Road Safety Pledge from Police Scotland
Discussion
So, on one hand road casualties are at a record low (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24638377) but on the other hand, motoring offences are up (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24656413). Chief Constable pledges to do more to improve road safety, including to continue building a trunk roads patrol group throughout the country.
Would you welcome this, assuming traffic police can use their judgement and discretion, or do you foresee even more camera vans, or a bit of both?
Duncan
Would you welcome this, assuming traffic police can use their judgement and discretion, or do you foresee even more camera vans, or a bit of both?
Duncan
Nearly every night there is a traffic car hiding behind the bushes (sounds clichéd I know) at the Strathclyde Business Park on-slip to the A725. Like shooting fish in a barrel, we only have to watch them from the office for 5-10 minutes before they pounce on someone doing not-substantially over 50. Transport Scotland themselves have reviewed the limit on that road and it's 10mph lower than their own guidance recommends, yet still they take the easy pickings - at 1am on a well-lit, wide and well protected dual carriageway.
If that's how Police Scotland pledge to improve road safety, they can stick their press release where the sun don't shine.
And no, I've not been caught there!
If that's how Police Scotland pledge to improve road safety, they can stick their press release where the sun don't shine.
And no, I've not been caught there!
So you form a new police force and look for instant results so put every copper on seatbelt, mobile phone and speeder duty. To the detriment of other crime prevention and invextigation.
As a result, the number of convictions increase therefore justifying putting even more traffic police on the road.
House has got it all sorted!
As a result, the number of convictions increase therefore justifying putting even more traffic police on the road.
House has got it all sorted!
Whilst more patrol cars are preferable to the dystopian nightmare that is average speed cameras, either are a waste of scarce resources to solve a problem (road fatalities) that is coming down all on its own thanks to improved safety technology in cars, with airbags etc. which are now present even in the cheapest of used bangers.
Odd that the response to road safety apparently being “one of the priorities raised by local communities” is that “the force will continue to build a trunk roads patrol group throughout the country.” Local communities might be concerned about speeding past their driveway entrance or kids’ school, but I find it hard to believe that local communities are concerned about people speeding on trunk roads.
In my opinion people are voting with their right feet for increased speed limits, with over half of Scotland’s 2.7 million or so motorists admitting to speeding and other minor offences. With 1.35 million “speeders”, even at 100,000 pulls a year it’s going to take them a while to get through everybody. Without limits having public respect, all they will achieve is poorer relations between the police and the otherwise law-abiding citizens they are pulling over.
Odd that the response to road safety apparently being “one of the priorities raised by local communities” is that “the force will continue to build a trunk roads patrol group throughout the country.” Local communities might be concerned about speeding past their driveway entrance or kids’ school, but I find it hard to believe that local communities are concerned about people speeding on trunk roads.
In my opinion people are voting with their right feet for increased speed limits, with over half of Scotland’s 2.7 million or so motorists admitting to speeding and other minor offences. With 1.35 million “speeders”, even at 100,000 pulls a year it’s going to take them a while to get through everybody. Without limits having public respect, all they will achieve is poorer relations between the police and the otherwise law-abiding citizens they are pulling over.
Resurrecting an old thread but did anyone hear Call Kaye on Radio Scotland this morning where they were discussing Police targets? Apparently House has stated that officers do not have targets but an ex copper called in to say that is correct but the targets are passed down to his minions who pass them down the chain to the officers.
Anyway, motoring related, one guy called in to say he was stopped by traffic police for doing 34mph, 150 yards before a national speed limit. Cops tried to give him a fixed penalty for it but he refused to take this, saying instead that he would have his day in court instead. After a bit of discussion the coppers sent him on his way with no further action.
The lesson was that House wants maximum number of convictions and fixed penalties with minimum effort. A traffic plod was not going to admit to his boss that he would need to spend the day in court for the sake of a 34mph offence.
Any coppers / lawyers on here have any thoughts on this?
Anyway, motoring related, one guy called in to say he was stopped by traffic police for doing 34mph, 150 yards before a national speed limit. Cops tried to give him a fixed penalty for it but he refused to take this, saying instead that he would have his day in court instead. After a bit of discussion the coppers sent him on his way with no further action.
The lesson was that House wants maximum number of convictions and fixed penalties with minimum effort. A traffic plod was not going to admit to his boss that he would need to spend the day in court for the sake of a 34mph offence.
Any coppers / lawyers on here have any thoughts on this?
Craigie said:
Resurrecting an old thread but did anyone hear Call Kaye on Radio Scotland this morning where they were discussing Police targets? Apparently House has stated that officers do not have targets but an ex copper called in to say that is correct but the targets are passed down to his minions who pass them down the chain to the officers.
Anyway, motoring related, one guy called in to say he was stopped by traffic police for doing 34mph, 150 yards before a national speed limit. Cops tried to give him a fixed penalty for it but he refused to take this, saying instead that he would have his day in court instead. After a bit of discussion the coppers sent him on his way with no further action.
The lesson was that House wants maximum number of convictions and fixed penalties with minimum effort. A traffic plod was not going to admit to his boss that he would need to spend the day in court for the sake of a 34mph offence.
Any coppers / lawyers on here have any thoughts on this?
Plus the officer told the gent "we got the idiot we wanted" after he pointed out another driver passing them clearly driving over the speed limit. I drive about a lot through the day with work and I've noticed a huge increase in the number of police cars sitting in laybys, lanes, or generally hidden looking for people driving 1 mile per hour above the speed limit etc.Anyway, motoring related, one guy called in to say he was stopped by traffic police for doing 34mph, 150 yards before a national speed limit. Cops tried to give him a fixed penalty for it but he refused to take this, saying instead that he would have his day in court instead. After a bit of discussion the coppers sent him on his way with no further action.
The lesson was that House wants maximum number of convictions and fixed penalties with minimum effort. A traffic plod was not going to admit to his boss that he would need to spend the day in court for the sake of a 34mph offence.
Any coppers / lawyers on here have any thoughts on this?
I am finding a lot of the roads are not what they should be, following highway code so many have lower speed limits than required. M77 is ridiculous at 50mph as is most of the m8. On the way back from work most nights I see a cop car sitting on the slip road from moss park onto the m77, one time I saw it going into town and about 3 hours later it was still there. Do they not have other stuff to do?
As far as i'm aware and can search for there has no been any fatalities on the m77 since it was built, how is this police car reducing fatalities if the number was 0 to begin with???!
I really do doubt any community has put speed limits as a genuine concern, do they take this information in a vote? I have never been asked what I feel my community needs from the police and I can assure your speed limits is not a worry for me.
Who here follows the speed limit to the letter? I can honestly say I don't, I will go slowly if the roads and conditions require it. also some roads have almost no signs on it!, you would think it would at this speed due to road layout but noooooooooooooooo it's a 30 :\
As far as i'm aware and can search for there has no been any fatalities on the m77 since it was built, how is this police car reducing fatalities if the number was 0 to begin with???!
I really do doubt any community has put speed limits as a genuine concern, do they take this information in a vote? I have never been asked what I feel my community needs from the police and I can assure your speed limits is not a worry for me.
Who here follows the speed limit to the letter? I can honestly say I don't, I will go slowly if the roads and conditions require it. also some roads have almost no signs on it!, you would think it would at this speed due to road layout but noooooooooooooooo it's a 30 :\
Somehow I never ever see a traffic car on the A90 unless it's pulled someone on the opposite carriageway. then I usually think " Idiot, speeding wasn't your problem. It's failing to keep an eye on your mirror.
Keep one eye on the mirror because it seems that speeding is the only offence that these highway patrol champions seem to recognise.
Anyone know what the latest incidences of "poor lane discipline", " tailgating", aggressive driving might be?
Cops are lazy. Speed is easy.
Keep one eye on the mirror because it seems that speeding is the only offence that these highway patrol champions seem to recognise.
Anyone know what the latest incidences of "poor lane discipline", " tailgating", aggressive driving might be?
Cops are lazy. Speed is easy.
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