Should speed cameras have the speed limit.........
Discussion
iandbeech said:
........that applies to it on the rear of the camera. All too often I see people obviously not sure what the limit is (as there is no sign anywhere) and slow down to way below the actual limit.
It would fit just right on the yellow panel
I agree. I've thought this a few times as I drove down the A34 through Staffordshire. The A34 has so many cameras and the speed restrictions change every 2 miles. Will
Yes. Plod would argue that you shold know the speed limit of wherever you happen to be. But of course when you see one you don't think 'Phew, there's a friendly yellow box keeping me safe in this nasty scary world, you think '
, it's a gatso, what speed am I doing?' and you try to think back up the road to the last sign. And of course you can't remember in the 2 secs it takes you to get to the thing. So you brake to 30 just in case there was a 30 sign you missed.
All part of the fun of modern motoring.
, it's a gatso, what speed am I doing?' and you try to think back up the road to the last sign. And of course you can't remember in the 2 secs it takes you to get to the thing. So you brake to 30 just in case there was a 30 sign you missed. All part of the fun of modern motoring.
Yes, certainly. I'm sick and tired of driving along past endless scamera warnings (and doubtlessly hidden scameras) with absolutely NO indication of exactly how fast I'm supposed to be going. What annoys me is that it happens in NSL zones, and drivers see the signs and instinctively slow to 30, meaning whereas before I could get somewhere fairly quick and have a bit of fun while I was at it (without breaking the speed limit thanks to the twisties), I now have to dawdle behind Rover man and Nissan woman as they chug along waiting to get flashed at by a Government Instamatic. 
simpo two said:
But of course when you see one you don't think 'Phew, there's a friendly yellow box keeping me safe in this nasty scary world, you think '
All part of the fun of modern motoring.
...and just think how much attention has been diverted away from real potential hazards like people / animals / side turnings / manhole covers / slippery wet leaves etc etc.
I try really try my hardest not to get caught but is happened a few times, like you say "Is it a 30?, I'm sure it's a 40....." twice. Next time, I will be considering doing something about it. All the cameras in SE Cornwall are sited in revenue hotspots. Having said, the Police are pretty human though, compared to some areas.
I accept that ideally we should always know what speed limit applies to the road we're on, but I find it is now very difficult to do that.
Back in the 'good old days' it was 30 mph in built up areas, and unlimited elsewhere. Now we have so many changes of limit within relatively short distances, it can be difficult to remember what the current one is.
You now can't even look at an area and judge what might be a likely limit, as you could easily be 20 mph adrift in your guess.
Putting a repeater on the camera box therefore seems a good idea to me. Better still of course would be to get rid of the cameras.
I vote for the latter.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Back in the 'good old days' it was 30 mph in built up areas, and unlimited elsewhere. Now we have so many changes of limit within relatively short distances, it can be difficult to remember what the current one is.
You now can't even look at an area and judge what might be a likely limit, as you could easily be 20 mph adrift in your guess.
Putting a repeater on the camera box therefore seems a good idea to me. Better still of course would be to get rid of the cameras.
I vote for the latter.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Most of it... That's why accidents are UP 
Just posted the following here
www.cambs.police.uk/campaigns/a14/
Have your say too!!!!
I am pleased there is this opportunity to express ideas about the A14. As a regular user of this route over a number of years, I have seen the amount of problems increase.
I do hope you are approaching the problem with an open mind, instead of the usual fatally flawed approach of "Speed cameras resolve everything" that seems to be popular of late.
I think it's particularly important to focus on the speed camera issue here. Since they were introduced on the A14, it has become a more dangerous stretch of road in my opinion.
The additional problems on this stretch are twofold. Firstly, the high number of cameras mean all the traffic is travelling at the limit. Whilst this may be a good thing in legal terms, it's a bad thing in terms of safety. This causes all the traffic to bunch up.
When the traffic is bunched it leads to the second phenomenon, that of panic camera braking. It only takes one person to think the limit is sixty, or even fifty and they brake. Due to the proximity of traffic, back down the road there will be the potential for an accident.
Why are people taking their eyes off the roads? Perhaps it's to look out for hidden camera vans? I find I allocate a smaller percentage of my time on correct observation as I am looking out for hidden vans.
If you compare the A14 to the A1M, you will see vehicles travelling well in excess of the limit in safer conditions. In my opinion, it's because traffic is allowed to disperse safely. People are more than capable of setting the correct speed for the road, and this doesn't always coincide with 70MPH. So what, 70MPH is just an arbitary figure, it is not and never will be a safe speed.
The other issue here is the nature of where the road runs. It's a major route to the coast and to London. The nature of journeys are usually time pressured. The poor throughput on the road leads to frustration and increased risk taking when even the smallest opportunity for an overtake exists.
The A14 actually needs effort to INCREASE the average speed.
Our safest roads are also our fastest, this is no accident!
Just posted the following here
www.cambs.police.uk/campaigns/a14/
Have your say too!!!!
I am pleased there is this opportunity to express ideas about the A14. As a regular user of this route over a number of years, I have seen the amount of problems increase.
I do hope you are approaching the problem with an open mind, instead of the usual fatally flawed approach of "Speed cameras resolve everything" that seems to be popular of late.
I think it's particularly important to focus on the speed camera issue here. Since they were introduced on the A14, it has become a more dangerous stretch of road in my opinion.
The additional problems on this stretch are twofold. Firstly, the high number of cameras mean all the traffic is travelling at the limit. Whilst this may be a good thing in legal terms, it's a bad thing in terms of safety. This causes all the traffic to bunch up.
When the traffic is bunched it leads to the second phenomenon, that of panic camera braking. It only takes one person to think the limit is sixty, or even fifty and they brake. Due to the proximity of traffic, back down the road there will be the potential for an accident.
Why are people taking their eyes off the roads? Perhaps it's to look out for hidden camera vans? I find I allocate a smaller percentage of my time on correct observation as I am looking out for hidden vans.
If you compare the A14 to the A1M, you will see vehicles travelling well in excess of the limit in safer conditions. In my opinion, it's because traffic is allowed to disperse safely. People are more than capable of setting the correct speed for the road, and this doesn't always coincide with 70MPH. So what, 70MPH is just an arbitary figure, it is not and never will be a safe speed.
The other issue here is the nature of where the road runs. It's a major route to the coast and to London. The nature of journeys are usually time pressured. The poor throughput on the road leads to frustration and increased risk taking when even the smallest opportunity for an overtake exists.
The A14 actually needs effort to INCREASE the average speed.
Our safest roads are also our fastest, this is no accident!
All it needs are some nice friendly neon signs like the ones on A580 and A6 which we passed on way to Manchester. Came off M61 and joined A580 - 50mph- - 3 lane dual carriageway.
After traffic lights (mit red light) - you see Smiley Neon which flashes the speed limit mit bit amber flashing lights. About 1 km further on - PC Gatso is on patrol. (Und a secondary school ist on one side and playing field on the other - the kids use subway and a bridge to get to cross road to both field and bus stops (in lay-by)
After A580 blends into A6 (also 3-lane 50 mph dual) - you see next Smiley flashing up the limit.
Unfortunately the effect is spoiled because there is a slip road mit 30 mph lollipop which obscures the view of the Gatso. Amazing how many brake to 25 mph as a result of this and this - I think - accounts for rear enders as reported in press here.....
They have these around Stockport too - and they appear to work better. They did not have one at the one which was criticised by the coroner though! Perhaps had they done so - chap would have been more hazard aware.....
Colwyn Bay .... 40mph road leading up from the bay to road leading back to A55... lots of new phot signs ... and faded to blank 40 mph repeater signs ...
This is the norm from what we have observed in all serious scamerati hotspots ... which does not give impression that they want us to slow down, does not give impression that they are concerned with road safety ....
but leaves us with strongest impression that all they are after is job security for themselves by raking in as much money as possible on "sales" of tickets
After traffic lights (mit red light) - you see Smiley Neon which flashes the speed limit mit bit amber flashing lights. About 1 km further on - PC Gatso is on patrol. (Und a secondary school ist on one side and playing field on the other - the kids use subway and a bridge to get to cross road to both field and bus stops (in lay-by)
After A580 blends into A6 (also 3-lane 50 mph dual) - you see next Smiley flashing up the limit.
Unfortunately the effect is spoiled because there is a slip road mit 30 mph lollipop which obscures the view of the Gatso. Amazing how many brake to 25 mph as a result of this and this - I think - accounts for rear enders as reported in press here.....
They have these around Stockport too - and they appear to work better. They did not have one at the one which was criticised by the coroner though! Perhaps had they done so - chap would have been more hazard aware.....
Colwyn Bay ....
40mph road leading up from the bay to road leading back to A55... lots of new phot signs ... and faded to blank 40 mph repeater signs ... This is the norm from what we have observed in all serious scamerati hotspots ... which does not give impression that they want us to slow down, does not give impression that they are concerned with road safety ....
but leaves us with strongest impression that all they are after is job security for themselves by raking in as much money as possible on "sales" of tickets
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff