RE: More cameras required, says top cop
Monday 22nd August 2005
'Let 1,000 cameras grow'A police chief has called for the country to be blanketed with speed cameras, according to a story in yesterday's Observer newspaper.
More cameras required, says top cop
1,000 extra devices to blanket the UK?
'Let 1,000 cameras grow'
Ian Bell, speed camera liaison officer for the Association of Chief Police Officers, is reported as saying that Britain's roads need some 1,000 more cameras. That would be a 16 per cent increase.
Bell argues that speeding means people losing their lives, therefore more cameras are required. This of course fails entirely to explain why lightly loaded motorways frequently see most cars driving safely at 90-100mph without causing deaths.
Bell said that drivers wouldn't notice the increase because they would be phased in over a long period. He also said that some cameras may be removed and replaced by traffic-calming measures or speed signs.
Bell's comments come at a time where politicians are starting to doubt the effectiveness of the devices -- and presumably the political impact of supporting them.
In the background is a 'speed awareness programme' that the police will roll out in England and Wales, that means those convicted of speeding will be sent to a one-day £60 driving school instead of gaining points on their licence.
Discussion
Ian Bell, speed camera liaison officer for the Association of Chief Police Officers
he's hardly going to advocate fewer speed cameras is he ?...more cameras means fewer Traffic Police=lower salary expenditure.That should keep the bean-counters happy in more ways than one.
ps.Bell said that drivers wouldn't notice the increase because they would be phased in over a long period.
Is that classed as a "stealth tax "?
>> Edited by huge on Monday 22 August 13:10
he's hardly going to advocate fewer speed cameras is he ?...more cameras means fewer Traffic Police=lower salary expenditure.That should keep the bean-counters happy in more ways than one.
ps.Bell said that drivers wouldn't notice the increase because they would be phased in over a long period.
Is that classed as a "stealth tax "?
>> Edited by huge on Monday 22 August 13:10
The "speed awareness course" is a good way of mitigating against the polical fallout from banning safe drivers from the roads under totting up.
Instead they can be subjected to some pointless drivel from someone chanting the "speed kills" mantra. For the princely sum of £60. And a day's lost earnings.
Give me strength.
SM
>> Edited by supermono on Monday 22 August 13:31
Instead they can be subjected to some pointless drivel from someone chanting the "speed kills" mantra. For the princely sum of £60. And a day's lost earnings.
Give me strength.
SM
>> Edited by supermono on Monday 22 August 13:31
supermono said:
The "speed awareness course" is a good way of mitigating against the polical fallout from banning safe drivers from the roads under totting up.
Instead they can be subjected to some pointless drivel from someone chanting the "speed kills" mantra. For the princely sum of £60. And a day's lost earnings.
Give me strength.
SM
>> Edited by supermono on Monday 22 August 13:31
Ian Bell
Ist he the same one who "defiantly justified a LanCASH££££re talivan parked illegally in a village somewhere - white Hertz hire van at time .. und no markings - was in papers ca October 2003. Ist one where the BiB was hiding beneath a blanket in back .. 
Ist the one which picked off drivers at 33-34 mph... ist how chap at our firm go caught at that speed und sent on Speed Course for 34 mph.
Was not £60 either ... £95 for the day. He said it was a good course though to be fair und was about COAST und not speed. But was principle of being nabbed at that speed in way he was ... ist
not the way to make road safe. But scams...
Ist not speed.. und Lancs at least has it right on the Speed Course they offer by talking COAST on it. So .. why not more advice on promoting driving progressively und safely und tackling the actual issue of improving standard of safety led approach - und ist tackled at L-test level und perhaps courses to instruct how to use latest gadget in cars throughout drive time life span - or assessment check ups every so often with some kind of motivator like insurance premium reduction for good or improved results. >> Edited by WildCat on Monday 22 August 13:54
jas16 said:Because the lefties want us off the road - they are making life as difficult (and expensive) as possible.
what an idiot, what planet does he live on!!! If people are doing 90-100mph SAFELY then what is his f***ing problem. All this does really piss me off, why are motorists treated so harshly when we contribute huge amounts of funds for these people?
I have mentioned this before, if you saw that documentary series "Is this Britain's Worst Driver", then you will know that there are absolute nutters on the roads of this country !! How did they get a licence ??.
If you calm down for a second and think about it the driving laws have to be set for the lowest achieving group. These people are dangerous at 5mph never mind 30, 40, 50, or 70mph !!.
The fact that 80+% of us are quite sensible ( ?? ), and naturally drive at an appropriate and comfortable speed for the conditions, is beside the point, those mentioned above,( plus the morons with their cap on back to front ), would be even more dangerous if not controlled by the law.
Those of you who use the motorways will know full well that most traffic proceeds at 80 to 90mph !!!!. This is not just mad headed youths, it is male and female of all ages, kids in car or not, ALL doing 80 to 90mph.
Then there is a police vehicle, and they all slow down and bunch up. The BiB pulls off and off they go, all back up to 80 to 90mph !!. All those citizens must believe that 80 to 90mph is acceptable to society, or that would not happen.
It is acceptable, but not to the law / exchequer.
vbr CJ.
If you calm down for a second and think about it the driving laws have to be set for the lowest achieving group. These people are dangerous at 5mph never mind 30, 40, 50, or 70mph !!.
The fact that 80+% of us are quite sensible ( ?? ), and naturally drive at an appropriate and comfortable speed for the conditions, is beside the point, those mentioned above,( plus the morons with their cap on back to front ), would be even more dangerous if not controlled by the law.
Those of you who use the motorways will know full well that most traffic proceeds at 80 to 90mph !!!!. This is not just mad headed youths, it is male and female of all ages, kids in car or not, ALL doing 80 to 90mph.
Then there is a police vehicle, and they all slow down and bunch up. The BiB pulls off and off they go, all back up to 80 to 90mph !!. All those citizens must believe that 80 to 90mph is acceptable to society, or that would not happen.
It is acceptable, but not to the law / exchequer.
vbr CJ.
The country is or has gone to the dogs - its about time Police chiefs were elected and not there for life and ruining ours, I am all for speed limits and opeying the law and respect any decent copper doing his job,which lets face it is not easy...
but the whole road network is a mess - we build part motorways - Look at the M11 2 lane for a lot of it
( that was a good idea )you then wait 20 minutes for a lorry to overtake?
the A11 halts the road both ways for an hour on a regular basis, effectively reducing it to one lane and one lane for joining !
The M25 is for Lorries and Shoppers - Progessive speed limits are what is required in many areas and some motorways,even the M25 with though can easily be speed up and drivers trained to use it more effectively when roads are quite - I agree with soe that we should up the limit to 85/90 on motorways and 80mph on many other good roads, providing the roads are quite enough.
Anyone who goes over at all - gets a 7 day BAN - That will at least satisfy some elements who want us all to take holidays in Germany.
but the whole road network is a mess - we build part motorways - Look at the M11 2 lane for a lot of it
( that was a good idea )you then wait 20 minutes for a lorry to overtake?
the A11 halts the road both ways for an hour on a regular basis, effectively reducing it to one lane and one lane for joining !
The M25 is for Lorries and Shoppers - Progessive speed limits are what is required in many areas and some motorways,even the M25 with though can easily be speed up and drivers trained to use it more effectively when roads are quite - I agree with soe that we should up the limit to 85/90 on motorways and 80mph on many other good roads, providing the roads are quite enough.
Anyone who goes over at all - gets a 7 day BAN - That will at least satisfy some elements who want us all to take holidays in Germany.
roads need some 1,000 more cameras. That would be a 16 per cent increase.
has he not understood the facts
1, if speed cameras work, why hasn't the catch rate gone down?
2, if speed traps work, why has their catch rate not gone down?
the thousand new? cameras are going to be rolled out over a long period of time because the factory can't keep up with the demand, what with mr nice guys and gals keep burning them!! (should not smoke while driving or parked near these inflammable objects)!! accidently running into them, ( my glasses got steamed up officer, honest!!)
has he not understood the facts
1, if speed cameras work, why hasn't the catch rate gone down?
2, if speed traps work, why has their catch rate not gone down?
the thousand new? cameras are going to be rolled out over a long period of time because the factory can't keep up with the demand, what with mr nice guys and gals keep burning them!! (should not smoke while driving or parked near these inflammable objects)!! accidently running into them, ( my glasses got steamed up officer, honest!!)
puggit said:
Because the lefties want us off the road - they are making life as difficult (and expensive) as possible.
Where on earth did you get the idea that Ian Bell is a lefty from? As a lefty I find this DEEPLY offensive. (And I find the idea that the government is lefty deeply offensive as well - before you all start on that!)
I have no problem with you hating these people, on the other hand.
Prof Beard
Perhaps he is on the take? Getting some cash handouts from the manufactures making these cameres? Looking for an earlier retirment but spreading out the payments received without making it too suspicios? Its clearly a scam somewhere!
Just wish the television and media do more on this.
Just wish the television and media do more on this.
I wonder whether Ian Bell owns shares in a company which makes scameras? That's the only good reason I can think of for his wanting yet more speed cameras when they have been shown time and again to have no affect on accident rates.
Of course, as other correspondents have said, it may just be that he hates us motorists and wants to antagonise us!
Of course, as other correspondents have said, it may just be that he hates us motorists and wants to antagonise us!
apache said:
Well I think it's marvellous news. I can drive even more thoughtlessly with the chance of meeting a trafpol getting less likely than me buying a baseball cap.
Thanks to GPS and local radio I know where to slow down and as long as I do I can drive like a complete tw@
Well that's a good point, apache, but did the guy say "static cameras" or just "cameras"? We know the direction the police are moving in -- don't ban locators but marginalise them -- so I would have thought this would see more talivans.
This is of course a win/win for the police and government, because the BiBs can get double time on their days off, and this helps mask the low police pay that the government will increasingly need to get away with as tax revenues continue to decrease.
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