Speed Kills, Except at Christmas

[regmolehusband]

Our "Safety" Camera Partnership are taking a few days off over Christmas. I've just sent the hardest hitting, sarcastic letter I've ever written to our local paper!!

I don't want to copy it here just yet but will do so once it's, hopefully, published.

So what do you think about that eh? How seriously do they take their road safety responsibilites? They reckon their will be more police on the roads over Christmas "looking out for bad driving, and will be checking the speed of motorists". Those police would have been there anyway of course, it's only the camera operatives who will be putting their feet up.

[dazren]

I don't have a problem with them having a few days off. Just so long as they give me notice to get the racefuel and slick tyres ready for the off!

DAZ

[pdV6]

Passed one earlier, parked ON the central reservation of a dualled bit of road. Feckwits.

[regmolehusband]

Can we rise above the "Oh good I can speed" crap??

[chief-0369]

as they dont contribute to road safety, its fine for them to have a few days off.

it isnt a case of "goody, now I can speed" its more like "goody, now I can drive without fear of having my bank account raped if I drift a few mph over the (stupidly low) posted limit"

[dazren]

regmolehusband said:

Can we rise above the "Oh good I can speed" crap??

Some may be able to, although personally I cannot.

DAZ

[Richard C]

On another thread someone asks ".......where are the Scamera vans in Wales, do they only do 9-5 ?"

Well thats it precisely. These chaps only do 9-5. I've watched them. They pack up at about 16:20 so they can amble back to the station and lined up for leaving at 16:59 on the dot. They like the Saturdays and Sundays - no doubt because of the overtime payments.

Its a bit like most businesses that are not in a highly competitive situation....no need to put ourselves out for that last few quid is there ?


But maybe the real trafpol could put me right here, isn't 9-5 a safer time than most for accidents ?

[dazren]

I think the period before sunset is throughout the year one of the worst times of the day for accidents.

In my area the scamera operatives mainly operate on an undercover basis anyway. The average person will asusme they are still working and will drive in fear looking at his/her speedo instead of where he/she is driving so there will be no change in general driving behaviour.

As for the partnerships taking safety seriously that is a sick joke. They are quasi government operations set up to make driving unpleasant in the hope more people move to public transport. The people who work for them are merely paid monkeys programmed with government spin doing a job to pay the bills.

DAZ
(Now off to the pub to celebrate younger brothers birthday, PDV6 give me a call if you are about)

>> Edited by dazren on Monday 22 December 17:17

[number 46]

Maybe speeding in wales is only dangerous between 0900 and 1730 !!!!

[regmolehusband]

I'm sorry Daz, I've still got my grumpy head on having written that letter!

I shall chill out a little now

[puggit]

The Vastern Road Talivan is often there at 07.30 when I commute past

[pdV6]

dazren said:

(Now off to the pub to celebrate younger brothers birthday, PDV6 give me a call if you are about)

May be later - got MrsV6/Impending BabyV6 stuff to do this eve, but will try to link up with you guys later on.

[regmolehusband]

Just in case I haven't made it clear on here what I'm having a go about then here's a paragraph from my letter.

"Surely, if they truly believe their activities have any positive impact upon road safety then they wouldn’t abandon their roadside vigil because they would expect an increase in potentially fatal incidents? How many deaths are acceptable to them - perhaps using their much-loved statistics they’ve calculated their absence could cost only one life or five serious injuries across their territory? On the other hand perhaps this indicates their knowledge that their absence will make little difference whatsoever to the number of injuries and deaths. It must be one or the other!"

[deltaf]

Reg, im not anywhere near as eloquent as you can be, so ill just say it the way i see it: Theyre full of shit! Its that simple.

[dazren]

regmolehusband said:

Just in case I haven't made it clear on here what I'm having a go about then here's a paragraph from my letter. "Surely, if they truly believe their activities have any positive impact upon road safety then they wouldn’t abandon their roadside vigil because they would expect an increase in potentially fatal incidents? How many deaths are acceptable to them - perhaps using their much-loved statistics they’ve calculated their absence could cost only one life or five serious injuries across their territory? On the other hand perhaps this indicates their knowledge that their absence will make little difference whatsoever to the number of injuries and deaths. It must be one or the other!"

We're on the same side mate. Now sieze the opportunity to enjoy your driving for a few hours.

DAZ

[TSS]

Well done Regmolehusband. The Northants Scamera Team takes Christmas and Boxing Day off too. The year before last I wrote a sarcastic letter similar to yours to the local paper and got it published.

I emailed the local scammers yesterday to see what they are planning this year and got this email back:


Dear Mr TSS

Thanks for the e-mail.

Although the mobile units will not be out over the Bank Holiday, they will be working on Christmas Eve and the fixed site cameras will be working 24/7 over the holiday period.

Additionally there will be operational police officers on duty who will be particularly aware of the drink/drive and speeding problems.

Regards

Don Powell
Safety Camera Team
01604 888521


So come to Northants this Christmas and drive as fast as you like! Just watch out for the fixed scameras…

[regmolehusband]

I drive as fast as is appropriate for the conditions anyway, their presence makes no differences to that extent, though the potential for them being concealed or around the next corner does add a little to the observation workload.

[jwo]

They don't work over christmas because everyone else stops using the roads!!!!!... ...when in fact all the numpties come out and create mayhem!!