RE: Speed limit goes up
Friday 9th September 2005
Revenue-raiserA speed limit has been raised, from 30mph to 40mph following a period of serious cash-raising by mobile speed cameras.
Speed limit goes up
Limit raised where cop was convicted
Revenue-raiser
It's the stretch of road in Hartlepool where a PC was recently convicted of speeding, as reported on PistonHeads earlier this week (see link below). He was doing 35mph.
On the road in question, the A179 Easington Road southbound, before the West View roundabout, police had installed a mobile speed camera which reportedly caught 1,500 motorists in the space of just four hours, according to the Hartlepool Mail (see link below). Local councillors argued that the rest of the road was strewn with 40mph signs - even the other, northbound carriageway's speed limit is 40mph - and that houses lining the road were set well back.
One councillor said: "There is only one 30mph sign after about a dozen 40mph signs and if you blink you miss it. The police are all for it staying at 30mph because it is a money-making exercise."
The limit has been raised for a 15-month trial period, for which local residents said they were grateful, one of them describing the 30mph limit as "silly".
It won't of course, affect the case of the PC who was convicted -- unless there really is one law for them and another for us.
Links
Image courtesy www.speedcam.co.uk
Discussion
Just watch out because as soon as the "trial" period of the raised limit is over, they will get QUADRUPLE the number of mug motorists caught!
While we are on the subject what about the roadworks that aren't having a 40 limit on a normally 70mph motorway, when all that you pass is all 3 lanes with cones on the hard shoulder. Why aren't the lazy contractors being fined or prosecuted?
While we are on the subject what about the roadworks that aren't having a 40 limit on a normally 70mph motorway, when all that you pass is all 3 lanes with cones on the hard shoulder. Why aren't the lazy contractors being fined or prosecuted?
4wheel drifter said:
Just watch out because as soon as the "trial" period of the raised limit is over, they will get QUADRUPLE the number of mug motorists caught!
While we are on the subject what about the roadworks that aren't having a 40 limit on a normally 70mph motorway, when all that you pass is all 3 lanes with cones on the hard shoulder. Why aren't the lazy contractors being fined or prosecuted?
Because at the end of the cones is a Scamera, makeing all this money
I saw this a couple of times on the M1, 50 limit, cones the hard shoulder, at the weekend, no roadworks, then a scamera nicking nearly everyone they could
Mr F
I'm f@#king sick of it, so I enjoy cars, I'm not a criminal, when did it become acceptable to screw car owners for every penny they've got?
Every fecker and his dog has some rights, some body to stand up for them what do we have? ABD or Safespeed, two privately funded, unsponsored and unsupported organisations who have no power whatsoever. Christ even the AA and RAC couldn't give a toss for the motorist.
I wish we could organise a non motoring day to show the bastards what would happen without cars
Every fecker and his dog has some rights, some body to stand up for them what do we have? ABD or Safespeed, two privately funded, unsponsored and unsupported organisations who have no power whatsoever. Christ even the AA and RAC couldn't give a toss for the motorist.
I wish we could organise a non motoring day to show the bastards what would happen without cars
Firstly, it's the A179 not the 417.
Secondly, this is already being discussed in another thread..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=205920&f=10&h=0
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Friday 9th September 14:12
Secondly, this is already being discussed in another thread..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=205920&f=10&h=0
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Friday 9th September 14:12
Mr Freefall said:
Just watch out because as soon as the "trial" period of the raised limit is over, they will get QUADRUPLE the number of mug motorists caught!
While we are on the subject what about the roadworks that aren't having a 40 limit on a normally 70mph motorway, when all that you pass is all 3 lanes with cones on the hard shoulder. Why aren't the lazy contractors being fined or prosecuted?
Because at the end of the cones is a Scamera, makeing all this money
I saw this a couple of times on the M1, 50 limit, cones the hard shoulder, at the weekend, no roadworks, then a scamera nicking nearly everyone they could
Mr F
I wish they would get these road works completed more quickly instead of dragging feet und causing congestion
They even manage to mess up the signs showing the limit too...they ended up refunding road works fines on A road in Manchester (was ages ago - Mad Doc posted the story per Manchester paper on Paul's site months ago und Peter Speed Limit/ABD was involved in the drivers' fight back over this...)
Mr F said:
Because at the end of the cones is a Scamera, makeing all this money
I saw this a couple of times on the M1, 50 limit, cones the hard shoulder, at the weekend, no roadworks, then a scamera nicking nearly everyone they could
Mr F
This seems to be standard procedure, especially on M1.
If the figure of 1,500 motorists caught in 4 hours is correct, assuming all cough up £60 fixed penalty that equals £90,000 revenue, or £22,500 per hour
Totally agree with the shambolic signage on motorway roadworks. The M4 has been littered with them for ages and sometimes on bank holiday the contractors cover up most but not all the signs and move the cones to the hard shoulder but they leave the speed camera warning signs. Totally confusing or what?
I can definately say they are so greedy that they prosecute all police officers on duty unless they are on immediate priority (blues & twos). To make it worse they get double hit with point on the police driving licence also, which can very quickly get someone grounded doing paperwork at the nick.
If you feel the signs were bad or the limit totally confusing then its worth gathering photo evidence and either refusing the FPN at that time or electing to go to court. However this will invariably have an additional risk of extra points on licence and a few quid more on the fine. This might be worth it if it gets the ineffective and unfair speed traps.
I can definately say they are so greedy that they prosecute all police officers on duty unless they are on immediate priority (blues & twos). To make it worse they get double hit with point on the police driving licence also, which can very quickly get someone grounded doing paperwork at the nick.
If you feel the signs were bad or the limit totally confusing then its worth gathering photo evidence and either refusing the FPN at that time or electing to go to court. However this will invariably have an additional risk of extra points on licence and a few quid more on the fine. This might be worth it if it gets the ineffective and unfair speed traps.
For some time now, the anomalous situation has prevailed where a motorist can travel from a 30 limit to a 40 limit and back to a 30 limit, within a very short stretch of road.
In fact, this comedy is very prevalent in the area where I live and travel regularly.
If the “locals” have got a grip on the creepy and surreptitious manner of the signage – it certainly manages to catch the unwary visitor out.
Unfortunately, I believe – along with the vast majority of others – that this is simply a way for the Scumera Pratnerships to justify their simple amoebic existence.
The more revenue they raise, the more successful they can convince their political (and other group) masters, that they are effective.
In fact, this comedy is very prevalent in the area where I live and travel regularly.
If the “locals” have got a grip on the creepy and surreptitious manner of the signage – it certainly manages to catch the unwary visitor out.
Unfortunately, I believe – along with the vast majority of others – that this is simply a way for the Scumera Pratnerships to justify their simple amoebic existence.
The more revenue they raise, the more successful they can convince their political (and other group) masters, that they are effective.
The fundamental issue is... the legislation relating to driving without due care and attention or inconsiderate driving relates to the driving being below that a reasonably competent average driver would do. If speed cameras are being place in such a way that it is catching a whopping proportion of the motorists passing then does that mean we have a massive concentration of unsafe and incompetent drivers on the roads or is the camera placed or signed incorrectly. The only dicretion a camera can give is if it ran out of film and unlike an officers takes no account to the road/ weather conditions, time of day or other factors such as safety gap between vehicles and manner of driving. I have concerns on the fixed digital ones that don't warn motorists with a flash that they have been speeding. A motorist could be unaware of the limit or the fact they speeding and still come round the corner and plough into a cyclist. So you can't really consider it a safety camera,as pointed out by ring, as the safety benefit is not there. Particularly for the area visitor, who is most likely to need to be reminded of the need to slow down in a particular area.
Distinct lack of logic. I wonder if all the money used to buy speedcamera warning gear was put into decent tyres, upgraded brakes and good suspension, whilst all the driver concentration was converted from traffic calming bumps and camera spotting to better hazard awareness would things be safer?
Distinct lack of logic. I wonder if all the money used to buy speedcamera warning gear was put into decent tyres, upgraded brakes and good suspension, whilst all the driver concentration was converted from traffic calming bumps and camera spotting to better hazard awareness would things be safer?
Mr Freefall said:
Sense prevails.
Watch this space for Plod that gets off speeding though, you know its going to happen...
Mr F
>> Edited by Mr Freefall on Friday 9th September 10:37
He probably will be done .. the partnership in question is Clevelend the cop who has been targeted is from Durham.
Now which force has been vocal in the North East AGAINST speed cameras used instead of policing. ?!?!?! Oh yes thats Durham.
PS that section is about 200 Yards from my house .. If I get a chance I will post a pic to show just how stupid it is, and the signs still say 30 by the way. The van cleveland use is also a bit nasty .... simple "escort van" type. Only markings are "THINK" logo in the side and motorway style chevrons on the rear. The camera itself is plain black tripod mounted in front of van so hidden from traffic ... only view you have is a white van with motorway markings as you travel down the area.
Saying that recently on that section the local partnership put up speed camera warning signs about every 30-40 yards I KID YOU NOT along that stretch. I wonder if they trying to head off some blame here ?
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