Spate of destroying speed cameras in villages

[FoxEye]

Here in sunny* Cornwall, we are having an ongoing epidemic of speed cameras being cut down or otherwise rendered non-functional.

As reported in our local online rag (adblocker strongly advised), the readers' comments are somewhat evenly split, with many choosing to congratulate the perps. Often it is claimed that this is the "British spirit" (of defiance?) at work. The "war on motorists" is regularly invoked.

Just interested to see what people's opinions are, here. Whether you view these people as "heroes" or idiots.

Personally I tend to religiously do 20mph in residential areas whilst at the same time holding that 85 is fine for motorways (or dual carriageways as we have no motorways in Cornwall).

It just so happens that the speed cameras being targeted for destruction are in those 20 or 30 zones. And often were installed at the request of residents due to feeling unsafe as a pedestrian in their own villages. Obviously these same residents are upset when the cameras are destroyed.

So what is the solution? It's clear that many motorists view residential speed limits as an affront. They don't want them, and will actively ignore them.

In a related move, we're going to adopt 20mph for urban zones similar to Wales. There is a large outcry from people down here claiming they will simply ignore the changes and continue at 30mph (or whatever speed they prefer given that 30 is already too slow for some).

*Blatant lies, it's always overcast and raining down here

 

[FoxEye]

How many have you destroyed?

None. I'm in favour of them in residential areas. As said I crawl around in resi zones, mostly because I'm a massive cat obsessive and would be absolutely mortified if I ever hit one. Sod the children

 

[FoxEye]

Many of the 20mph signs in my area have been painted black and almost nobody is doing 20mph.

And if you do go 20 the car behind tail gates you worse than i have ever seen in my life, i had a massive truck behind me on Friday and i thought he was going to smash into me at one point, he was so close to my car that it is a serious hazard.

One thing I wonder is whether the people doing this will ultimately succeed.

If we will simply given up because replacing the cameras is too expensive and we don't have the means to catch these people.

Here in Cornwall, the police put out several statements asking if they would please stop, because it's awfully mean, and it costs the public purse money to repair them. I would have though the desperate tone of their messaging would simply encourage people, knowing that they have no real answer to the people doing the damage.

 

[FoxEye]

Hard to say how it will pan out long term, there is only so much the public will put up with before they start smashing or painting cameras and signs in the middle of the night.
And i think if the Wales example is rolled out UK wide then it wont go down well, 20mph is awkward. Im forever having to look at the dash since lower gears are very sensitive to light changes in pressure.

It's worth bearing in mind that some of these cameras only exist because the locals petitioned for them in the first place.

So it's a question of whose will should take priority, the villagers or the motorists (who don't like the limit).

 

[FoxEye]

I think it's mostly it just feeling like it's taking a thousand years to get anywhere, the novelty of obeying it wore off pretty quickly when you need to actually need to do things in life.

And yeah people don't have much patience for people doing 15-20, like i say people need to get on with life and don't have the time to sit dawdling along at 20 for 2 miles so they just overtake if they can't make them speed up by tailgating.

Because most of these 20 limits are in residential zones, I have to ask...
So what do we do with the people who (and this will of course happen) hit a child crossing the road, whilst doing 30 in a newly-made 20 zone?
Esp if there is a chance that the collision might not have happened at 20?
Do we effectively concede that the real limit is 30 and let the driver off, or throw the book at them, because the number on the sign says 20?

 

[FoxEye]

Living in a village where we have extremely narrow pavements and an A road that people like to zoom down, accelerating between the two speed cameras to save 4 seconds, I do appreciate the ones that we have. One more between the two we've got would be handy.

I just don't think that factors into many people's thinking. (How nice or otherwise it is to be a pedestrian).
They've already said that one goal is to make people feel better about walking and cycling, but I don't think most motorists care, in all honesty. It's all about how good it is to drive.
The driving experience literally trumps every other concern when you talk to most Brits.

 

[FoxEye]

Speed cameras are money generators and they are sold as such by the companies making them.

Improve driver education rather than put cameras up IMO.

You can't educate people to be considerate.

Speeding in residential areas where the locals have campaigned for a speed camera to be installed, is very much a lack of consideration.

I said earlier, many motorists only care about the driving experience. How their driving affects other road users - well, they just don't care. Other road users are a nuisance!

For instance, I've spoken to some very well educated people who hate cyclists with a passion, and wish they were banned from public roads.

 

[FoxEye]

Half the population in the UK would fail their driving test if they attempted it today (probably). Driving standards have massively gone down hill. I think the lack of police presence makes people feel they can drive how they want with no regard for rules. It's a scary place out there on the roads. A lot of hate, anger, entitlement and selfishness. I see a lot more road rage and aggression.
I don't really get the speed thing though. Doing 50mph straight through mini roundabouts without a care in the world just makes me wonder what on earth is going through these people's heads. The airbag at some point no doubt.

It feels like that. Not so long ago I was driving around some minor country roads with blind bends and very little vis (typical in Cornwall if you leave the A30...) Some (bloke!) in a black luxury car came up behind me and was literally almost bumper to bumper. I came to a stop at a crossroads, and just as I pull away this chap screams past me revving like hell and beeping his horn. Pretty much starting his overtake on the junction.

I guess my crime was to be a bit cautious on a narrow road with no vis, but this is apparently a heinous crime worthy of being intimidated.

Again, these people can't be trained or taught to drive better. They are who they are. Their driving is a reflection of their personality. I will go out on a limb and guess that there aren't many newly qualified drivers in high-end cars either, so this wasn't an inexperienced driver.

 

[FoxEye]

Well, this thread has been just like everywhere else. People really are split down the middle.
Far more drivers than I'd ever realised object to 30mph speed limits in residential areas.
Given that speed cameras only "charge" you for going above the limit, the truth must be that drivers want to exceed 30mph in heavily built-up areas.
I said earlier I happily do ~85 on dc/motorways, but damn, I crawl around where people live. It bothers me that people don't want to slow down where you've got animals, OAPs, kids, etc.
Funny old world.

 

[FoxEye]

Another two cut down in a single night on Wednesday. The police have no leads and no idea who is doing it. One of them was slap bang in a city of 30k people. Somebody must know.

Eventually the money to replace them will have to be taken from another service. The morons doing it don't seem to care about the cost of their damages, tho.