New speed cameras.

[Boomy]

Did anyone else see the news regarding cameras to replace speed ramps.Sigh.

Trials are go by all accounts.

They are as tall as lamp posts and simply take a picture of you and the plate and time you over whatever distance they are set to.

I know that isn't new technology, but they could start appearing in all those speed ramped roads now.

20 MPH over half a mile will seem like walking

[franco12]

Ok- Have my tin hat on.

What is the problem here?

Anywhere with a 20mph limit is a high risk hazard-most likely young pedestrians from school.

Point 1

Why would you take a westfield up a street with speed bumps and want to drive faster than 20mph?

Point 2

Why would you want to drive faster than 20mph on a high risk 20mph road ?

[Boomy]

24 hour schools huh?

Not sure what Westfileds have to do with it.

Anyone who suggests they stick religiously to a 20/30 mph limit for the entire length of a speed ramped section of road is probably being a bit liberal with the truth.

I wonder how long it will be before someone gets run over due to the driver concentrating on his speedo (not that old chestnut!

Tbh it's all just getting on my tits now is all.My womans old man got caught a while ago for approx 35 mph in a 30 zone near where he lives.There were no schools etc in the area btw, just a lane with fields either side.A 40+ year blemish free driving record down the toilet.

Speed ramps don't make money that's the long and the short of it.Obviously the 100 million a year they get now isn't enough.

Sure we only have ourselves to blame but it is just so so easy to get caught out these days.

[pistonbroke]

I'm with boomy on this one , the country has gone speed camera mad and its nothing at all to do with road safety .

speeding motorists have become every one who drives , weather they are  good or bad .

cameras do not stop the idiots who flount the law , joy riders etc.

Neither have they reduced road accidents

They are quite simply the "new"   fund raising system for  a government who have cocked up the economy  

[philsugrue]

I'm with boomy on this one , the country has gone speed camera mad and its nothing at all to do with road safety .

speeding motorists have become every one who drives , weather they are  good or bad .

cameras do not stop the idiots who flount the law , joy riders etc.

Neither have they reduced road accidents

They are quite simply the "new"   fund raising system for  a government who have cocked up the economy  

Agreed....................Speed cameras...nowt to do with road safety ALL to do with stealth tax. bl**** politicians

[Boomy]

You asked me why i would want to drive over speed ramps in a Westfield at over 20mph.

I was simply pointing out that westfields had nothing to do with my original post, hence i was unsure why you mentioned them.I would probably get out and push my westy over speed ramps!.

Congrats for being such a law abiding citizen though Sir.

I must however class myself as a criminal because i have no doubt that in the 200 yard gap between certain speed ramps, i have crept up to a society wrecking 24 mph once or twice at 3.00am in the morning.

(P.S, the above all made more sense before you deleted your post about cracking sumps and sticking to speed limits franco )

[pistonbroke]

You deserve flogging for that hyienous crime  

[franco12]

The reason i deleted was that I figured i wasn't going to change any ones mind on this. Boomy was just on the ball.

----

The Reality

The Law is set and advertised on each road-You choose to obey or take the gamble.

If you take the gamble you have to accept that you might be caught by the technology of the day.

Why the camera's are placed where they are is irrelevant. The limit is set. You take the bet - You risk being caught.

---

The 20mph limit was boomy's initial point- I still say driving above this limit is irresponsible. The zone's are actually more like 400-500 yards. It's not asking a lot.

---

The phrase 'stealth tax' was made up by boring pin stripe westminster types who had nothing to offer - If you're aware of a tax- it's hardly stealth.

[Boomy]

But you make it sound as though everyone consciously decides on whether to take a gamble.That is quite often not the case at all.

I'm sure we all know what the reality is, but why do we suddenly become an immediate threat at 34 or 74 mph?.

I appreciate there has to be some sort of system in place to curb idiotic driving, but surely nobody can deny that conversations along the lines of "well, this is easy money" have cropped up in government and council offices around the country.

Also, judging by the amount of speed ramps and other traffic calming affairs now in place, one would assume they have the desired effect.The government/councils must of done their homework right?.So why replace them?.

Are there really still thousands of accident black spots in between these speed ramps, or do they know that once again they will simply be quids in?.

I don't have all the answers of course, i don't know of a fair way to differentiate between someones Gran on a shopping run or Saxo-neon-sub woofer-boy who is out to show off to his mates.

But it all just seems a bit OTT to me.Especially when you hear tales that certain cameras are removed or relocted due to not making enough money.

[Rory's Dad]

There is a 20 mph zone located near the entrances to a primary and secondary school in Harrogate.  The road is wide, has wide verges and one kink in it.  When the school children are about, using the pelican crossing (or not), traffic density increases (buses, 4x4s etc) and speeds are low. Other than in the mornings, around lunchtime and in the afternoons during term time the reason for the 20mph zone (complete with electronic speed detecting 'slow down' signs) is non existent.

Silly (IMO of course) and those lights do make me cross

Rory's Dad

[Azzacat]

I totaly agrre with most of what has been said, I believe speed cameras are a simple easy fund raising exersise,

If they could, think of the funds that could be raised for other offences,

I'm sure we ALL do, ever took a swig of a drink while driving? Light up a fag? Eyed up a pretty blonde ?

if you look at the small print these and many others can be classed as breaking the law, its just the fact they cant efficiantly detect these offences..............................YET!!!!

It's way over the top now!

[Boomy]

Still, you may only be able to do 30 mph on a motorway due to road works for 10 miles (even when they are not in use) or 40 mph on stretches of dual carriageway that would probably be just as safe with a 100 mph limit.But all you have to do for a speed fix is turn off into a country lane!.60 mph signs welcome and encourage you to speed on such roads, even though they are just about wide enough to accommodate a small pony and have dozens of blind bends that would challenge any world class rally driver.

Heck, you may even have time to stop and admire farmer Giles wall that he constructed from old tyres shortly after the 15th vehicle that week entered into his sitting room through the French windows.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

The news item on BBC last evening said that whole estates could be covered with the system and you'll be timed over your transit through said estate. Fine for rat-runners but what about Jack-the-Lad who lives there. He won't emerge until 8 the next morning and his average will be 0.1mph despite the 70mph approach to his house.

[geelhoed]

Have had them for years over here, not replacing sleeping policemen unfortunately, but on the motorways.

You are timed in different sections of 3+ km long, with variable limits.

Makes for a very sedate traffic when everybody is doing 50mph.

[michaelc]

1. 20 mph where there might be children playing is totally appropriate. Why would anyone want to risk a child's life for the sake of going quicker than is safe?

2. But obviously some people do, so the law has to be enforced somehow.

2. Speed bumps slow down ambulances and fire engines

3. Average speed cameras therefore seem a sensible answer to enforcing realistically set limits

4. But if the M-way speed limit was raised to an appropriate level I'd be more convinced that they're not just after my money