virtually at a standstill - the reason .... A speed camera positioned on =
a
dual-carriageway about 1/3 mile after it reduces from 70mph to 40mph - =
I'm
glad I was on the bike, I could filter through a lot of the traffic - =
and no
sooner was the traffic past the camera than the jam had cleared. People
over-react to camera, they stomp on their brakes, they slow down =
excessively
(I usually follow people through cameras at a speed 5 to 10mph under the
limit) - and I seem to recall there's been some press coverage recently
about official findings along the same lines.

I'm a reasonably high mileage motorist, and I exceed the speed limit =
quite
regularly - when I consider it to be safe. But I also indicate when I
change lanes, I indicate on roundabouts, I don't sit in the outside lane
doing the same speed as the lane to my left, preventing others from =
passing
me (whether I'm doing the speed limit or higher), I use a headset for my
mobile phone and won't answer it if I've forgotten to wire myself for =
sound,
I don't tailgate - in fact, on my bike I leave a generous gap between =
myself
and the vehicle in front (which most bike riders will agree is a =
sensible
thing to do) - but this doesn't stop the twats that tailgate my bike =
trying
to make me go faster. In fact, on Saturday I was even alongside a guy
driving a Discovery who had a plaster cast on his right arm, right down =
to
the knuckles!! Safe huh?

I've spoke to a lot of coppers about cameras and general driving
'restrictions' and every single one I've spoken to has either agreed =
totally
that cameras are not the answer, or has diplomatically refused to =
comment.

If 'safety' cameras are purely there for safety and are nothing to do =
with
revenue, then why don't they slap a matrix indicator a 100 metres before =
the
camera that flashes up the limit if you're exceeding it when you =
approach
the matrix. That way there's fair and clear warning that you're =
approaching
an accident blackspot (which, we're reliably informed by those in power =
is
what the cameras are for).

I'm sorry, but I truly believe cameras have outlived/exceeded their =
remit -
Police can use their discretion, cameras can't.