New Speed Cameras

[The_Dark_Side]

this may be news to you, it may not but i ony heard about this recently so thought it worthy of a mention.
from what i've heard the cameras of the not too distant future, circa 2 years from now or so, will not only check your speed...they will also check whether your vehicle has a current MOT,road tax and insurance.

the way i see it we're stuck with the cameras whether we like it or not so by adding all these capabilities they will remove many of the muppets from our roads.

your views? and try not to do the "think of the children" rubbish that usually seeps into points like this.
it adds nothing to the debate and makes the member concerned look like a tool.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Sounds like ANPR.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

Sounds like ANPR.

possibly but linked to the MOT and insurance database.
since the MOT system went online and as insurance companies have been legally required to submit data this looks like it's happening...and sooner rather than later.

 

[DRZ]

Speed cameras = bad

Removing unroadworthy and uninsured cars from the roads = very, very good.

I would rather take it easy through a camera than be crashed into by an uninsured driver personally.

Who knows, it might actually reduce premiums a bit!

 

[Baron G]

Who knows, it might actually reduce premiums a bit!

Or just increase insurance company profits.

 

[thebrasso]

I think its a good thing. In theory it should remove a lot of uninsured cars from the road. It should also cut down on the police issuing producers requiring people to produce documents at a police station.

 

[Tomsk]

I would expect an increase in cloned or fake plates. Unfortunately because more cameras = fewer traffic police, more or these plates will go uncaught since all the police will have is a photograph with no traceable address. I would also expect official statistics to not mention this.

 

[Lopéz]

It's a good idea in a perfect world, but I can forsee problems in reality.

The main offenders with regards to tax/insurance/mot are your scumballs of society. You know the sort I mean. These people very rarely even register a car in their name, they use a fake address or simply drive it about without ever bothering. So the system won't touch them.

The next bunch are those covered by trade/DOC/fleet/lease/other non-standard insurance certificates. There will be a huge (yes, huge) number of false prosecution notices sent out to people covered in this way. That's a lot of wasted time, effort and money.

Then it won't deal with people driving other people's cars uninsured. I can drive my mate's car and it's completely legal. He doesn't have DOC so cannot legally drive my car. But if the camera picks us both up, driving each other's cars down the road at the same time, as far as it's concerned neither of us are committing and offence, which is not the case.

The other worry I have is that I'm a bit dodgy myself every now and again , I also like to put my foot down and I really don't like the whole "Big Brother" concept of the government tracking my every move.

 

[DreXeL]

Take the whole speed detection thing out of the equasion and I think a nationwide ANPR system is a great idea. Not only to catch Tax/MOT/insurance dodgers, but it'll also help to track criminals.

Scumbag commits crime, witness takes reg no and tells police, ANPR finds scumbag before he's got to his destination.

I'm not convinced ANPR systems will be used for speed detection anyway, though it could work in reverse ie: SPECS scameras being used for ANPR too.

 

[merlin]

The next bunch are those covered by trade/DOC/fleet/lease/other non-standard insurance certificates. There will be a huge (yes, huge) number of false prosecution notices sent out to people covered in this way. That's a lot of wasted time, effort and money.

DOC has it's days numbered. Motor Traders have to report vehicles in their posession to the Motor Insurers Database (MID) (which ANPR feeds off), Fleet operators also have to report vehicle details to the MID.

By this time next year the MID will achieve it's goal of 98% accuracy. That's a little misleading though - see below about covered drivers.

There's now a £5,000 fine for Motor Traders and Fleet operators who fail to disclose MID information. First company to get fined will make the others take it a bit more seriously, because at present - it's all rather sloppy because it's still in it's infancy despite actually being "launched" January 2003

Covered drivers - the MID does not hold details of covered drivers - it just says whether or not the vehicle is insured. So, that's the next step - to get it to log covered drivers - then it will be a serious tool if a Policeman stops a car at the roadside. Untill that happens though - it's all a bit wishy washy, they can see the car is insured but cannot actualy tell whether the driver is insured.

ANPR automatically issuing summons to uninsured drivers? Yes, it's coming - but not for a few years. Maybe 3+.

 

[numnutz]

Good idea if you ask me, i cant stand people who get away without being insured, i pay through the nose just to stay legal while a ton of people get away with it every day because there isnt the police power to enforce it. Does this mean as well the police will be able to track the movement of your car?! That would only be good for a stolen car, but i wouldnt appreciate the police watching me drive round!

Ross

 

[Phantom]

if theyre checking every number plate/tax disc which passes the camera, it means theyre then able to track your whereabouts - nosy parkers

/paranoid_mode_off

 

[[TW]Fox]

possibly but linked to the MOT and insurance database

Erm what do you think ANPR does then? Becuase it's ALREADY linked to this database and it will already bring up whether the car is insured, taxed and MOT'd.

 

[iv-tecman]

If it catches un-insured drivers, or those who try and avoid MOT /Tax then this is a good idea as I think those who think they can dodge paying when I’m honest enough to pay have little moral and total disregard to other motorists.

However, if they think this is a good way to track my driving habits, or worse yet use it as a weapon to target drivers with automatic fixed penalties for say driving above average speeds, then this ain’t so good. Specs type system that not only records your journey, but takes all types of information off you. I mean, I’m all for cutting speed in areas that you shouldn’t speed around, such as near schools, shops, blind areas etc. It’s only common sense to slow down around these types of spots. Sadly some do not apply this common sense, and think they can tear around like Schumacher, but there are places were a hearty, spirited drive doesn’t hurt.

I can see good points in this, getting those who feel they have a right to drive without the correct documents, insurance etc. Stopping these is important; however I’m not so keen on the “big” brother or speed in certain areas attachment to these newer types of camera. But how to do this without prying into the records of the recorded owner.

And of cause, this doesn’t stop them who do not register the vehicle correctly; I mean if anyone really wants to drive illegally on UK roads they’d not register the car with the DVLA anyhow. Mostly stolen, with fake plates etc… I mean, the steps to prevent number plate fraud isn’t going to stop the ones who have facilities to create plates. Now is it?

This will catch the ones who have let their MOT lapse, or have not taxed their car as they might have forgotten, and it does happen. Also this who “think” they might get away with a few extra days of none insured driving, or driving moms car without consent… And yep, good idea, but the hardcore persistent illegal driver will find ways around this.

Sadly, I see this as a way of lashing out on the “easy” and not tackling the real issue.

 

[MrMoon]

good get all those uninsured ******* off the road

 

[djbenjo]

DOC has it's days numbered. Motor Traders have to report vehicles in their posession to the Motor Insurers Database (MID) (which ANPR feeds off), Fleet operators also have to report vehicle details to the MID.

By this time next year the MID will achieve it's goal of 98% accuracy. That's a little misleading though - see below about covered drivers.

What about other types of trade policies, mechanics for example?

 

[merlin]

What about other types of trade policies, mechanics for example?

All Motor Traders policies have to follow MID rules and disclose vehicles they own or are using to the MID. It doesn't matter what the trader is actually doing for a living.

Only exception I think is vehicles not anticipated to be in the traders posession for less than 3 days.

 

[Third Opinion]

The Police also won the right to camoflage cameras recently and not release their location to be used on maps and GPS units. Although most forces have have dismissed doing it with the present equipment you can bet some forces will take advantage of this opportunity with the latest equipment.

 

[mrgubby]

It's a good idea in a perfect world, but I can forsee problems in reality.

The main offenders with regards to tax/insurance/mot are your scumballs of society. You know the sort I mean. These people very rarely even register a car in their name, they use a fake address or simply drive it about without ever bothering. So the system won't touch them.

*snip*.

Cameras will only catch us honest criminals who can be contacted and fined . The really bad lpeople (TM) will get away free

 

[The_Dark_Side]

Erm what do you think ANPR does then? Becuase it's ALREADY linked to this database and it will already bring up whether the car is insured, taxed and MOT'd.

i thought ANPR only checked for road tax dodgers?