New Junction - Dangerous Already?
Discussion
Some of you may know the A303 at Folly Bottom near Amesbury - NSL Dual Carriageway at the bottom (when travelling westbound) of a very long hill, and about a mile before the Countess Services.
The site, over the past year, has been the subject of a number of arguments (and refunds) regarding the siting and signing of mobile cameras. (Some of which it must be said were there to enforce the 40mph temporary limit required whilst roadworks were being carried out).
Approximately one year ago the junction with local roads was radically altered to provide adequate run on/off for a new roadside 'leisure area' and an industrial estate (construction of which has just commenced). The alterations included new on and off ramps to the A303, and a total of four new roundabouts for the local roads.
Yesterday, at the site of this new junction, appeared as if by magic, a pair of shiny new Gatsos one for each carriageway of the main A303.
One wonders why having spent all that money on a new junction, it is already considered to be so dangerous that it warrants the installation of safety cameras......
.....especially when neither the roadside leisure area or the industrial estate has yet opened, and thus the predicted increase in traffic should not have occurred.
The site, over the past year, has been the subject of a number of arguments (and refunds) regarding the siting and signing of mobile cameras. (Some of which it must be said were there to enforce the 40mph temporary limit required whilst roadworks were being carried out).
Approximately one year ago the junction with local roads was radically altered to provide adequate run on/off for a new roadside 'leisure area' and an industrial estate (construction of which has just commenced). The alterations included new on and off ramps to the A303, and a total of four new roundabouts for the local roads.
Yesterday, at the site of this new junction, appeared as if by magic, a pair of shiny new Gatsos one for each carriageway of the main A303.
One wonders why having spent all that money on a new junction, it is already considered to be so dangerous that it warrants the installation of safety cameras......
.....especially when neither the roadside leisure area or the industrial estate has yet opened, and thus the predicted increase in traffic should not have occurred.
They're Speed cameras, not safety cameras 
Zulu 10 said:
........One wonders why having spent all that money on a new junction, it is already considered to be so dangerous that it warrants the installation of safety cameras......
I know why (assuming there were accidents at this junction in the past).
As you have noticed, the new speed cameras are one of several recent improvements made to that junction, in this case ‘new on and off ramps to the A303, and a total of four new roundabouts for the local roads’. The latter mentioned improvement will likely result in less accidents, but in a few years time you will find that only the speed cameras will be given credit for the improvement in safety, even if didn't actually contribute.
These tactics will result with very favourable stats in the favour of the partnerships, even when factoring in RTTM.
Forget ‘bias by selection’, this is ‘bias on selection’
Apparently, according to this report from the VxSCC forum;
Posted by: Vectraracer
"Ok I might be a little naive saying this but I always thought Gatsos were there to promote road safety in areas of accident black spots or around areas where pedestrians roam, so I was a little confused when I saw 2 Gatsos put on the A303 at Solstice Park (Amesbury Wiltshire for thos who wonder) It's about 4 miles east of stonehenge and no where near pedestrian area and not an accident spot, well I ain't seen one in the 24 years I have lived here.
Anyway 4 days they have been up and there has been an accident already, 2 cars going too fast fly past me down a big hill, car in front spots the camera and brakes for his life, car behind is too close and smacks first car up the back sendin it across the road spinning till it come to a stop on the grass verge. What a mess!"
Posted by: Vectraracer
"Ok I might be a little naive saying this but I always thought Gatsos were there to promote road safety in areas of accident black spots or around areas where pedestrians roam, so I was a little confused when I saw 2 Gatsos put on the A303 at Solstice Park (Amesbury Wiltshire for thos who wonder) It's about 4 miles east of stonehenge and no where near pedestrian area and not an accident spot, well I ain't seen one in the 24 years I have lived here.
Anyway 4 days they have been up and there has been an accident already, 2 cars going too fast fly past me down a big hill, car in front spots the camera and brakes for his life, car behind is too close and smacks first car up the back sendin it across the road spinning till it come to a stop on the grass verge. What a mess!"
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