Developing countries forced to take speed cameras as aid?
Discussion
Some of us may have noticed publicity this week, regarding an organsation at:
www.makeroadssafe.org.
They have some well meaning goals and policies aimed at improving road safety globally, but with particular reference to developing countries. Now I've not had time to thoroughly read their site and documents, but I was saddened to see the following included in one section of their policy documents:
"Set suitable speed limits and enforce them through engineering measures and police action or automatic speed detection using cameras" (Box 4 Section 1:16 of the linked pdf)
Additionally in the Forward section of this document the following is included:
"To achieve this the Commission For Global Road Safety recommends that all donor supported road projects in developing countries should include a minimum 10% road safety component , to ensure roads are designed with safety in mind and that effective engineering, enforcement, and education measures are combined together to promote injury prevention."
Now given our experience in the UK of where the priorities lie when faced with choices of engineering, enforcement and education, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what is coming?
I must take my hats off to the speed camera industry. To have moved toward the goal of forcing developing countries to take their snake oil speed camera as part of the "aid and development" package must have required some masterful lobbying and political influence.
At this point, I'm gob smacked :crying:
www.makeroadssafe.org/documents/make_roads_safe_low_res.pdf
www.makeroadssafe.org.
They have some well meaning goals and policies aimed at improving road safety globally, but with particular reference to developing countries. Now I've not had time to thoroughly read their site and documents, but I was saddened to see the following included in one section of their policy documents:
"Set suitable speed limits and enforce them through engineering measures and police action or automatic speed detection using cameras" (Box 4 Section 1:16 of the linked pdf)
Additionally in the Forward section of this document the following is included:
"To achieve this the Commission For Global Road Safety recommends that all donor supported road projects in developing countries should include a minimum 10% road safety component , to ensure roads are designed with safety in mind and that effective engineering, enforcement, and education measures are combined together to promote injury prevention."
Now given our experience in the UK of where the priorities lie when faced with choices of engineering, enforcement and education, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what is coming?
I must take my hats off to the speed camera industry. To have moved toward the goal of forcing developing countries to take their snake oil speed camera as part of the "aid and development" package must have required some masterful lobbying and political influence.
At this point, I'm gob smacked :crying:
www.makeroadssafe.org/documents/make_roads_safe_low_res.pdf
james_j said:
I spot a possible flaw in this business case for fresh uncharted revenue camera areas. In a "developing" country, I should think it likely that a great many more vehicles (than the UK for example) will not be properly registered. 
And I'm not sure many of them have a licensing or testing system
james_j said:
I spot a possible flaw in this business case for fresh uncharted revenue camera areas. In a "developing" country, I should think it likely that a great many more vehicles (than the UK for example) will not be properly registered.
Would be nice to think that if these things are installed they'll be fecking machine gunned into oblivion.
Sadly some people are making it up though. Money, as well as lies.
A good proportion of 10% of all the aid that is "offered" to developing countries to improve their infrastructure. It doesn't matter if the cameras get shot at. They'll need to be replaced after all
A good proportion of 10% of all the aid that is "offered" to developing countries to improve their infrastructure. It doesn't matter if the cameras get shot at. They'll need to be replaced after all
Edited by 711 on Monday 11th December 20:08
I just have this picture in my head. In the middle of a desert, surrounded by famine stricken natives..... A shiny new speed camera!
Blooming heck.
Edited to add;
If, on the other hand, they want to come and take our existing cameras away, tell them that they're welcome.
Blooming heck.
Edited to add;
If, on the other hand, they want to come and take our existing cameras away, tell them that they're welcome.
Edited by dilbert on Monday 11th December 23:35
jasandjules said:
But this is not some Govt agency is it?
Just some, uh, chap...
Just some, uh, chap...
Just some chap such as Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, who was Secretary General of NATO and UK Defence Secretary? Just some chap who is supported by a cast of extremely influential public figures who will be taking their case to a variety of global policy making forums over the coming 12 months? Just some chap who has the support of a very influential list of public bodies and road safety organisations?
I think there is some good stuff in their agenda actually, and their high level goals of improving road safety for all are very laudible.
It's just a shame they have included some very flawed policy in terms of how they think they're going to achieve those lofty goals.
dilbert said:
If, on the other hand, they want to come and take our existing cameras away, tell them that they're welcome.
What a great idea:- Labour government said:
The UK wishes to support road safety throughout Africa. To this end we are shipping out ALL of the UK's stock of fixed-site and mobile speed cameras. We hope that the rest of Europe will follow our lead in order to save as many lives as possible*
* In Europe!
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