It had been coming..
Discussion
Today, as everyday on my way to work, I descended the Archway hill on the A1 into London on my motorbike; as usual through the Safety Camera at 30 mph and whilst going through the Camera markings I look high up left to see which way the Bus Lane anti-congestion camera was facing to see if I could filter between the bus lane and first carriageway without getting ticketed.
But today when I looked I didn't see the bus lane camera, for some reason possibly looking at the speed camera markings, so I took a few extra moments to look upwards over my left shoulder. Bad move as it turns out.
When I look forward I'm closing on the back of a stationary Transit Van 10 metres ahead at 30 mph downhill in the wet. I know I'm toast so bailing onto the tarmac and missing the van was a happy relief; bashes to bike and rider but nothing serious.
I don’t try to claim this prang is anybodies fault but my own for compromising my concentration to bend some fairly noddy rules and save myself a few minutes. It just seems in an age where the AA are suggesting not to lay flowers at the side of the road because it distracts road users, that Safety enforcement paraphernalia that distracts at least me is everywhere !
But today when I looked I didn't see the bus lane camera, for some reason possibly looking at the speed camera markings, so I took a few extra moments to look upwards over my left shoulder. Bad move as it turns out.
When I look forward I'm closing on the back of a stationary Transit Van 10 metres ahead at 30 mph downhill in the wet. I know I'm toast so bailing onto the tarmac and missing the van was a happy relief; bashes to bike and rider but nothing serious.
I don’t try to claim this prang is anybodies fault but my own for compromising my concentration to bend some fairly noddy rules and save myself a few minutes. It just seems in an age where the AA are suggesting not to lay flowers at the side of the road because it distracts road users, that Safety enforcement paraphernalia that distracts at least me is everywhere !
Streetcop said:
Glad you're ok...
Still at a loss how looking for cameras made you fall off....How do you go on with other cars, motorbikes, buses, pedestrians, dogs etc etc etc etc
Because they hide the f*&king things to gererate revenue scameras look a lot better when they are used as streetlamps
kevinday said:
Street 
Gary, they really have got to you haven't they.
Unless this is somebody else with your log-in!
....no it's me....I know what you mean and at times you're right... but I genuinely mean the business about penalty points...I was in the military for 6 years prior to being a copper and have sped about all over the place. Even as a BiB, I've done 2 and a half times the speed limit in appropriate places and never been caught on camera or stopped by the BiB. Why? Because there are places to do it and places not to do it...
I'm no
Street
Obviously, the speed took place in Germany on the unrestricted autobahns.
Streetcop said:
Street
Gary, they really have got to you haven't they.
Unless this is somebody else with your log-in!
but I genuinely mean the business about penalty points...I was in the military for 6 years prior to being a copper and have sped about all over the place. Even as a BiB, I've done 2 and a half times the speed limit in appropriate places and never been caught on camera or stopped by the BiB. Why? Because there are places to do it and places not to do it...
I'm no
Street
Obviously, the speed took place in Germany on the unrestricted autobahns.
Ive managed to do the same ....but in the UK
Streetcop said:
Street
Gary, they really have got to you haven't they.
Unless this is somebody else with your log-in!
but I genuinely mean the business about penalty points...I was in the military for 6 years prior to being a copper and have sped about all over the place. Even as a BiB, I've done 2 and a half times the speed limit in appropriate places and never been caught on camera or stopped by the BiB. Why? Because there are places to do it and places not to do it...
I'm no
Street
Obviously, the speed took place in Germany on the unrestricted autobahns.
Er! Street! How can you do 2 and a half times the speed limit then if there isn't one?
St have you got one of those training videos from a few years back where the driver is giving commentary on road signs, markings etc etc, typical Grade 1 driving stuff?
If so do you think we could repeat the route today, with the same type of commentary. My bet is you'd have to be going half the speed not to trip over your tongue. That's what I call distraction.
Interesting experiment don't you think?
have you got one of those training videos from a few years back where the driver is giving commentary on road signs, markings etc etc, typical Grade 1 driving stuff? If so do you think we could repeat the route today, with the same type of commentary. My bet is you'd have to be going half the speed not to trip over your tongue. That's what I call distraction.
Interesting experiment don't you think?
Streetcop said:
but children and other things hide and appear from nowhere....drive to the conditions and speed appropriately...
I don't know how people manage to get so many points on their licences, I really don't...
Street
Told you - come to LanCASH£re - where the tolerance is set lower than elsewhere and the scammers ping......where they zap anything that moves on the off-chance. That is how they get so many people with points on licence - they have driven through Lancs....
You do not venture into that county without an RA
nor without visiting the website mit the useful list if you want to avoid points.... And despite this - they still have high numbers going to A&E as result of road crunches.....
Streetcop said:
but children and other things hide and appear from nowhere....drive to the conditions and speed appropriately...
I don't know how people manage to get so many points on their licences, I really don't...
Street
That's kind of the whole point. You can now be speeding "appropriately" and still be relieved of your license/hard-earned beacuse the damn things are everywhere and the speed limits are set cash-generatingly low.
Streetcop said:
but children and other things hide and appear from nowhere....drive to the conditions and speed appropriately...
I don't know how people manage to get so many points on their licences, I really don't...
Street
Street
, in my experience normal drivers and riders do not feel the need to search out children and dogs that are behind them when travelling at 30mph. Cars, buses, etc. are somewhat easier to spot than scameras too and therefore require little more than a glance to locate in most situations. ETA: Glad you're OK Andy.
Most kids in London would struggle to get to 30 miles per year.
>> Edited by V8 Archie on Tuesday 28th September 10:37
Streetcop said:
but children and other things hide and appear from nowhere....drive to the conditions and speed appropriately...
Yes Liebchen - und they have played chicken recently on M61 with very nasty end result for all concerned.
Education for all - mit strongest language for the children about dangers of playing near a road and need to learn how to cross and use roads safely ........no pussyfooting around mit the gentlest voice. Sock it to them straight in firmest, most meaningful language!
Und whilst we are about it - hammer the COAST thing to all those on wheels! (Und that includes children on mini-motorbikes, cars, in the local park where poorly supervised three year old nearly got my labrador the other day. His parent came in for my sternest voice over that.) It also includes roller skaters, skateboarders as well.....Ach! Und HORSEY people!
There! Sorted! Sort of!
Swilly said:
I thought bikes were allowed in bus lanes, that one in particular.
Didn't have a problem for a year along the A1 ‘lanes and Holloway Road, then got a ticket for 100 notes for the Islington Council retirement fund. Maybe it’s only some cameras some of the time?
StreetCop said:
Glad you're ok... Still at a loss how looking for cameras made you fall off....How do you go on with other cars, motorbikes, buses, pedestrians, dogs etc etc etc etc
Like millions of others I don’t objectively know whether I’m a perceptive driver! The driver licensing system seemed to think 10 years ago that my hazard perception was okay when I passed my driving test pass first time no faults (wow wee), more recently Direct Access motorcycle test pass first time (2 minors), 100% theory test (aimed at 16 yr old scrotes).
Since education and re-assessment for all drivers is not mandatory it’s frankly difficult to know, although I keep promising myself to invest further in my own education.
I do know that I’ve never been pulled over by the police, and that I have [good] experience earned and learned over 10 years and 150k miles in all conditions on two wheels and four. Until last year I’d never been snapped and like you I couldn’t understand how people didn’t see the flaming things. Then, unlike you, I got ‘shot’ head on from ¼ mile away traveling at 81mph on the motorway by an SCP van with no markings on the rear doors. Months later I missed a 40 limit sign because it was hidden in a bus stop behind a bus, and not signposted on the other side of the road as required by the law.
Squarely my fault this time. I allowed myself to be distracted by cameras operated by the Police and the Council for (I guess) 3 to 4 seconds @ 30mph. 50 metres...doh. I supposed I could have mowed down someone stupid enough to leap across the concrete barriers and play on the dual carriageway but it’s unlikely !!.
My general point is only that enforcement methods that take brains of the road; do little to educate (me) or change (my) behaviour; that carry financial and in some cases license penalties i.e. actually measures that incentivise momentarily focusing attention elsewhere than the road where the danger is – are dumb.
Those with the correct credentials should police the roads – the BiBs. Not beancounters, not politicians, not ‘safety’ lobbyists.
Most drivers do not want to loose their licences and with more scameras around it getting far too easy to do. Generally a hazard such as child/person/animal can be in the worst case steered around. The only thing you can do in the face of a scamera is brake. Now it will be argued that you know the limit and stick to it but it's becoming evident this isn't happening.
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