Bet they are kicking themselves!
Discussion
what a money making opportunity missed!
www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/region_wide/2006/08/21/84c77c73-54c8-4488-bdc2-4aaf231616e6.lpf
Speed camera botch-up proves to be a fine mess
BUNGLING speed camera bosses missed out on a money-spinner by messing up the installation of three temporary cameras on the A14.
The cameras were put up on the A14 west bound between Milton and the M11 junction to monitor a speed-restricted zone while building work linked to the Arbury Park development was carried out close to the road.
The cameras were installed on November 2 last year and removed on July 14, but a technical hitch with the white marker lines painted on the road, which help gauge traffic speeds, meant not one driver was caught speeding during the eight months. The speed limit, which would normally have been 70mph for cars, was reduced to 40mph while the cameras were in place, and speed camera bosses insisted their presence alone had stopped motorists driving at dangerous speeds.
Acting Insp Andy Chatfield, from the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership, said:
"Three temporary safety cameras installed in early November last year on the A14 westbound between Milton and the M11 junction, were not used before their removal in mid-July this year.
"This was due to a contracting error in the positioning of secondary white line markers which have to be correctly placed to make any camera activation valid.
"As it is, the very presence of the cameras and notices warning of their location helped to contribute to an accident and injury-free period of this stretch of a busy road, made potentially more hazardous by extensive road works.
"The observations of mobile patrols were that the majority of drivers took note of the 40mph limit in force, resulting in safer travelling conditions for everyone using that section of the A14."
However Mark McArthur- Christie, from motoring pressure group the Association of British Drivers, said the temporary cameras were "a bad idea", and were more dangerous than alternative speed-reducing measures.
He said: "A recent report, which was kept very quiet, found speed cameras at road works actually increases the number of accidents because traffic is squeezed together then people see the cameras and hit the brakes, and you have a crash."
www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/region_wide/2006/08/21/84c77c73-54c8-4488-bdc2-4aaf231616e6.lpf
Speed camera botch-up proves to be a fine mess
BUNGLING speed camera bosses missed out on a money-spinner by messing up the installation of three temporary cameras on the A14.
The cameras were put up on the A14 west bound between Milton and the M11 junction to monitor a speed-restricted zone while building work linked to the Arbury Park development was carried out close to the road.
The cameras were installed on November 2 last year and removed on July 14, but a technical hitch with the white marker lines painted on the road, which help gauge traffic speeds, meant not one driver was caught speeding during the eight months. The speed limit, which would normally have been 70mph for cars, was reduced to 40mph while the cameras were in place, and speed camera bosses insisted their presence alone had stopped motorists driving at dangerous speeds.
Acting Insp Andy Chatfield, from the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership, said:
"Three temporary safety cameras installed in early November last year on the A14 westbound between Milton and the M11 junction, were not used before their removal in mid-July this year.
"This was due to a contracting error in the positioning of secondary white line markers which have to be correctly placed to make any camera activation valid.
"As it is, the very presence of the cameras and notices warning of their location helped to contribute to an accident and injury-free period of this stretch of a busy road, made potentially more hazardous by extensive road works.
"The observations of mobile patrols were that the majority of drivers took note of the 40mph limit in force, resulting in safer travelling conditions for everyone using that section of the A14."
However Mark McArthur- Christie, from motoring pressure group the Association of British Drivers, said the temporary cameras were "a bad idea", and were more dangerous than alternative speed-reducing measures.
He said: "A recent report, which was kept very quiet, found speed cameras at road works actually increases the number of accidents because traffic is squeezed together then people see the cameras and hit the brakes, and you have a crash."
Edited by eccles on Tuesday 22 August 16:02
Apparently there is also a big problem over incorrect installation of the road works cameras on the A1 near the 'Black Cat' roundabout just north of Sandy. They were put in place 8 months or more ago and, so I believe, may lead to all drivers caught there getting a refund and points removed. I don't know too much about this, although I seem to remember one of the posters on here got caught.
I'll try to find out some more.
I'll try to find out some more.
Somehow, the idea of camera warning signs -- and the presence of cameras themselves -- on a road where the partnership knew the cameras couldn't be used, seems to me to be devious to say the least. Didn't someone have a twinge of conscience, or does the end always justify the means to these people?
[quote=Andy Chatfield}As it is, the very presence of the cameras and notices warning of their location helped to contribute to an accident and injury-free period of this stretch of a busy road, made potentially more hazardous by extensive road works.
[/quuote]
I agree, so why penalise drivers all the time and erect false cameras to slow observant down rather than hide the talivans on straight safe roads?
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g limp dk ws!
[/quuote]
I agree, so why penalise drivers all the time and erect false cameras to slow observant down rather than hide the talivans on straight safe roads?
F
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