Great alternative to scameras

[andywaterfall]

In Autocar this week, there was a letter describing what they have in Portugal, instead of scameras.

Apparently, a "Speed Control" sign at the beginning of a village warns you to slow down; if you don't, traffic lights 200 yards along stop you for 20 seconds.

Anyone see any flaws in the practical working of this? Seems brilliant to me.

This has to be better than finding out 2 weeks later that you were going too fast. Only obvious disadvantage is lack of speeding tax revenues.

[Davel]

Maybe if the traffic light stayed red till you fed it a fiver?

[autismuk]

One speeder would hold up all the traffic behind him. However, the peer pressure thing would be useful, and it's still in the speeders interest not to speed.

It'd also be fairly easy to implement, you could probably tweak the speed & slow down board things to do it.

Of course, no income.

[nonegreen]

As speeding is only responsible for about 70 deaths a year perhaps a better alternative would be to focus on the cause of accidents.

Drunken Pedestrians
Tailgating
Unsupervised children
Drink and Drugs
Poor driver training
Speed Cameras

Or even focus on the cause of unnecessary death

MRSA
Speed humps
Public Transport
Poor working conditions
Poor Diet
Smoking
Bad work life balance
Falls from height
Suicide


All of these kill more people than speeding so why not attack them?

Any one Mr Blair, just pick one and leave us alone

[DeltaFox]

nonegreen said:

As speeding is only responsible for about 70 deaths a year perhaps a better alternative would be to focus on the cause of accidents. Drunken Pedestrians Tailgating Unsupervised children Drink and Drugs Poor driver training Speed Cameras Or even focus on the cause of unnecessary death MRSA Speed humps Public Transport Poor working conditions Poor Diet Smoking Bad work life balance Falls from height Suicide All of these kill more people than speeding so why not attack them? Any one Mr Blair, just pick one and leave us alone

Or else!

['King Deadly]

nonegreen said:

As speeding is only responsible for about 70 deaths a year perhaps a better alternative would be to focus on the cause of accidents. Drunken Pedestrians Tailgating Unsupervised children Drink and Drugs Poor driver training Speed Cameras Or even focus on the cause of unnecessary death MRSA Speed humps Public Transport Poor working conditions Poor Diet Smoking Bad work life balance Falls from height Suicide

But how many of these can you rake in a fortune while pretending to address?

[egoboss]

andywaterfall said:

In Autocar this week, there was a letter describing what they have in Portugal, instead of scameras. Apparently, a "Speed Control" sign at the beginning of a village warns you to slow down; if you don't, traffic lights 200 yards along stop you for 20 seconds. Anyone see any flaws in the practical working of this? Seems brilliant to me. This has to be better than finding out 2 weeks later that you were going too fast. Only obvious disadvantage is lack of speeding tax revenues.

no way.

that is far too effective and sensible!

also, it doesn't promote a feeling of big-brother is always right and is always watching you: so we all end up in the state where everything st tony bliar says we agree with, by rote.

;-)

[GreenV8S]

I don't believe the aim is or ever was to reduce injury, it is to discourage use of private transport. The safety and environmental arguments are just a rationalisation.

[james_j]

nonegreen said:

As speeding is only responsible for about 70 deaths a year perhaps a better alternative would be to focus on the cause of accidents. Drunken Pedestrians Tailgating Unsupervised children Drink and Drugs Poor driver training Speed Cameras Or even focus on the cause of unnecessary death MRSA Speed humps Public Transport Poor working conditions Poor Diet Smoking Bad work life balance Falls from height Suicide All of these kill more people than speeding so why not attack them? Any one Mr Blair, just pick one and leave us alone

Indeed. "Speed" is an insignificant problem so does not need addressing.

Like you say, all the above are genuine problems warranting attention.

[apache]

james_j said:

nonegreen said: As speeding is only responsible for about 70 deaths a year perhaps a better alternative would be to focus on the cause of accidents. Drunken Pedestrians Tailgating Unsupervised children Drink and Drugs Poor driver training Speed Cameras Or even focus on the cause of unnecessary death MRSA Speed humps Public Transport Poor working conditions Poor Diet Smoking Bad work life balance Falls from height Suicide All of these kill more people than speeding so why not attack them? Any one Mr Blair, just pick one and leave us alone Indeed. "Speed" is an insignificant problem so does not need addressing. Like you say, all the above are genuine problems warranting attention.

If they were concerned for our welfare perhaps but,

[-DeaDLocK-]

andywaterfall said:

Only obvious disadvantage is lack of speeding tax revenues.

Bingo!

[Globulators]

I've used this in Portugal too, I call them 'speed sensitive traffic lights'.
They work.

Having used them and seen them work is good, because you then know with certainty that speed cameras and speed traps are simple revenue raisers, however brain dead/washed the officer using them is, therefore one can dispense with any respect, guilt or care when encountering them.

There is no excuse not to use them here.
Know why they use them there instead of cameras?
Because a camera wouldn't be there for long...
... burnt and crispy sir? Lightly tenderised first..

[james_j]

Globulators said:

I've used this in Portugal too, I call them 'speed sensitive traffic lights'. They work.

I agree with what you say on the various speed control methods coming down to revenue versus no revenue, but I would question you when you say the "speed sensitive traffic lights work"

What do you mean by "work"?

The idea I understand is "safety". Do they reduce accidents? I doubt it. I would have thought they would be a nuisance, causing drivers to speedo gaze to ensure they don't trigger a red light, which may in fact be dangerous.

[Globulators]

They work because they always slow people down, and people don't mind them (they are not after your money).

Speedo gazing is not a factor because there is no big deal if you get 'caught'. If you remember then you cruise along slowly, if you don't (or you're looking out the front window at the time - shock horror!) the lights change and you cruise up to the light. No big deal.

There is a respect thing too: They just want you to slow down, no heavy threats or wanting to start a war there. It's cool.

Speedo gazing here is essential because you absolutely do not want to be responsible for your actions should the camera go off, burning 'public' property is not something I want to spend any time on. So I gaze at the speedo here, sod anything else

Edited to add:
They turn red well in advance - no sudden
change, some people don't even notice they
are in a 'system' for slowing them down.

>> Edited by Globulators on Sunday 27th February 10:48