The White Stripes ...
Discussion
(copied from email i have sent to autocar this week)
Sir,
No, not a reference to that very fine two-piece blues-rock group, but instead an observation of the widespread adoption of speed-camera associated white stripes/lines that are increasingly prevalent on our carriageways. This seems to be a pseudo speed-camera decoy exercise and is quite disturbing in its duplicity.
I have noted the increase in the occurence of such speed-camera associated lines over recent months and assumed they were a precursor to the appearance of an actual camera. However, I am beginning to believe that this is nothing more than some crude subliminal messaging by our Lords and Masters to try and intimidate us into a Pavlov like reaction each time we see these stripes and lines on our roads.
As previous readers have pointed out, all these lines/stripes/cameras actually do in the real-world (hello, Tony Blair?) is encourage a style of driving that is speedometer-fixated leading to frequent panic braking and a cascade effect of stop/starts on our roads. This is a sure-fire recipe for a plethora of accidents and near-misses.
On some 20 mile section of the A12 in Chelmsford area this evening I encountered these lines/stripes every few hundred yards. Why? Drivers - like me - who were alien to the area were utterly bewildered and in the midst of an Essex rush-hour the recurring speedometer-paranoia/braking/stop-start cascading was very, very dangerous and tiresome. And, most importantly, unecessary.
Maybe I am wrong, but I fail to see what other explanation there could be. Also, are the said lines/stripes a pre-requisite for any real camera, to ensure its calibration for prosecution?
I deplore modern day driving on A roads and Motorways for these reasons. Rather than being educated to drive to road and traffic conditions we are being "conditioned" to drive like Mr Pavlov's dog.
Hope you can shed some light on the matter!
Regards
Carl (this year I shall be mainly driving on B roads - thank heavens I have an MX-5!)
Emley
West Yorkshire
Sir,
No, not a reference to that very fine two-piece blues-rock group, but instead an observation of the widespread adoption of speed-camera associated white stripes/lines that are increasingly prevalent on our carriageways. This seems to be a pseudo speed-camera decoy exercise and is quite disturbing in its duplicity.
I have noted the increase in the occurence of such speed-camera associated lines over recent months and assumed they were a precursor to the appearance of an actual camera. However, I am beginning to believe that this is nothing more than some crude subliminal messaging by our Lords and Masters to try and intimidate us into a Pavlov like reaction each time we see these stripes and lines on our roads.
As previous readers have pointed out, all these lines/stripes/cameras actually do in the real-world (hello, Tony Blair?) is encourage a style of driving that is speedometer-fixated leading to frequent panic braking and a cascade effect of stop/starts on our roads. This is a sure-fire recipe for a plethora of accidents and near-misses.
On some 20 mile section of the A12 in Chelmsford area this evening I encountered these lines/stripes every few hundred yards. Why? Drivers - like me - who were alien to the area were utterly bewildered and in the midst of an Essex rush-hour the recurring speedometer-paranoia/braking/stop-start cascading was very, very dangerous and tiresome. And, most importantly, unecessary.
Maybe I am wrong, but I fail to see what other explanation there could be. Also, are the said lines/stripes a pre-requisite for any real camera, to ensure its calibration for prosecution?
I deplore modern day driving on A roads and Motorways for these reasons. Rather than being educated to drive to road and traffic conditions we are being "conditioned" to drive like Mr Pavlov's dog.
Hope you can shed some light on the matter!
Regards
Carl (this year I shall be mainly driving on B roads - thank heavens I have an MX-5!)
Emley
West Yorkshire
Carl,
if you look at most of the positions that these stripes are situated in you will usually find that there is a vantage point nearby or an entrance or lay by that can be used to site a mobile camera that will be trained on the area of the stripes on the road surface.
There are two sites that spring to mind on the A82 travelling north in Scotland where I have seen them use this method.
Your assertion about panic braking, confusion, etc is of course absolutely accurate and is completely ignored by the authorities who seem to have no regard whatever for genuine safety whilst utilising these techniques.
if you look at most of the positions that these stripes are situated in you will usually find that there is a vantage point nearby or an entrance or lay by that can be used to site a mobile camera that will be trained on the area of the stripes on the road surface.
There are two sites that spring to mind on the A82 travelling north in Scotland where I have seen them use this method.
Your assertion about panic braking, confusion, etc is of course absolutely accurate and is completely ignored by the authorities who seem to have no regard whatever for genuine safety whilst utilising these techniques.
Carl,
if you look at most of the positions that these stripes are situated in you will usually find that there is a vantage point nearby or an entrance or lay by that can be used to site a mobile camera that will be trained on the area of the stripes on the road surface.
There are two sites that spring to mind on the A82 travelling north in Scotland where I have seen them use this method.
Your assertion about panic braking, confusion, etc is of course absolutely accurate and is completely ignored by the authorities who seem to have no regard whatever for genuine safety whilst utilising these techniques.
if you look at most of the positions that these stripes are situated in you will usually find that there is a vantage point nearby or an entrance or lay by that can be used to site a mobile camera that will be trained on the area of the stripes on the road surface.
There are two sites that spring to mind on the A82 travelling north in Scotland where I have seen them use this method.
Your assertion about panic braking, confusion, etc is of course absolutely accurate and is completely ignored by the authorities who seem to have no regard whatever for genuine safety whilst utilising these techniques.
There are two sets of unused Gatso lines on the "new" A33 in Reading. I'm sure they'd love to have a camera there because people routinely and entirely safely ignore the 40mph limit on the section in question, which could easily be NSL were it not for the fact that it connects two other stretches that do deserve the 40mph limit.
However, there's nowhere to hide the camera (or park a scam-van, or a trafpol + hairdryer), so they wouldn't make much money. Much more lucrative spots elsewhere...
stepej said:
They've left some on the M6 in Cheshire too.
The panic braking by people who come across them when they aren't expecting them is scary. Especially in rush hour
interesting. i am sure this is a trend - the a12 was the craziest extreme example i have yet seen. i am sure the psychology behind it is their ploy; even the ones locally that i know are bogus still cause me to react by staring at my speedo and hovering over the brake.
i just wonder if a real camera must now always have such lines to ensure its calibration is correct (with so many incorrect prosecutions, etc) - ie, if no lines it won't be calibrated and deemed accurate and also if there are now always lines they can't really hide them, can they? i suppose that's some consolation?!
after 2yrs i still can't get used to the specs cameras on the road from sheffield to woodhead pass. now if those things get pervasive we really do have to start worrying.
let's just pray they (our lords and masters) leave the B roads alone. without the purity of the B roads i'd probably give up on cars and bikes.
ttfn
I've seen this too. I travelled to Cardiff and back from chesterfield this week. Long stretches of motorway having new overhead signage put up - nothing wring with that, apart from the fact that there were 'calibration' lines at the edge of the road after EVERY SINGLE new sign. Something we're not being told here?
stackmonkey said:
I've seen this too. I travelled to Cardiff and back from chesterfield this week. Long stretches of motorway having new overhead signage put up - nothing wring with that, apart from the fact that there were 'calibration' lines at the edge of the road after EVERY SINGLE new sign. Something we're not being told here?
i wonder if i am being a dumb optimist here, just a theory - just before election and re: speed camera stealth tax controversy, new (ha! labour announces they will in next parliament put forward a bill to raise motorway speed limit to 80. BUT it will be enforced by draconian cameras on every motorway bridge.
hmmmm, i wouldn't put that past them. if that were the case, i'd prefer it as is - can you imagine is we get specs-style monitoring on motorways where you can't ever risk going over 80 (if that were the new limit). god, they will make billions in revenues and roads will be less congested because at any time 33% of us will be banned!
yours, cynically. something's afoot, for sure. let's see what autocar says, assuming they read it that is.
ttfn
stackmonkey said:
I've seen this too. I travelled to Cardiff and back from chesterfield this week. Long stretches of motorway having new overhead signage put up - nothing wring with that, apart from the fact that there were 'calibration' lines at the edge of the road after EVERY SINGLE new sign. Something we're not being told here?
This sounds like the system due to be employed on the M42 this summer.
I have to endure numpties braking every time they see white lines on the road.
I say if they want to brake, then get out of my my way !!
The M42 cameras are not installed yet, apart from in the 50mph roadworks section.
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