Wednesday 27th August 2008

Helicopters To Catch Speeding Drivers

Essex Police could track speeders from the sky

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High speed cameras?

DRIVERS in Essex could soon be caught speeding by a police helicopter armed with a radar device. Around 20 signs are being placed around the county to warn drivers they are being watched from the sky.

Alongside the radar tracking equipment the helicopters are understood to be carrying a ‘Skyshout’ public address system which would warn drivers they are being tracked. The choppers will carry automatic number plate recognition that can identify a car from 700ft.

Norman Hume, chairman of the Essex Casualty Reduction Board, which aims to lower road casualties, said: 'We are seeing accidents in Essex dramatically reduced as a result of our intervention and education campaign but need to make more impact on motorcycle accidents. There is a perception it is sometimes easier for motorcyclists to evade detection of offences because of the speed they travel at. We feel signs warning of the likelihood of detection by air will be an extra incentive for motorcyclists in particular, and all motorists, to drive safely.'

Campaign group the TaxPayers Alliance has estimated that the helicopter will cost around £1,000 an hour to run. Captain Gatso of Motorists Against Detection said: ‘Essex tax payers should be outraged at the way the police are wasting their money – get the cops on the streets.’

[allforone]

What a fantastic use of taxpayers money.

fkwits.

[fiesta86]

what a load of dim wits who the hell voted these people in, WHATEVER NEXT. I have an idea give the money to the air ambulance thats ware i would prefer my hard earned tax to go, I GIVE UP.

[Assmask]

Skyshout! That's exactly what is needed for a speeding motorist.

[jollygreengiant]

Glad I don't live in Essex.

[Accelebrate]

They've had this in Manchester for a while haven't they?

[Poledriver]

Do you think Captain Gatso and co. will be getting one of these?

[DannyT]

So - if we are evil enough to drive a car that emits 227g/km of CO2 we are considered to be monumentally evil. However, if the Police want to waste £1,000 an hour of our money, and emit goodness knows how much CO2 into the atmosphere we are supposed to applaud them for their attitude to road safety?

I am sorry, but what on earth is going on? I don't even have the energy to rant about this, I am just so downtrodden by the whole pathetic left-wing, multi-cultural, do-gooding, enviromentalist, "caring", health and safety, politically correct, smug, self-satisfied, economy trashing band of idiots who have minimal experience outside the protective life of Westminster and Public Sector telling us what we cannot do.

What a depressing state of affairs.

[illmonkey]

So im driving at 61mph in a 60 zone. So captin tracks me, and speaks to me over this glorified PA system. I then think "what the bloody hell is that, where is it comming from" so look about for something then crash into a bike.

Good idea.

[Accelebrate]

Caught on the job?


Presumably if there's a burglary nearby or a road accident the helicopter will be put to a decent use and go off after the real criminals or airlift those who weren't saved from the bad driving of others by a government obsessed with taxing motorists based on a number?

Wishful thinking I know... Surely if you really want to reduce road deaths giving the money spent on cameras to the air ambulance would actually save more lives.

Edited by Accelebrate on Wednesday 27th August 11:15

[bizniss]

Any chance we can have some news about actual cars today instead of this web traffic grabbing sensationlist guff about crap-government-taxing-us-all-to-death-in-nanny-state-rip-off-Britain that seems to be cropping up here all to often lately?

That is all.

[don logan]

YEP!!!! what a fantastic distraction! constantly trying to look above you to see if you`re being tracked by chopper squad!then mis-reading the road and causing an accident! maybe it could double as an air ambulance.

illmonkey said:

So im driving at 61mph in a 60 zone. So captin tracks me, and speaks to me over this glorified PA system. I then think "what the bloody hell is that, where is it comming from" so look about for something then crash into a bike.

Good idea.

[Skipppy]

illmonkey said:

So im driving at 61mph in a 60 zone. So captin tracks me, and speaks to me over this glorified PA system. I then think "what the bloody hell is that, where is it comming from" so look about for something then crash into a bike.

Good idea.

Exactly.

What a fking fantastic idea.

And £1000 an hour to run? Jesus Christ. I can see why i pay £140 a month to have 4 bin bags taken from my flat.

[SleeperCell]

How long before they start using automated UAVs instead of fixed speed cameras?

[PhantomPH]

I really struggle to take anyone called 'Captain Gatso' seriously. Wonder if the title comes with a cape and some credibility. "Motorists Against Detection" Is also a dubious name. Sounds awfully like "Criminals Against Being Caught".

Might I suggest "Chris Jones of Motorists For Fairness", perhaps?

I don't remember the last time I heard any credible source cite someone with a super-hero name.

[Puff Puff]

It's hardly news, roads in Derbyshire have been patrolled from the air for some time. Roadside signs warn of it, e.g. on the A6.

[sirtyro]

£1000 an hour?! They are going to have to give out around 17 tickets an hour just to brake even. Seems a bit hypocritical to tell us to save fuel when that seems like such a waste

[DucatiGary]

not sure who picked the 1k per hour number out the air but its nearer 10k per hour to man fuel and maintain the thing.

[rockystarr]

Yet another waste of taxpayer's money. When are these berks in power are going to relise that the money should not be spent on cameras but better education, better roads and better road signs, at the end of the day its driving like a tt that causes accidents not speeding a little over. There speen vented.

[Fidgits]

[mchammer89]

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