DIY speed cameras
Discussion
This got a write up in the Sunday Times yesterday;
www.speedcamera.biz/
plus folks seem to be making their own out of sticky back paper and old washing up bottles a la Blue Peter.
These are unofficial and presumably private property so what are we looking at legally if 1( these are chopped down/shot at/paint sprayed/burnt down and 2) these things are causing accidents by virtue of distracting drivers?
www.speedcamera.biz/
plus folks seem to be making their own out of sticky back paper and old washing up bottles a la Blue Peter.
These are unofficial and presumably private property so what are we looking at legally if 1( these are chopped down/shot at/paint sprayed/burnt down and 2) these things are causing accidents by virtue of distracting drivers?
1) Criminal damage charges. However, as we see from every occasion where someones car is keyed / run into and the person drives off, the police really dont give a erm. monkeys. Id like to believe they dont have the time - recollections of when one of my old cars was broken into. Police said ah someone will be round to check for fingerprints. 3 days later they turned up. 'have you been busy?' 'no, its been really quiet the last couple of days.'
2) something along the lines of 'prove it'...
2) something along the lines of 'prove it'...
I can see people being pi55ed off with people speeding past their house, worried about the speeders running their cat/dog/child over etc. I am frustrated that the local council or whoever are too stupid to do anything until someone is killed or a councillor is delayed on his way to the golf club due to an accident.
However, if one of these pretend speed cameras cropped up in my locale it would probably vanish quite quickly.
IMO park an old banger on the road if you want to slow traffic down. If it's a yellow line then park an old banger which is not registered to you. You'll either collect some speeding bikers in the boot or cause an accident meaning the council have to do something about speeding on this road. Darwin's rule. hopefully no innocent bystanders get hurt ... but better them than you/your family (OK, so I don't want anyone to get hurt really).
However, if one of these pretend speed cameras cropped up in my locale it would probably vanish quite quickly.
IMO park an old banger on the road if you want to slow traffic down. If it's a yellow line then park an old banger which is not registered to you. You'll either collect some speeding bikers in the boot or cause an accident meaning the council have to do something about speeding on this road. Darwin's rule. hopefully no innocent bystanders get hurt ... but better them than you/your family (OK, so I don't want anyone to get hurt really).
targarama said:
I can see people being pi55ed off with people speeding past their house, worried about the speeders running their cat/dog/child over etc. I am frustrated that the local council or whoever are too stupid to do anything until someone is killed or a councillor is delayed on his way to the golf club due to an accident.
You have just hit the nail on the head there friend. The installation of revenue collecting devices have been used for the purpose of greed with the excuse that it avoids the problem of ensureing the roads are safe to use.
Both local authorities and the law enforcement agencies are ignoring the parking problems that create roadrage and unsafe conditions. The said authorities should be held to account for their lack of action.
cen said:
I can see people being pi55ed off with people speeding past their house, worried about the speeders running their cat/dog/child over etc. I am frustrated that the local council or whoever are too stupid to do anything until someone is killed or a councillor is delayed on his way to the golf club due to an accident.
You have just hit the nail on the head there friend. The installation of revenue collecting devices have been used for the purpose of greed with the excuse that it avoids the problem of ensureing the roads are safe to use.
Errr bollocks. There are no fewer Road Safety Officers in local councils than there were before gatsos came along.
And when they do try and do things (like speed bumps, traffic calming, etc) they are slated for it anyway. Totally thankless job - made worse by people in internet chat rooms who think they can do it better.
spnracing said:
And when they do try and do things (like speed bumps, traffic calming, etc) they are slated for it anyway. Totally thankless job - made worse by people in internet chat rooms who think they can do it better.
Perhaps because what they do is not approved of by the population? Road safety is about much more than speed humps because it's about much more than speed.
andytk said:
If any of these pop up near me then its BBQ time.
C**ts of the highest order the DIY speed camera brigade....
Andy
Maybe if someone is so concerned about their street being an accident black spot that they erect their own camera, we should help the situation by making our presence known whenever we are in the vicinity of the blackspot.
I suggest liberal use of air horns , and maybe doing some burnouts/donuts on the street to leave lots of tyre marks, which would point out to others that the road may be dangerous incase they miss the camera.
[/quote] Errr bollocks. There are no fewer Road Safety Officers in local councils than there were before gatsos came along.
And when they do try and do things (like speed bumps, traffic calming, etc) they are slated for it anyway. Totally thankless job - made worse by people in internet chat rooms who think they can do it better.[/quote]
You are talking through your rear end there.
We are talking about the parking of vehicles on pavements and the like creating roadrage and unsafe conditions. You can further the parking issue to parking on corners etc.
>> Edited by cen on Tuesday 5th October 19:43
And when they do try and do things (like speed bumps, traffic calming, etc) they are slated for it anyway. Totally thankless job - made worse by people in internet chat rooms who think they can do it better.[/quote]
You are talking through your rear end there.
We are talking about the parking of vehicles on pavements and the like creating roadrage and unsafe conditions. You can further the parking issue to parking on corners etc.
>> Edited by cen on Tuesday 5th October 19:43
cen said:
Errr bollocks. There are no fewer Road Safety Officers in local councils than there were before gatsos came along.
And when they do try and do things (like speed bumps, traffic calming, etc) they are slated for it anyway. Totally thankless job - made worse by people in internet chat rooms who think they can do it better.[/quote]
You are talking through your rear end there.
We are talking about the parking of vehicles on pavements and the like creating roadrage and unsafe conditions. You can further the parking issue to parking on corners etc.[/quote]
This is exactly the case Ken.
I have had to deal with some of these so-called "Road Safety Officers" in litigation cases. Not one of them I met was a police officer let alone a traffic man; they were trained and employed by the Council, yep, the same council that brought you speed cameras.
They totally fail to see the true issues of accident causation mainly because they have no real interest, enthusiasm or experience in driving, and they are not properly trained. The last one I met drove a 2CV!!
These same councils spend fortunes on insane traffic calming schemes and completely neglect the condition of the roads.
The condition of the roads in Central and Western Scotland is appalling to the point of criminal neglect, one definite cause of accidents.
Poorly maintained and badly designed roads in this country cost us millions of pounds a year and result in deaths and injuries, despite the enormous revenue input that we all pay to their upkeep.
That has to be changed.
adrianmugridge said:
I can see people being pi55ed off with people speeding past their house, worried about the speeders running their cat/dog/child over etc.
Why is it acceptable to stand in the middle of the road ? If you don't want to get run over, stay on the path !!
I agree, roads are not for pedestrians etc. Unfortunately children and animals sometimes don't act sensibly. Adults have to allow for this. It's a crap world innit.
When I was young ( I'm 36 today !! How old ? ) there where loads of TV things telling you about the dangers of the road and things like looking out for cars and not crossing the road between two parked cars and so on. You don't see those sorts of things now, do you ? Also, now I remember, I can remember TV public information broadcasts ( I've remembered what they where called now ) about things like using the correct lane on the motorway, using your indicators properly and so on. Why don't we see them anymore ?
Ofcause, in America, Jay-walking is an offence, so it's your fault if you walk on the road but in the UK the driver always gets the blame.
Ofcause, in America, Jay-walking is an offence, so it's your fault if you walk on the road but in the UK the driver always gets the blame.
targarama said:
targarama said:
I can see people being pi55ed off with people speeding past their house, worried about the speeders running their cat/dog/child over etc.
Why is it acceptable to stand in the middle of the road ? If you don't want to get run over, stay on the path !!
I agree, roads are not for pedestrians etc. Unfortunately children and animals sometimes don't act sensibly. Adults have to allow for this. It's a crap world innit.
Totally agree. The parents / owners should be held responsible.
spnracing said:
targarama said:
I can see people being pi55ed off with people speeding past their house, worried about the speeders running their cat/dog/child over etc. I am frustrated that the local council or whoever are too stupid to do anything until someone is killed or a councillor is delayed on his way to the golf club due to an accident.
You have just hit the nail on the head there friend. The installation of revenue collecting devices have been used for the purpose of greed with the excuse that it avoids the problem of ensureing the roads are safe to use.
Errr bollocks. There are no fewer Road Safety Officers in local councils than there were before gatsos came along.
And when they do try and do things (like speed bumps, traffic calming, etc) they are slated for it anyway. Totally thankless job - made worse by people in internet chat rooms who think they can do it better.
Presumably because the Road Safety Officers are in fact paid from the proceeds of the Scamera Partnerships, as the local authority will be one of the partners.
Road Safety Officers are presumably slated because they are perpetually suggesting slowing down traffic using speed humps etc. I know that there was consulation on a number of proposals to solve congestion around our local green. Its only congested at school times and church times due to parking. The Road Safety Officers suggestion was to make the green effectively a large roundabout. Yes this would solve the congestion. However it would speed up the traffic and therefore would be likely to lead to more accidents potential with schoolchildren the victims. Surely much better to do nothing, let the residents put up with the congestion as at least the pedestrians are safe. Must admit one Road Safety Officer agreed, although he said it was unlikely the politicans would as they wanted congestion sorted!
Nothing slows the traffic better than parked cars. Banning parking installing islands etc creates a salom course to be taken at the highest possible speed!
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