Why does UK have so many average speed cams?
Discussion
Why do we poor sods, with roads already near the safest in Europe, have the joy of so many more speed cameras than for example Germany and in particular an explosion of ASC systems?
Are we that stupid compared to our neighbours we need so much more technology monitoring our driving? Are we just a softer target? Do we 'trust the government' more than other nations? How are they getting away with it?
Can no-one see the end game from the ever increasing levels of state surveillance, that particularly ASCs, represent?
The temporary set up in road works is one thing but so many are appearing as permanent fixtures driving is becoming ever more stressful and, in my view, ever more dangerous due to the unusual effect on behaviour these things have (tailgating, blind spot lurking, dawdling 'just in case' etc etc).
When is enough enough?
Are we that stupid compared to our neighbours we need so much more technology monitoring our driving? Are we just a softer target? Do we 'trust the government' more than other nations? How are they getting away with it?
Can no-one see the end game from the ever increasing levels of state surveillance, that particularly ASCs, represent?
The temporary set up in road works is one thing but so many are appearing as permanent fixtures driving is becoming ever more stressful and, in my view, ever more dangerous due to the unusual effect on behaviour these things have (tailgating, blind spot lurking, dawdling 'just in case' etc etc).
When is enough enough?
I’m of two minds, firstly I speed quite a bit so don’t like the fact that they prevent me from doing so but on the other hand they are very effective and on smart motorways keep traffic flowing quite well. With adaptive cruise control they are a doddle and I can’t really argue against them.
I have no problem with them being used places where it is best to keep traffic flowing at a steady speed (e.g. the M25 at any time except 3am on Christmas morning), or where travelling above the speed limit really does increase risk (through an active roadworks, on a 30mph road through a built-up area etc).
Encountering these almost exclusively in motorway roadworks I find it makes the experience less stressful as it drastically narrows the range of speeds being attempted in heavy traffic, so you get far less tailgating and the traffic flows better through the roadworks. It's better than the instantaneous-type camera, because 1) you rarely find people slamming on at the sight of one (regardless of their speed) and 2) straying a little over the limit for a few seconds cannot result in a ticket, and baulked overtakes probably won't either.
Don't mistake me for a BRAKE numpty; I also think that the speed limit on motorways in good conditions and light traffic should be 120mph, if there is a speed limit at all.
Encountering these almost exclusively in motorway roadworks I find it makes the experience less stressful as it drastically narrows the range of speeds being attempted in heavy traffic, so you get far less tailgating and the traffic flows better through the roadworks. It's better than the instantaneous-type camera, because 1) you rarely find people slamming on at the sight of one (regardless of their speed) and 2) straying a little over the limit for a few seconds cannot result in a ticket, and baulked overtakes probably won't either.
Don't mistake me for a BRAKE numpty; I also think that the speed limit on motorways in good conditions and light traffic should be 120mph, if there is a speed limit at all.
Rich Boy Spanner said:
Some time back when the subject of the UK's roads being amongst the safest in Europe, it was mentioned the reasons were a (comparatively) low rate of drink driving and a high rate of seat belt usage, rather than because of any particular safe driving characteristic of the UK.
Our seat belt usage is good but so is most of Western Europe (except Italy & Greece 
). We have about the highest blood alcohol limit so we may do well on drink driving but not if you measure apples with apples. However by any measure Germany has lower drink driving numbers, higher use of seat belts but slightly less safe roads.Edited by Graveworm on Thursday 16th August 00:13
singlecoil said:
ASCs only affect people who exceed the limits,
You are correct, that is a big issue with ASCs - they only target vehicles which exceed. If they could also be used to prosecute the variously dawdling, dozy, dim, complacent, stupid, clueless individuals; you know, the 96% whose poor driving actually cause the accidents where people are killed or seriously injured. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icWRznTi_kQ
singlecoil said:
Do you feel that there should not be any limits?
Strawman nonsense...…...the limits in the UK are still pretty good. They were better 15 years ago they none of the reductions since then have been worthwhile imho ( unless you run SACs of course ).I also think the motorway / DC limit should be 80mph /130km/h...……...the current limit is far too close to the 60mph limit deemed safe on single carriageways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_by_coun...
CrutyRammers said:
That, most likely. They'll need a way of taxing electric vehicles and they've had a hard-on for tracking and charging people for the last 20 years at least.
GPS would be the obvious solution there. Average speed cameras tend to only be on smart motorways and through roadworks on motorways, unless they’re the only roads we are going to charge for (which wouldn’t work) they’re a terrible solution to the roads pricing dilemma. djc206 said:
GPS would be the obvious solution there. Average speed cameras tend to only be on smart motorways and through roadworks on motorways, unless they’re the only roads we are going to charge for (which wouldn’t work) they’re a terrible solution to the roads pricing dilemma.
Average speed cameras are popping up on rural single carriage way roads recently. The exact same ones as you see on the motorway roadworks.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff