Avon and Somerset excel themselves...
Discussion
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse...
www.thisisbristol.com/displayNode.jsp?contentPK=10821653&command=submit&sourceNode=145176&nodeId=145176&voteOption=1
MOBILE speed cameras could be deployed as far as 12 miles away from any accident blackspot under new plans to increase the pressure on motorists who break the law.
And in a further onslaught against speeding drivers, the Avon and Somerset Safety Camera Partnership has said it is looking into the possibility of parking its vans on bridges over the M4, M5 and M32.
Mobile units can currently only be used within a three-mile radius of notorious accident areas, but new guidelines being proposed could increase that to 12 miles
The move has been described as yet further evidence that speed traps are being used as cash cows, not road safety devices.
Safety Camera Partnership spokesman David Gollicker said: "We've been campaigning for some time to get the three-mile rule changed. On many roads you often cannot pinpoint where the blackspot is, but can demonstrate that there is a problem right along the route."
But Tony Vickers of the Association of British Drivers said the proposals would mean any stretch of road in the area could be fitted with a camera - virtually giving the partnership carte blanche to site the cameras wherever they want.
Mr Vickers said: "By considering the 12-mile rule, they are effectively saying they can put cameras wherever they please.
"This is the only option left open to Safety Camera Partnerships to rekindle their revenue stream.
"It's outrageous and will not bring deaths down."
So far, cameras have only been used on motorways in the Bristol area when there have been roadworks and the speed limit has been dropped to 50mph.
The Safety Camera Partnership had been in discussions with the Highways Agency about installing familiar yellow Gatso cameras on the side of the three motorways. But this idea has been turned down because of the danger of vehicles crashing into them.
Their white vans could now be parked on motorway bridges instead.
Motoring organisations fear this will mean that some drivers will be constantly looking up at bridges to avoid a £60 fine and three penalty points, rather than keeping their eye on the road.
Mr Vickers said: "Motorways are Britain's safest roads, so why do they need speed cameras on them, except to trap motorists and raise even more money?"
Partnership officials stressed the controversial cameras would only operate on the motorway once signs had been put in place.
The partnership admitted it is reviewing its policy after police in neighbouring Wiltshire announced that cameras would be used on bridges along a 20-mile stretch of the M4 east of Bristol.
It also said that the stretch of the M4 between the M32 junction and the Tormarton turn-off at junction 18 could become the first area where its mobile cameras would operate, as it has one of the worst accident records of all the motorways around Bristol.
Mr Gollicker said: "If people are travelling within the speed limit then there should be no reason why they should be constantly looking up at the bridges.
"We would do this for people's safety to reduce accidents, but at the minute will be concentrating on roadwork areas on the motorway with temporary fixed cameras."
Back in January, more than 1,000 drivers were caught breaking the speed limit at the Almondsbury interchange in just one day, when a temporary camera was put in place because of roadworks.
The temporary Gatsos are set to re-appear on the M4 and M5 again next month when work begins on a series of maintenance projects, including replacing crash barriers at the Almondsbury interchange and renewing street lamps on the M5 near Avonmouth.
They will also be watching over roadworks when the Highways Agency starts on a number of planned crawler lanes on both the M4 and M5. Work is expected to get under way on that project in March next year.
www.thisisbristol.com/displayNode.jsp?contentPK=10821653&command=submit&sourceNode=145176&nodeId=145176&voteOption=1
MOBILE speed cameras could be deployed as far as 12 miles away from any accident blackspot under new plans to increase the pressure on motorists who break the law.
And in a further onslaught against speeding drivers, the Avon and Somerset Safety Camera Partnership has said it is looking into the possibility of parking its vans on bridges over the M4, M5 and M32.
Mobile units can currently only be used within a three-mile radius of notorious accident areas, but new guidelines being proposed could increase that to 12 miles
The move has been described as yet further evidence that speed traps are being used as cash cows, not road safety devices.
Safety Camera Partnership spokesman David Gollicker said: "We've been campaigning for some time to get the three-mile rule changed. On many roads you often cannot pinpoint where the blackspot is, but can demonstrate that there is a problem right along the route."
But Tony Vickers of the Association of British Drivers said the proposals would mean any stretch of road in the area could be fitted with a camera - virtually giving the partnership carte blanche to site the cameras wherever they want.
Mr Vickers said: "By considering the 12-mile rule, they are effectively saying they can put cameras wherever they please.
"This is the only option left open to Safety Camera Partnerships to rekindle their revenue stream.
"It's outrageous and will not bring deaths down."
So far, cameras have only been used on motorways in the Bristol area when there have been roadworks and the speed limit has been dropped to 50mph.
The Safety Camera Partnership had been in discussions with the Highways Agency about installing familiar yellow Gatso cameras on the side of the three motorways. But this idea has been turned down because of the danger of vehicles crashing into them.
Their white vans could now be parked on motorway bridges instead.
Motoring organisations fear this will mean that some drivers will be constantly looking up at bridges to avoid a £60 fine and three penalty points, rather than keeping their eye on the road.
Mr Vickers said: "Motorways are Britain's safest roads, so why do they need speed cameras on them, except to trap motorists and raise even more money?"
Partnership officials stressed the controversial cameras would only operate on the motorway once signs had been put in place.
The partnership admitted it is reviewing its policy after police in neighbouring Wiltshire announced that cameras would be used on bridges along a 20-mile stretch of the M4 east of Bristol.
It also said that the stretch of the M4 between the M32 junction and the Tormarton turn-off at junction 18 could become the first area where its mobile cameras would operate, as it has one of the worst accident records of all the motorways around Bristol.
Mr Gollicker said: "If people are travelling within the speed limit then there should be no reason why they should be constantly looking up at the bridges.
"We would do this for people's safety to reduce accidents, but at the minute will be concentrating on roadwork areas on the motorway with temporary fixed cameras."
Back in January, more than 1,000 drivers were caught breaking the speed limit at the Almondsbury interchange in just one day, when a temporary camera was put in place because of roadworks.
The temporary Gatsos are set to re-appear on the M4 and M5 again next month when work begins on a series of maintenance projects, including replacing crash barriers at the Almondsbury interchange and renewing street lamps on the M5 near Avonmouth.
They will also be watching over roadworks when the Highways Agency starts on a number of planned crawler lanes on both the M4 and M5. Work is expected to get under way on that project in March next year.
Whats new. they have been putting talivans on bridges on m1 for many years when the traffic is doing 100+. I should know as i got a summons a few years back for allegedly doing 98mph on a perfectly sunny saturday afternoon and the road was empty. The thing was though i had never recieved an NIP for this offence and just a summons. I think the foot and mouth crisis disturbing my post must have had something to do with me not recieving the NIP. Thanks god the Magistrates thought this too and dropped the case 
Streetcop said:
Just so long as it's within the law.....of course they can do what they like...whether you or I like it, or not..
Street
This country needs more officers like YGS Street
to go for the really high ranks. Friend of mine who's now retired was once locked up and tortured by the 'police' force in a country that shall remain nameless. He spent a lot of his time over here trying to persuade the powers that be to make police pay so high across all ranks that it attracted and retained the very best for whom ethics, discretion and judgement are meaningful concepts. Without such people the law, as experienced by the masses day-to-day, isn't so much an ass as the hideous b@st@rd offspring of a mutated donkey. So when it comes to SCAMPs, ACPO knghthood chasers and speed-kills apologists, there's only one thing one can say: eee-or
Cooperman said:
So when this happens the 'Road Angel' and similar GPS-based locators won't really be much use in defining regular Talivan sites.
How good are the current laser-jammers at dealing with bridge-situated Talivans?
If I were not the law abiding citizen that I clearly am, then I would be tempted fit a second set and have them pointing upwards at a reasonable angle just to ensure coverage.
Mr2Mike said:
So when this happens the 'Road Angel' and similar GPS-based locators won't really be much use in defining regular Talivan sites.
How good are the current laser-jammers at dealing with bridge-situated Talivans?
If I were not the law abiding citizen that I clearly am, then I would be tempted fit a second set and have them pointing upwards at a reasonable angle just to ensure coverage.
Does that mean they don't jam Talivans on bridges?
Yet more tortological nonsense from Gollicker today:
SLOWER CARS MEAN THIS MAY BE THE LAST CAMERA
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BY SAMANTHA
11:00 - 25 August 2004
Walker-sowden THE next speed camera planned for Bath could be the city's last because motorists are slowing down.
The camera is to be installed on the inbound bus lane stretch of London Road after a spate of accidents.
At present, there are seven fixed cameras, six mobile cameras and one red light camera in the Bath area.
The Avon & Somerset Safety Camera Partnership says fewer cameras are in the pipeline after a drop in convictions for speeding.
But the organisation, and its partner body in Wiltshire, will be using more controversial tactics to cut speeding on the M4, with mobile units operating from motorway bridges.
The last figures, released earlier this year, showed a 13 per cent reduction in deaths at speed camera sites in the Avon and Somerset area.
The next set of figures is due to be published in October and is expected to show a decline in the number of people speeding.
"We are catching fewer motorists because people are beginning to listen to us," said David Gollicker, communications manager of the Avon & Somerset partnership.
"The number of new cameras is slowing down, the number of tickets is slowing down and people are beginning to understand.
"We have always said that the best way to put us out of business is to slow down and not get caught on camera."
A spokesman for the motoring group the RAC said cutting the expansion of safety cameras would help restore motorists' faith in the system. "We would welcome this and I'm sure motorists would too," he said.
"Since they first appeared, speed cameras have been dogged by this idea that they are used to raise revenue and are put in places where they will raise revenue.
"But if motorists see an authority reacting responsibly to figures by not putting any more cameras up or even taking some down, they are more likely to trust the reasons why the cameras are there in the first place."
However, the partnership is hoping to deploy its mobile cameras as far as 12 miles away from accident blackspots in a new effort to increase the pressure on motorists who break the law.
And it is looking into the possibility of parking its vans on bridges over the M4, M5 and M32.
Mobile units can currently be used only within a three-mile radius of notorious accident areas, but new guidelines being proposed could increase that to 12 miles.
Mr Gollicker said: "We've been campaigning for some time to get the three-mile rule changed. On many roads, you often cannot pinpoint where the blackspot is, but can demonstrate that there is a problem right along the route."
The Association of British Drivers said the proposals would mean any stretch of road in the area could be fitted with a camera - virtually giving partnerships carte blanche to site the cameras wherever they want in a move the group dubbed "outrageous".
It also says motorists will be distracted by the bridge units.
Safety camera partnerships had been in discussions with the Highways Agency about installing the familiar yellow Gatso cameras on the side of motorways. But this idea has been turned down because of the danger of vehicles crashing into them and now white vans could be parked on motorway bridges instead.
The Avon and Somerset partnership is looking at the idea after colleagues in neighbouring Wiltshire announced that cameras would be used on bridges along a 20-mile stretch of the M4 between the county boundary west of Chippenham and Swindon.
It says the stretch of the M4 between the M32 junction and the Bath turn-off at junction 18 could become the first area where its mobile cameras would operate because of its poor accident record.
The Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership is planning to put a mobile camera van on bridges over the M4 between junctions 15 and 18.
"The simple fact is 12 per cent of all serious and fatal accidents take place on the M4 around Swindon," said Dave Frampton, manager of Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership.
"Fatigue is definitely a factor.
"If you fall asleep at the wheel and you're doing 30mph, you're going to hurt somebody. If you fall asleep at the wheel and you're doing 90mph, you're going to kill somebody.
"Because of the volume of traffic it is one of the safer roads in the country. But with a higher volume you are going to get a higher percentage of accidents.
"If we ignored this, we wouldn't be doing our job."
www.thisisbath.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=163301&command=displayContent&sourceNode=163031&contentPK=10830057
SLOWER CARS MEAN THIS MAY BE THE LAST CAMERA
Next Story | Previous Story | Back to list
BY SAMANTHA
11:00 - 25 August 2004
Walker-sowden THE next speed camera planned for Bath could be the city's last because motorists are slowing down.
The camera is to be installed on the inbound bus lane stretch of London Road after a spate of accidents.
At present, there are seven fixed cameras, six mobile cameras and one red light camera in the Bath area.
The Avon & Somerset Safety Camera Partnership says fewer cameras are in the pipeline after a drop in convictions for speeding.
But the organisation, and its partner body in Wiltshire, will be using more controversial tactics to cut speeding on the M4, with mobile units operating from motorway bridges.
The last figures, released earlier this year, showed a 13 per cent reduction in deaths at speed camera sites in the Avon and Somerset area.
The next set of figures is due to be published in October and is expected to show a decline in the number of people speeding.
"We are catching fewer motorists because people are beginning to listen to us," said David Gollicker, communications manager of the Avon & Somerset partnership.
"The number of new cameras is slowing down, the number of tickets is slowing down and people are beginning to understand.
"We have always said that the best way to put us out of business is to slow down and not get caught on camera."
A spokesman for the motoring group the RAC said cutting the expansion of safety cameras would help restore motorists' faith in the system. "We would welcome this and I'm sure motorists would too," he said.
"Since they first appeared, speed cameras have been dogged by this idea that they are used to raise revenue and are put in places where they will raise revenue.
"But if motorists see an authority reacting responsibly to figures by not putting any more cameras up or even taking some down, they are more likely to trust the reasons why the cameras are there in the first place."
However, the partnership is hoping to deploy its mobile cameras as far as 12 miles away from accident blackspots in a new effort to increase the pressure on motorists who break the law.
And it is looking into the possibility of parking its vans on bridges over the M4, M5 and M32.
Mobile units can currently be used only within a three-mile radius of notorious accident areas, but new guidelines being proposed could increase that to 12 miles.
Mr Gollicker said: "We've been campaigning for some time to get the three-mile rule changed. On many roads, you often cannot pinpoint where the blackspot is, but can demonstrate that there is a problem right along the route."
The Association of British Drivers said the proposals would mean any stretch of road in the area could be fitted with a camera - virtually giving partnerships carte blanche to site the cameras wherever they want in a move the group dubbed "outrageous".
It also says motorists will be distracted by the bridge units.
Safety camera partnerships had been in discussions with the Highways Agency about installing the familiar yellow Gatso cameras on the side of motorways. But this idea has been turned down because of the danger of vehicles crashing into them and now white vans could be parked on motorway bridges instead.
The Avon and Somerset partnership is looking at the idea after colleagues in neighbouring Wiltshire announced that cameras would be used on bridges along a 20-mile stretch of the M4 between the county boundary west of Chippenham and Swindon.
It says the stretch of the M4 between the M32 junction and the Bath turn-off at junction 18 could become the first area where its mobile cameras would operate because of its poor accident record.
The Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership is planning to put a mobile camera van on bridges over the M4 between junctions 15 and 18.
"The simple fact is 12 per cent of all serious and fatal accidents take place on the M4 around Swindon," said Dave Frampton, manager of Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership.
"Fatigue is definitely a factor.
"If you fall asleep at the wheel and you're doing 30mph, you're going to hurt somebody. If you fall asleep at the wheel and you're doing 90mph, you're going to kill somebody.
"Because of the volume of traffic it is one of the safer roads in the country. But with a higher volume you are going to get a higher percentage of accidents.
"If we ignored this, we wouldn't be doing our job."
www.thisisbath.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=163301&command=displayContent&sourceNode=163031&contentPK=10830057
David Gollicker said:
Safety Camera Partnership spokesman David Gollicker said: "We've been campaigning for some time to get the three-mile rule changed. On many roads you often cannot pinpoint where the blackspot is, but can demonstrate that there is a problem right along the route."
If you can't pinpoint a blackspot there isn't one you f
witturbobloke said:
This country needs more officers like YGS Street
You're very kind, thank you for saying so...
Unfortunately you have to talk the right talk to pass a promotion board nowadays and it sticks in my throat, i'm afraid.
I love what I'm doing, out and about at the moment...give it half a dozen more years and I might look towards a bit of advancement, even if it's for the increased pension. Although with Mrs Street
, being a , our joint pensions aren't too bad even as PC's. I must point out though, there are 100s and 1000s of other good officers, just like me. I work with some fantastic blokes and lasses and have met loads from other forces. Yes, there are some tossers and some are a pain in the arse, but on the whole, we in this country are very fortunate to have the police service we have. The senior management have their faults at times, but the rank and file officers I'm 99% of the time proud to stand alongside.
Street
Streetcop said:
Unfortunately you have to talk the right talk to pass a promotion board nowadays and it sticks in my throat, i'm afraid.
Street
Would that be talk the Brustrom talk by any chance mate?
I honestly wonder how the good guys like you keep going with all this PC bullshit, idiotic courts, CPS, lies and spin
Hi Apache..
My salary, the wife's salary and the daily opportunity to deal effectively with chavs and scum keep me going.
The PC bollox is a bit of a problem at times, but you have to live with it. I think it puts a cloud over the real sexist, racist incidents as nearly everything is flagged at times, unnecessarily..
I don't let much get me down and can't see me doing any other job for the next 20 years...
Then into some sort of security consultancy role part time...
Anyway..enough of that...mustn't wish ones life away..
Street
My salary, the wife's salary and the daily opportunity to deal effectively with chavs and scum keep me going.
The PC bollox is a bit of a problem at times, but you have to live with it. I think it puts a cloud over the real sexist, racist incidents as nearly everything is flagged at times, unnecessarily..
I don't let much get me down and can't see me doing any other job for the next 20 years...
Then into some sort of security consultancy role part time...
Anyway..enough of that...mustn't wish ones life away..
Street
Some arse wipe said said:
"The simple fact is 12 per cent of all serious and fatal accidents take place on the M4 around Swindon," said Dave Frampton, manager of Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership.
"Fatigue is definitely a factor.
"If you fall asleep at the wheel and you're doing 30mph, you're going to hurt somebody. If you fall asleep at the wheel and you're doing 90mph, you're going to kill somebody.
So why haven't we got more service stations on the motorway to allow people to stop?
Why haven't we got more traffic police pulling people over who are weaving down the road and telling to stop for a break.
I thought at 30mph we killed everybody in sight?? So now apparently we just hurt them?? They make this stuff up as they go along.
I concentrate more when I am above the speed limit anyway and find trying at 70mph boring and my mind starts to wander. By crusing at 80-90 I am more alert to what is going on etc etc.
I hate people like this. I AM getting a jammer. They can try and take me to court if i get caught but i'm a student so they won't make any money out of me, infact I won't pay the fine i'll take the risk of a night under lock and key.
All it requires is some driver education FFS!!!!
turbobloke said:
Just so long as it's within the law.....of course they can do what they like...whether you or I like it, or not..
Street
This country needs more officers like YGS Street
I agree totally ; we need the Streetcops of the world in charge. People with a clue.
But we don't get them.
The Police should be led by competent ex-Bib who have earned their promotion by time spent working on the job, know the public, know their fellow cops, know how things work.
What we get is jobsworths whose whole attitude is CYA. Who implement vacuous pointless "systems" "policies" and "initiatives" which do nothing about things the public and I suspect most "real" cops are bothered about, and operate through PR.
A simple example is the approach to dealing with non-white cops. There *is* some instituational racism and sexism in the force, too much. So there aren't enough non-white cops.
However, rather than deal with the minority of cops who are racist (viz the pathetic reaction to the "Secret Policeman" video), the morons decide to up the intake by allowing non-white cops to shortcut the system. This is unfair on the white cops *and* the non-white cops.
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