Speed Cameras

[Puffin]

I watched an item recently about a rural village that was plagued with drivers exceeding the 30mph limit. They had asked the council to install a camera and were told that unless the traffic was regularly exceeding the limit up to 45mph they would not install a camera.

This seems bizarre when you look at how the police normally deal with excess speed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/the-truth-about-speeding-fines/

[walpurgis]

Don't talk to me about speed cameras. I'm likely to say something that'd get me arrested!

[mad-moon]

Don't talk to me about speed cameras. I'm likely to say something that'd get me arrested!

and me...

[walpurgis]

I read recently that the uban 20mph limits have led to a rise in accidents, due to drivers looking more at their instruments than what's ahead of them.

And why is the max limit 70mph? That was introduced when the average family runabout was something like an Austin A35, barely capable of reaching 70, let alone being safe at that speed. Modern cars are safe at higher speeds and tend to be in good condition. There were no MOT's before 1960, so just about any kind of wreck could be seen on the roads. Not the case now.

I tend to try and observe the 70 max, but it pisses me off that endless big Mercs, BMW's, Jags and the like come sailing past at around 100mph with seeming impunity. I got a ticket for doing 79 in a 70 limit. Not intentionally, but after hours behind the wheel, you tend to stop noticing if speed slowly creeps up.

[Stryder5]

Are we looking for logic in the way speeding is enforced. Really, it's about revenue generation, as the original op signifies, small village, little traffic, small revenue.

Pander to "speed kills" , which is rubbish, drivers who can't drive are to blame. The driving test is a farce, you are taught to pass the test not drive. Satnavs being part of the test, another distraction!

Where is the skid control taught, a skid is going to happen at some time.

Depth perception is easily tested, not in the test tho. Following vehicles at 30mph or less, is totally different when outside town limits.

As I live fairly rurally my brain does not always compute with speed limits, I've resorted to technology and set my speed limiter to conform, leaving me free to concentrate on what I should be doing.......concentrating on the other idiots on the road.

[mad-moon]

Are we looking for logic in the way speeding is enforced. Really, it's about revenue generation, as the original op signifies, small village, little traffic, small revenue.

Pander to "speed kills" , which is rubbish, drivers who can't drive are to blame. The driving test is a farce, you are taught to pass the test not drive. Satnavs being part of the test, another distraction!

Where is the skid control taught, a skid is going to happen at some time.

Depth perception is easily tested, not in the test tho. Following vehicles at 30mph or less, is totally different when outside town limits.

As I live fairly rurally my brain does not always compute with speed limits, I've resorted to technology and set my speed limiter to conform, leaving me free to concentrate on what I should be doing.......concentrating on the other idiots on the road.

good post

[struth]

speed limiters are handy as are cruise control.

[Len Co]

I guess it will all be a bit academic when vehicles are satellite controlled.

[struth]

Bollocks to that. [emoji3]

[Pieoftheday]

Not really a fan if speed cameras but a while back a neighbour had her wall smashed down 4 times due to knob heads going into a bend too fast, when we asked the council about some kind of speed reducing measure or at least getting the bend in the road resurfaced, we were reluctantly told that unless someone got hurt nothing would be done, a few weeks later it happened again but this time the car took a pedestrian through the wall too!! The road was resurfaced a few days later

[struth]

That's the way it works. It's a points system. Crazy

[walpurgis]

I guess it will all be a bit academic when vehicles are satellite controlled.

Fortunately GPS accuracy has not got there yet.

[Marco]

Certainly the driving test is a joke - and always has been... It's nowhere near thorough enough.

Aside from skid control, where is driving in the snow or ice taught (as clearly few have a clue how to do it)? What about some basic mechanics, too? So many drivers don't even know where engine coolant or oil should go - in fact I'd hazard a guess that most have never even popped up their car's bonnet! :doh:

They just fill it up with fuel and think that's enough....

Also, most importantly, can someone tell me how it makes sense to exclude motorway driving from the test, banning learners from there, yet expect new drivers who've just passed their test to know what they're doing, when they're unleashed onto one...?? :rolleyes:

It's a TOTALLY DIFFERENT type of driving, which they'll have had ZERO experience of!!

Marco.

[Pieoftheday]

Certainly the driving test is a joke - and always has been... It's nowhere near thorough enough.

Aside from skid control, where is driving in the snow or ice taught (as clearly few have a clue how to do it)? What about some basic mechanics, too? So many drivers don't even know where engine coolant or oil should go - in fact I'd hazard a guess that most have never even popped up their car's bonnet! :doh:

They just fill it up with fuel and think that's enough....

Also, most importantly, can someone tell me how it makes sense to exclude motorway driving from the test, banning learners from there, yet expect new drivers who've just passed their test to know what they're doing, when they're unleashed onto one...?? :rolleyes:

It's a TOTALLY DIFFERENT type of driving, which they'll have had ZERO experience of!!

Marco.

When I took my bike test 1989, it took all of 15 minutes, emergency stop, I was doing less than 20 mph! It was my lessons that made respect the road and it's other users

[struth]

Car test in 70's was about 40 mins plus some questions at end

[Marco]

When I took my bike test 1989, it took all of 15 minutes, emergency stop, I was doing less than 20 mph! It was my lessons that made respect the road and it's other users

Indeed, yet on your lessons there would've been no teaching for motorway driving..... The whole system's piss poor, which is why there are so many idiots on the road, posing as 'drivers' :rolleyes:

Marco.

[Bksabath]

Are we looking for logic in the way speeding is enforced. Really, it's about revenue generation, as the original op signifies, small village, little traffic, small revenue.

Pander to "speed kills" , which is rubbish, drivers who can't drive are to blame. The driving test is a farce, you are taught to pass the test not drive. Satnavs being part of the test, another distraction!

Where is the skid control taught, a skid is going to happen at some time.

Depth perception is easily tested, not in the test tho. Following vehicles at 30mph or less, is totally different when outside town limits.

As I live fairly rurally my brain does not always compute with speed limits, I've resorted to technology and set my speed limiter to conform, leaving me free to concentrate on what I should be doing.......concentrating on the other idiots on the road.

Ear Ear 100%

Get more officers on the road instead of cameras

[Ali Tait]

Certainly the driving test is a joke - and always has been... It's nowhere near thorough enough.

Aside from skid control, where is driving in the snow or ice taught (as clearly few have a clue how to do it)? What about some basic mechanics, too? So many drivers don't even know where engine coolant or oil should go - in fact I'd hazard a guess that most have never even popped up their car's bonnet! :doh:

They just fill it up with fuel and think that's enough....

Also, most importantly, can someone tell me how it makes sense to exclude motorway driving from the test, banning learners from there, yet expect new drivers who've just passed their test to know what they're doing, when they're unleashed onto one...?? :rolleyes:

It's a TOTALLY DIFFERENT type of driving, which they'll have had ZERO experience of!!

Marco.

People taking the test now have to know where fluids etc go, It’s part of the test now, and I believe motorway driving is being introduced soon.

You’re right about skid training though, that should also be included.

[Stryder5]

When I took my bike test 1989, it took all of 15 minutes, emergency stop, I was doing less than 20 mph! It was my lessons that made respect the road and it's other users

My motorcycling time taught me many things about observations of road surface, diesel spliiage, other drivers and of the many lessons I learned there are two that stand out:

When on a road and there is a junction from left or right, I watch the front wheel of the waiting vehicle. Watch for road wheel rotation as that moves quicker than the vehicle itself.

Broken bones hurt......a lot.

[walpurgis]

My motorcycling time taught me that every other road user is potentially an unpredictable idiot with homicidal tendencies.

You sure develop strong survival insticts, keen observational skills and fast reactions when riding.

[struth]

most bikers around here are idiots now. i only surprised more dont get killed. :rolleyes:

[walpurgis]

most bikers around here are idiots now. i only surprised more dont get killed. :rolleyes:

Probably the young'uns. I've ridden on and off for fifty years.

Not bothered for the last year or so. I'll get something back on the road this spring. Too bloody cold yet.

[Marco]

People taking the test now have to know where fluids etc go, It’s part of the test now, and I believe motorway driving is being introduced soon.


News to me mate, but if true, then it's not before time!

Marco.

[Minstrel SE]

Yeah you have just got to watch the UK dashcam videos to see how crazy it is out there.

30mph feels like nothing in a car and thats part of the problem. No transport policy and a driving test that doesnt really prepare anyone for the madness and poor roads out there ( it never would unless it was almost unpassable....theres an idea)

My thing is reducing the number of cars on the road like thats ever going to happen.

I have a split mind on speed cameras. When I look at the angel over one shoulder I see that speed kills and they could save lives. When I look at the little devil I know that they are going to get me on cameras which seem to be in the wrong place as revenue earners

[Audio Al]

Speed cameras !!!!!!!!!!

Two things to be aware of

1/ Trafic light cameras are now dual purpose , When the lights are red and you jump the lights you get your photo taken , When the lights are green they then act as speed cameras ( Dont ask how I know this ) :(

Variable speed limit cameras are just that , I was recently on the M25 and just as I was approaching a overhead gantry The traffic speed limit sign came on 40 , I was doing 56 , I slowed but not fast enough and have my photo taken :(

Im not convinced that this is not just another way of collecting revenue ( Persicute the motorist )

[Ali Tait]

News to me mate, but if true, then it's not before time!

Marco.

Got it wrong, what’s happening is learner drivers will be allowed on motorways.

[Puffin]

When will I get a speeding ticket?
Put simply, as the law stands, you’re liable for a speeding ticket the minute you exceed the speed limit – no ifs, no buts. That means doing 31mph in a 30mph limit, 41mph in a 40, and so on.

Some people say that that should be the end of it – but practically, it makes little sense. Such strict enforcement would force drivers to watch their speedos like hawks, meaning they spend less time watching what’s going on in the world around them.

At a glance | NPCC speed enforcement guidelines
Speed limit Min speed for a ticket Min speed for prosecution
20mph 24mph 35mph
30mph 35mph 50mph
40mph 46mph 66mph
50mph 57mph 76mph
60mph 68mph 86mph
70mph 79mph 96mph

Source: National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC)

It seems that unless you are caught by a speed camera, it is a lottery as to whether you would be issued a ticket (given the attitude of the Police to the speeding drivers in my first post). As an aside I find that the biggest bugbear in town driving are those that are unaware of the width of their vehicle regardless of size of vehicle and who have zero spatial awareness.

[walpurgis]

As an aside I find that the biggest bugbear in town driving are those that are unaware of the width of their vehicle regardless of size of vehicle and who have zero spatial awareness.

Yeah, that gets me too. Morons a metre over the centre line and driving straight at you.

And the corner cutters. You approach a junction only to find some clown coming at you on your side of the road because he's cut the corner he was turning into. It happens all the time here.

[Puffin]

Yes, the corner cutters...."I have a fast car and I will drive round bends faster than my abilities"....or...I am an arrogant c"*t and I will take as much road as I like"!

[walpurgis]

Gimme an old Land Rover, with doubled up steel bumpers both ends, a hefty winch and bull bar on the front and I'll show 'em. 'Get in my way and I'll just keep coming and write your car off' :)

Needless to say, I'd have onboard video, just so there's no argument about who was where.

[Pieoftheday]

Indeed, yet on your lessons there would've been no teaching for motorway driving..... The whole system's piss poor, which is why there are so many idiots on the road, posing as 'drivers' :rolleyes:

Marco.

No there was no motorway training on my bike test back then. Do they have motorway training these days?

[Pieoftheday]

My motorcycling time taught me that every other road user is potentially an unpredictable idiot with homicidal tendencies.

You sure develop strong survival insticts, keen observational skills and fast reactions when riding.

I did the Star Rider silver course,they called what you describe as riding defensively, stood me in good stead, touch wood!!

[Pigmy Pony]

There's a thing called "risk compensation" which suggests that the safer that cars get, the more unsafe the driving. Someone suggested that one thing that would make people drive more carefully, would be to replace the steering wheel airbag with a large steel spike.

I think that the increased use of speed cameras and ever smaller numbers of actual police officers has led to a change in bad driving, where drivers are largely keeping to the speed limits, but drive aggressively and inconsiderately instead. This doesn't get picked up by cameras, so these t**ts get away with it, and will continue to do so until the police get off their lazy arses and go after these offenders.

Ok, I know the police don't want to be lazy, and they would rather be out catching offenders than spending hours in the police station writing about it, but the bean counters would see it as a lot of effort for not much financial reward, the exact opposite of speed cameras.