Is anyone else getting really tired of this whole speeding thing ?

[Confused]

I personally think that the reason speeding is being targetted is due to these couple of facts:

Often the only thing 'wrong' with 'speeding' is that the speed your speedometer displays is higher than that which a bloke in a suit once decided was best [based on a 1960's Ford Anglia, which had a maximum speed of ~75-80MPH and took over 25 seconds to get to 60)]

This is the problem.

And also, a car's speed is the only thing that can be automatically determined by a machine.


There is no machine that is capable of detecting when a car is being driven dangerously, for example a) too close to other vehicles, b) without indicating their intentions, c) by an unqualified driver, d) by an unfit driver (drunk, stoned, tired), e) the driver not paying attention (changing cd/radio station, talking on mobile phone, looking at map)


And until machine(s) are made that can detect the above real causes of dangerous driving, and speed is the only thing they can measure automatically, that's what they'll continue to measure.



I personally have no problems with wanting to enforce sensible speed limits, such as areas around schools, parks/playgrounds, town centres and other high pedestrian areas. I'd even support reducing speeds in these areas to 20MPH or even lower, if they were well enforced, and other ridiculous limits such as 40MPH on a straight dual-carriageway with 2 miles visibility are removed, and discretion by traffic officers.

 

[Nazbit]

Seriously i've never had a problem keeping my speed under control (in my experience you get used to how the car feels at the speeds), I don't need to keep my eyes on the speedo, I just check it at the same time I check the mirrors etc.

I agree totally with that,

I check my speedo every time I check my mirrors, personally I know my car and I know when im speeding, personally I do break the speedlimit by 10 miles an hour or so when I feel it is safe, but nothing over the top, and even when I do so, I am aware of what the punishments would be if I were caught.

In the OP it sounds like your spending the majority of your time driving, making sure you are not being caught speeding Personally I stick the speedlimit when I dont want to risk being caught.

If you cant do the time (/take the points), dont to the crime

Although a lot of people break the speedlimit quite safley, in this country the saftey of your driving will be measured by your ability to go slowly, and we have to accept that.

 

[Oakesy2001uk]

speeding does not kill, incompetantcy, show offs, mobile phones,maps, mars bars, cigaretts, beer,drugs eysight and stupidity cause accidents. Get acameratomeasure that and I'll support them, untill thenmorepolice, less camera'sand lets actually catch the dangerous people.

 

[Eliot]

APPARENTLY the government make more on simon cowells income tax than on speeding tickets,

 

[Cyanide]

Speed doesn't cause accidents, this doesn't mean that speed doesn't kill.

Going too fast won't cause an accident 9 times out of 10. But if an accident does occur for some reason, no matter what the cause, that extra 10mph will make a lot of difference. Especially if boths cars are speeding - that's an extra 20mph overall. When both cars weigh in at over a tonne an extra 20mph is an awful lot if you're going to be stuck in the middle of it.

 

[Fr0dders]

APPARENTLY the government make more on simon cowells income tax than on speeding tickets,

thats a load of bull

£60 a time

and some times 3 times that for high speed court appearances

simon cowell will be taxed at say 50 % or total income, say 10 million a year, thats only 5 million

easily more speeding tickets than that.

 

[Morba]

thats a load of bull

£60 a time

and some times 3 times that for high speed court appearances

simon cowell will be taxed at say 50 % or total income, say 10 million a year, thats only 5 million

easily more speeding tickets than that.

the government doesnt get all the money from speed cameras tho, most goes back into the 'camera partnership'

 

[MJ]

nah it's a voluntary tax on the motorist innit

DEFO

 

[Dolph]

Speed doesn't cause accidents, this doesn't mean that speed doesn't kill.

Going too fast won't cause an accident 9 times out of 10. But if an accident does occur for some reason, no matter what the cause, that extra 10mph will make a lot of difference. Especially if boths cars are speeding - that's an extra 20mph overall. When both cars weigh in at over a tonne an extra 20mph is an awful lot if you're going to be stuck in the middle of it.

But surely it would be better to try and prevent accidents in the first place, something the focus on speed entirely fails to do, and is actually counter productive towards...

 

[Cyanide]

But surely it would be better to try and prevent accidents in the first place, something the focus on speed entirely fails to do, and is actually counter productive towards...

True, prevention is better than protection. But at the same time it can't hurt to have something there just in case.

"Don't worry sir, this rattlesnake is fully trained and it won't bite you"

If someone said that to you would to still go up and poke the snake without gloves on?

 

[Overlag]

One thing that gets me is when your doing the correct speed, 30 in a 30 and someone behind you is driving too close so you are kind of forced to speed up. This can be annoying when there are speed cameras around.

if someone is up my **** like this i slow down, as teached by my instructor.... You increase the gap infront, so you have more time to react, and reduce the chance of the guy behind hitting you. So if its a 30, and i cant see his headlights (ie too close) i will often slow to 25.

and as the other guy said, i often wash my windows if some idiot is up my ****

Its ok, I can be doing 29 MPH through one of the many thousands of cameras, drunk out of my head, with no insurance, in a stolen car with no seatbelt on and get away with it.

But oh noes...Im driving correctly I just happen to be doing 34 MPH and i get 3 points and a fine.

that is exactly my feelings on this matter..... although a law is a law.... but it just irrates me.

Yes i speed..... on empty motorways or dualcarrage ways. 80-90mph seems to be a "good" speed for crusing.

Not side streets like my mate.... "oooh i did 70mph down a 30 today... im so cool" its drivers like that i hate..... and they never have cameras down side streets do they?

they have speed cameras on dualcarrage ways where they've recently reduced the limit from 60 to 40 in the last year or so. I know of 4 roads around my way that have had reductions in speedlimits, without reason, and cameras pop up at the same time. If this isnt a "cash cow" machine i dont know what is...... but then my local councel changed hands this year so that would explain speed limit drops, and stupid islands in the middle of what was once and nice smooth road......

 

[Fr0dders]

the government doesnt get all the money from speed cameras tho, most goes back into the 'camera partnership'

good point

missed the "government" bit.

 

[Matt82]

i actually make a good effort to drive at or below speed limits in 30-40-50 zones, its not worth the hassle (as youve said) to have to keep an eye on it.

when the opportunity arises, though, i will speed grossly in excess of the limit (usual NSL) because i like to and im not doing harm to anyone.

 

[FincH]

We as motorists definitely get a hard time. There is no two ways about it.

Speed control as a whole isn't a bad thing. As people have said, if you don't speed, you don't get caught. However, in reality, we all know it's not that simple.

The thing is, as has been mentioned, speeding is only a small factor that contributes to accidents. In my time on the roads as a passenger and as a driver, I have to say that the most moronic and dangerous driving vary rarely involves speed.

For instance, dithering old people, people not indicating, pulling out on roundabouts, cutting you up, driving with fog lights on etc are seen far more than people driving fast and out of control.

The thing is that catching people speeding is easy for the Police. You can set up a static camera and reap the rewards.

Doesn't that seem stupid when speed is only a minor factor in the majority of crashes?

 

[masterk]

On the A14 heading east for an hour or so on thursday, there was some form of speed enforcement device on average every 10 seconds, i kid you not.

Sometimes i think that its more dangerous to have the driver continously looking at their speedo, bridge above them or the car following them rather than in front of them.

 

[Mad old tory]

To me, it entirely depends on the scenario. Residential areas need strict enforcement and a gatso outside every school really wouldn't go amiss. Cameras, combined with wholly inappropriate speed limits, on out of town roads is a completely different matter. These cameras seem to just be the tool of choice for the government to milk its cashcow

 

[MaX_PoWah]

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso.htm

haha check out this gem of a site, he hates speed cameras even more than me!

"The image below shows a potentially dangerous camera. This Gatso is immediately behind the 40mph signs on the approach to Tittensor in Staffordshire. At this point the limit drops from 60mph to 40mph, forcing everyone to brake sharply for the camera. What this picture doesn't show you is that in the right hand lane, the camera is obscured by the sign. So a driver who hasn't been here before won't see the Gatso until they are right behind it. This sort of location for a camera just isn't sneaky, it is down right dangerous with potentially fatal consequences. The idea behind this location is to maximise revenue, by catching out drivers."

This camera has just been installed on the A520 at Cellarhead in Staffordshire. The speed limit drops from 60mph to 30mph at this point and the Gatso is hidden behind the sign. To place the camera a couple of car lengths inside the speed limit and then use the speed limit sign to hide it is enough evidence to prove that revenue is still the primary reason for installing these cameras.

There is a Gatso in this picture believe it or not.

Maybe this view makes it easier to spot.

Not content with hiding it behind a sign, Dudley council have hidden it behind a bus shelter as well. Not only that but its still in battleship grey.

 

[Admiral Huddy]

I have to say that is disgracefull ..

I notice too with this picture that the bus stop is right next to a crossing (possible on the zig-zags??). . . Maybe I'm wrong here, but it seems there is one rule for private vehicle owners and another for public transport

 

[Nazbit]

Some of those cameras are hidden to ridiculous levels.

There is a loophole isnt there were some dont have to be painted yellow depending on who the money from the fines goes to, but some of those hidden ones are unbelievable.

 

[Matt]

I've just looked on the 'Devon and Cornwall Safety Partnership' website and there are 42(!) fixed cameras in Plymouth Compare that to Exeter's 6, it's a little insane!