Blair and speed cameras

Croker · 24-04-2005, 19:33

heading up the M4 corridor the other night just outside Wiltshire I had this misfortune to meet Blairs 'letter rather than spirit of the law' approach to his revenue generation incarnate.

They have a bunch of so-called roadworks setup there that reduces the traffic from 70mph down to 40mph within the space of a few hundred yards. Cars were almost crashing into each other and piling up to avoid contirbuting to Blairs banana republic election fund.

What galls me most of all when you complain about the law being used for "generating revenue" and lumping in the so-called speeding offences into the whole scheme of things i.e. charging more and more people and making out that these things are "crimes" and subsequently claiming that 'crime' is being 'recduced' as a result of it is the inevitable whinging "might save a childs life" lobby. Don't get me wrong about this, but a mate of mine had his car broken into twice in the same day in Maidenhead while they were all out stealth taxing the motorist.

Im my opinion: Blair - get out of office and onto the after dinner circuit where they might believe you and prat prescott

24-04-2005, 19:45

Yawn.

If Iwas working in those roadworks I'd be grateful for the speed reduction myself. Rearrange these words' Life. A. Get.

Sorry if that sounds harsh but if that's all you've got to worry about come election time then your priorities are, well, different to mine.

mdean · 24-04-2005, 19:47

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 ....

Croker · 24-04-2005, 19:48

I rest my case

24-04-2005, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croker

I rest my case

Which is, precisely?

Croker · 24-04-2005, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyl

Which is, precisely?

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.

Damien · 24-04-2005, 19:53

Quote:

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.

What?

**Rob M** · 24-04-2005, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croker

They have a bunch of so-called roadworks setup there that reduces the traffic from 70mph down to 40mph within the space of a few hundred yards. Cars were almost crashing into each other and piling up to avoid contirbuting to Blairs banana republic election fund.

Now, I don't know about the rest of you drivers out there but.....

1. I normally find that road-works and forthcoming speed restrictions are sign posted well in advance.
2. Normally if there is no advance warning of the speed limit change, you can guess that there will be one by the fact that you've been warned about the roadworks.
3. Having noticed that the roadworks are coming up I will generally anticipate the speed change required and therefore not leave myself in the position where I am almost crashing into anything.
4. I don't find the notion of having to slow down from 70 to 40 in " a few hundred yards" particularly daunting. You do this every time you come to a roundabout on a dual carriage-way (normally decelerating to much slower speed - sometimes even stopping).
5. I can see no excuse for the act of slowing down from 70 to 40 being as uncontrolled and dangerous as your post sounds unless..........
6. Drivers who are simply going to fast and driving too closely together will often find it a bit of a shock when the brake lights of the (similarly speeding and tailgating) car in front of them come on. This would almost certainly lead to the situation you are describing. With adequate (sp?) distance between you and the car in front there is no need for the situation above to cause any drama at all.
__________________

Quote:

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.

WTF?

Your post was about speed cameras, not about crime figures and the way they are reported.....

Unless, of course, you can hear the sound of goats trotting across a bridge from where you are sitting

__________________

Oh, and nobody said you couldn't criticise the crime figures.....

We just have a slightly differing point of view regarding the cameras.

Croker · 24-04-2005, 20:00

nonsense! it was a cash generating area. the only reason I didn't cop it was I was in one of the patrol cars

Damien · 24-04-2005, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croker

nonsense! it was a cash generating area. the only reason I didn't cop it was I was in one of the patrol cars

Shaun · 24-04-2005, 20:06

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

Damien · 24-04-2005, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

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

**Stuart C** · 24-04-2005, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croker

heading up the M4 corridor the other night just outside Wiltshire I had this misfortune to meet Blairs 'letter rather than spirit of the law' approach to his revenue generation incarnate.

They have a bunch of so-called roadworks setup there that reduces the traffic from 70mph down to 40mph within the space of a few hundred yards. Cars were almost crashing into each other and piling up to avoid contirbuting to Blairs banana republic election fund.

What galls me most of all when you complain about the law being used for "generating revenue" and lumping in the so-called speeding offences into the whole scheme of things i.e. charging more and more people and making out that these things are "crimes" and subsequently claiming that 'crime' is being 'recduced' as a result of it is the inevitable whinging "might save a childs life" lobby. Don't get me wrong about this, but a mate of mine had his car broken into twice in the same day in Maidenhead while they were all out stealth taxing the motorist.

Im my opinion: Blair - get out of office and onto the after dinner circuit where they might believe you and prat prescott

The reason I (and other people) get slightly p**sed off when people complain about speed cameras is simple. No one says you *have* to speed. You speed, then you pay the price. Simple. It's your choice.

As for the "inevitable whinging might save a childs life" lobby, well, they *do* have a point. If you hit somebody at 20mph then they will have a much greater chance of surving than if you hit them at 40.

As for police out hassling motorists when they could be arresting thieves and murderers (which I am sure you are hinting at), then surely speed cameras free up the police to deal with other crimes?

Xaccers · 24-04-2005, 20:26

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.

allieyoung666 · 24-04-2005, 20:52

my mum recently got caught by one. She said she didnt realise it was there until the dreaded flash, but she admitted she was speeding and she was only 3 miles an hour over the speed limit. Even she agrees if you do the crime then you have to do the time or face the consequences. I do not even speed through roadworks only a nugget head would do that I am sad to say!