Blair and speed cameras

[bmxbandit]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Road works on a motorway are one of the places I would expect to see speed cameras, and rightly so!
Only a muppet would object to having to drive slower through roadworks.

from the point of view of the motorway worker, would you prefer cars coming past you at 80+mph or 40mph?

what other job allows you to be in the way of high speed weighty objects under the control of the public?

[Charlie_Bubble]

Originally Posted by mdean

Like it was Blair who invented speeding as an offence, and speed cameras for enforcement. They have been around for decades

The 40mph is to protect the workforce from idiots in their flash cars who drive too fast

Obey the limits - no fine. If you can't do the time ....

Actually the first speed camera was developed to help the inventor go faster around rally courses.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Road works on a motorway are one of the places I would expect to see speed cameras, and rightly so!
Only a muppet would object to having to drive slower through roadworks.

I might agree with you, if the restrictions only applied when the works were actually taking place. There are some fencing works on the A52 heading out of Nottinham, which see half of the 70mph dual carridgeway coned off during the day. There is (rightly at this point) a 40mph limit. However, at night, and weekends, the workers leave, and the cones are removed - but the 40mph limit is not removed. So a perfectly good 70mph road has a 40mph "limit" imposed for no reason - needless to say, most people ignore it at this time.

The blanket "if you stick to the speed limit, you won't get fined" is simplified rubbish. If speed limits actually made sense then I would agree that people who break them should pay the price - but at the moment far too many speed limits are clearly inappropiate and stupid, and get treated with the contempt they deserve.

[Halcyon]

The thing that annoys me is why people who go over by a cvouple of mph will get the same fine as someone doing 30 or so over.
£60 is a big fine if you are doing just slightly above the lmit.
These fees should be reduced.

The other fact is that although cutting speeding down is a good thing, it should be enforced on people who really do break the limit severly. The average road user who goes over by 5 miles per hour or less should be stopped (I agree there), BUT, made to pay less.

I also think that people are now m,ore worried about the speed cameras and this could cause more crashes as people are always trying to spot them and gazing down on their speedometer and taking their eyes off the road.

Im not a driver so cant give a big opinion, but this is what I make of it from the people I have talked to who have been caught and were doing just slightly over.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I stubbed my toe this morning, can I have a go at Tony Blair here too?

No, since TB didn't cause that?

Blair has put forward his stand on speed cameras. In his manifesto he has stated that he agree's with their use, intends to carry on rolling them out and has no intention of reviewing the current speed limits.

Now as a motoring enthusiast, I am struggling to comprehend his stance. Current motoring laws are based around the 1960's where people drove robin reliants and morris miners with a braking distance longer than tony blairs crap manifesto. They need reviewing. I'm sick to death of the amount of speed cameras popping up in places that don't need them. I could take quite a few pictures of certain areas in Stoke that have just had 4 speed cameras that are unjustified IMO. I can't recollect the last accident there. It's a bloody dual carriageway, restricted to 30mph in parts and 40mph with 4 bloody camareas. Stupid, waste of our cash putting them up in the first place.

To the guy who said - if you can't do the time don't do the crime. Fair do's. However, consider this. Would you prefer someone to be concentrating on the road, being aware --- or someone constantly checking their speedo to make sure they're not going over 30mph. My cousin was done for 33mph a few monthes back, ridiculous IMO. Yes we need to enforce a limit, yes speed cameras' probably ATM are the only feasible solution (If TB would consider spending more cash on the police force then we'd have other options ), but at least give some leeway. Set the cams to 37 or something, still have the 30 limit, don't bloody have near enough zero tolerence.

To the OP, I agree somewhat. We have roadworks on the A500 in stoke, have done for ages now. Limits 30 for the majority, about 1mile, then 40 for a mile or so. Now yes, I agree with this, workers need protecting. HOWEVER.. what I don't flipping agree with is the abuse of this limit! Driving home from work at 1am the other night, (all the workers had gone home presumuably earlier), I saw a white van in the distance. Lo and behold, a bloody speed van. WTF? the workers lives are hardly in danger at 1am. If the police could co-operate with the workers, find out when they need protecting then it'd be great. Rather than just presume they need hardcore protection at 1am in the morning (Mind my sarcasm). That is blatent abuse. I'd condone them being there at midday, or afternoon when they're working. Yes I'd be p!ssed off if I was caught, but I'd agree with it.

Ahhh, I could rant for hours. I can't get my true feelings across when I'm agitated, so I'l stfu now.

[nffc]

Originally Posted by Paul M

I might agree with you, if the restrictions only applied when the works were actually taking place. There are some fencing works on the A52 heading out of Nottinham, which see half of the 70mph dual carridgeway coned off during the day. There is (rightly at this point) a 40mph limit. However, at night, and weekends, the workers leave, and the cones are removed - but the 40mph limit is not removed. So a perfectly good 70mph road has a 40mph "limit" imposed for no reason - needless to say, most people ignore it at this time.

The blanket "if you stick to the speed limit, you won't get fined" is simplified rubbish. If speed limits actually made sense then I would agree that people who break them should pay the price - but at the moment far too many speed limits are clearly inappropiate and stupid, and get treated with the contempt they deserve.

The A52 is rubbish especially when it used to go from three lanes each way to one. Plus it's the road to Direby.

And the A52 to the A1 is even worse.

[bmxbandit]

Originally Posted by Paul M

I might agree with you, if the restrictions only applied when the works were actually taking place. There are some fencing works on the A52 heading out of Nottinham, which see half of the 70mph dual carridgeway coned off during the day. There is (rightly at this point) a 40mph limit. However, at night, and weekends, the workers leave, and the cones are removed - but the 40mph limit is not removed. So a perfectly good 70mph road has a 40mph "limit" imposed for no reason - needless to say, most people ignore it at this time.

i agree it is annoying there, i've not seen anyone working on that stretch at all. i also agree it should be raised back to national limit as soon as you're away from the junction and the workers aren't there... but i still trundle past at 40mph regardless

Originally Posted by Steve H

Would you prefer someone to be concentrating on the road, being aware --- or someone constantly checking their speedo to make sure they're not going over 30mph.

Oh gods, not this one again...

I've done this argument with a rabid motoring fanatic in another forum and he keeps quoting from a site called Safe Speed which seems to be of the opinion that a) motorists are capable of deciding for themselves what a "safe speed" is (yeah, right, like they don't drive too fast and too close together on motorways right now) and b) that speed limits will result in more accidents because you have to keep checking your speedo as if people aren't capable of driving in a consistent manner that means they stay below the limit.

Oh and speed limits are exactly that, *LIMITS*!

It is *not* obligatory to drive as close to them as possible!!!

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Paul M

I might agree with you, if the restrictions only applied when the works were actually taking place. There are some fencing works on the A52 heading out of Nottinham, which see half of the 70mph dual carridgeway coned off during the day. There is (rightly at this point) a 40mph limit. However, at night, and weekends, the workers leave, and the cones are removed - but the 40mph limit is not removed. So a perfectly good 70mph road has a 40mph "limit" imposed for no reason - needless to say, most people ignore it at this time.

The blanket "if you stick to the speed limit, you won't get fined" is simplified rubbish. If speed limits actually made sense then I would agree that people who break them should pay the price - but at the moment far too many speed limits are clearly inappropiate and stupid, and get treated with the contempt they deserve.

Idealy they would have electronic speed signs which are active while the workmen are, but these cost a fortune compared with normal aluminium discs they use currently.
Now depending on the works and coned road layout, out of hours the cameras could be turned off, unless the layout is such that travelling through it would be dangerous at greater speeds

[nffc]

Originally Posted by bmxbandit

i agree it is annoying there, i've not seen anyone working on that stretch at all. i also agree it should be raised back to national limit as soon as you're away from the junction and the workers aren't there... but i still trundle past at 40mph regardless

Oh that bit... yes, that is annoying.

Although that's more the Ring Road than "out of Nottingham" really.

[Stuart C]

Originally Posted by Steve H

To the guy who said - if you can't do the time don't do the crime. Fair do's. However, consider this. Would you prefer someone to be concentrating on the road, being aware --- or someone constantly checking their speedo to make sure they're not going over 30mph. My cousin was done for 33mph a few monthes back, ridiculous IMO. Yes we need to enforce a limit, yes speed cameras' probably ATM are the only feasible solution (If TB would consider spending more cash on the police force then we'd have other options ), but at least give some leeway. Set the cams to 37 or something, still have the 30 limit, don't bloody have near enough zero tolerence.

A lot of experienced drivers can actually tell what speed they are doing (fairly accurately) without looking at the speedo. In fact, when I was taught, I was told by my instructor that the only safe way to use a speedo is to only check it every so often, but still keep an idea of how fast I am going.

I do agree with the setting to 37 though. Even you did stick to what the speedo says is 30, it's possible you are doing 34 due to the speedo not being calibrated properly.

I also agree that the standard should be set nationally.

But I do think that if TB (or any politician) find more money for the police, they should spend it going after more serious crimes.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Steve H

No, since TB didn't cause that?

Blair has put forward his stand on speed cameras. In his manifesto he has stated that he agree's with their use, intends to carry on rolling them out and has no intention of reviewing the current speed limits.

I'm sure he agrees with sofas too but I was swearing like mad at one this morning. Best Vote Tory I guess, no doubt "Howard" wants to stop all the foreign sofas coming here and stealing our jobs and our women

[Stuart C]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I'm sure he agrees with sofas too but I was swearing like mad at one this morning. Best Vote Tory I guess, no doubt "Howard" wants to stop all the foreign sofas coming here and stealing our jobs and our women

I initially misread that first line as "I'm sure he agrees with sofas but I was swearing like one this morning". Was just going to ask exactly how a sofa swears...


Ahh well, must get to bed. If I am misreading stuff, I need sleep.

[Monster Jedi]

I go round on my motor bike makeing the cameras flash. In Lincoln they have a lot of the Truvelo cameras. They flash you at the front. The motor bike has no plate on the front. I just try to use up their film. But I prefere to use black spray paint in the early hours of da morning

[AndrewJ]

Originally Posted by Croker

That you are not allowed to criticise the way crime figures are reported in any tangible way and that the spirit of the law is not being followed - only the letter.

Spirit of the law, since when has there been spirit, the law is a written text on paper, this is followed by the people of the country.

You speed you pay the fine, now rather then the money go into buying errmmmm a fancy toilet seat, it has to go somewhere, now all you people are quick to moan about not enough cash for your kids schools etc, so why not tax the stupid morons who speed up and down and those who say unfair camera's well learn your lesson dont look at the oncoming 50mph sign and stay at 70mph slow the hell down to 50mph before you get there avoiding a fine from a camera right behind the sign. Back to my point the cash raised can go into other things.

End of the day I like the idea, fine the people breaking the law, make money from them, give the money into other areas, health education roads, etc.

One hand greases other. While making the road safer, why speed anyways??
__________________

Originally Posted by Monster Jedi

I go round on my motor bike makeing the cameras flash. In Lincoln they have a lot of the Truvelo cameras. They flash you at the front. The motor bike has no plate on the front. I just try to use up their film. But I prefere to use black spray paint in the early hours of da morning

Why they are there to do a job and maintain a law, doing that is mindless and stupid.