Why do speed cameras make us so angry?
Discussion
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
Let's hope more and more people start getting angry. I don't mean a bit annoyed I mean proper bigstyle tipping shit over and setting light to stuff angry. Because until then, they'll carry on ramping up their shafting of the motorist.They must be rolling around the floor laughing about how stupid we are to buy this "road safety" tax.
SM
Scameras make me angry too, and I suspect it's because I see them as grossly unfair.
I think it's unfair that I (and all other law abiding, socially minded, upstanding citizens) are at risk of pretty hefty penalties simply for momentary and harmless oversights whilst the real menaces to society, whom in many cases we also bankroll through <our taxes/their benefits>, are seemingly immune, as they don't live within the framework of the legal system. Kevin in his Nova doesn't care about a speeding ticket if he's already driving whilst banned or without a licence.
It makes me a sad panda.
I think it's unfair that I (and all other law abiding, socially minded, upstanding citizens) are at risk of pretty hefty penalties simply for momentary and harmless oversights whilst the real menaces to society, whom in many cases we also bankroll through <our taxes/their benefits>, are seemingly immune, as they don't live within the framework of the legal system. Kevin in his Nova doesn't care about a speeding ticket if he's already driving whilst banned or without a licence.
It makes me a sad panda.
Edited by Andrew D on Tuesday 4th September 15:53
They make me angry because on the one occasion I have received points from one, none of the 7 cars in front or after me in the queue, got flashed. Hardly a systematic approach. However the points are now history as far as my license is concerned, I did admit to it (fair cop when all is said and done) but that fact that it didn't flash at any other driver before me or after me was a bit annoying, felt like I had personally been singled out for doing exactly the same as several other people.
This was especially hard to swallow as at the time I was fairly young and it doubled the cost of my insurance.
So in answer to the OP it makes us angry because it feels like we are being singled out for something that most people will (off the record) admit to doing at one time or another and get away with.
This was especially hard to swallow as at the time I was fairly young and it doubled the cost of my insurance.
So in answer to the OP it makes us angry because it feels like we are being singled out for something that most people will (off the record) admit to doing at one time or another and get away with.
They're "fine" if they're clearly marked in accident black spots, but if they're on a clear/open road where slight excesses in speed are clearly of lower risk, then thats a major irritation - more obviously placed purely for revenue gains.
Regardless though, there is little doubt that they ultimately do little to actually make the roads safer. Speeding idiots will always be idiots regardless of scamera placement.
Regardless though, there is little doubt that they ultimately do little to actually make the roads safer. Speeding idiots will always be idiots regardless of scamera placement.
[quote=clonmult]They're "fine" if they're clearly marked in accident black spots, but if they're on a clear/open road where slight excesses in speed are clearly of lower risk, then thats a major irritation - more obviously placed purely for revenue gains. quote]
that'll be the whole of the A14 then?
i seem to remember that a camera could only be placed where there was evidence of a certain number of accidents. when did this change, or did this even exist?
that'll be the whole of the A14 then?
i seem to remember that a camera could only be placed where there was evidence of a certain number of accidents. when did this change, or did this even exist?
Edited by tamore on Tuesday 4th September 17:00
topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
It doesn't bother me personally at all.topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
Why 2 cameras??? Are you sure they weren't ANPR?http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&svnum=...
I agree that i get annoyed as i percieve it as unfair.
Coincidently its still there, this time i got a better look: white van half bumped up the kerb half in the road as it is a fly-over roundabout with no pavement had its hazards on though. Traffic is having to go around it, i do wonder what happens when someone drives in the back of it, as its a large and busy roundabout with a 50 limit.
If i have time i'll take a picture of it as i've seen broken down vehicles in the same position towed or pushed away by the police to the far end where there is some hardshoulder i imagine they think its dangerous to stop there hence moving them.
As mensioned before its the lack of consistency that makes me angry as well.
Coincidently its still there, this time i got a better look: white van half bumped up the kerb half in the road as it is a fly-over roundabout with no pavement had its hazards on though. Traffic is having to go around it, i do wonder what happens when someone drives in the back of it, as its a large and busy roundabout with a 50 limit.
If i have time i'll take a picture of it as i've seen broken down vehicles in the same position towed or pushed away by the police to the far end where there is some hardshoulder i imagine they think its dangerous to stop there hence moving them.
As mensioned before its the lack of consistency that makes me angry as well.
Not sure about ANPR, there were two, appearing to only cover the fast and middle lanes (at different angles) they are out on their own with the power and i assume video feeds trailed back to the van, no people on show assume they are sitting in the rear. Each camera also appeared to have what looked like a floodlight attached to the side of it.
Sounds like ANPR - AFAIK scam vans on motorway bridges have a single camera on a tripod pointing out the side door. Relatively few sections of motorway are scammed in this way, M6 in Cumbria, A74(M) in Dumfries & Galloway M4 S.Wales and Wilts, M180 Humberside are stretches that spring to mind in the scammer hall of shame. Not aware of any scamming where the OP said, but welcome any confirmed sightings
Seeing a police officer hiding behind a bush on a DC pissed me off. WTF is the point? No one was doing over 70 and hes causing more of a danger by stepping out and causing people to panic by pointing a scamera at cars. It just all seems a little vindictive to me. Besides the fact that while road safty is important given the number of people killed and injured, is catching people speeding really going to help? Could resources be diverted to other crimes that matter more to people?
ajstephe said:
Would people be so upset if it was just fines and not points that they recieved as a result of being caught speeding.?
i wouldnt care about speeding fines as they stand, its the points that bother meI have no points, and i am a million miles away from being wealthy, but thats just my view on it.
its is not just a cash cow when you consider the points, but a way of losing ppeople their freedom and jobs at the extreme end of things.. i know some smart arse is gonna say "well dont speed then" but its very easy to do it accidentally by a few mph... nevermind for devilment
vonhosen said:
topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
It doesn't bother me personally at all.vonhosen said:
topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
It doesn't bother me personally at all.
I think it start when people we know got invites at £85 to a Speed Aware course at 34mph on road which were once NSL duals und reduced to 30 mph - enforced immediately with scam.Family in Lancs/.Mancherster/Dales/Cumbria start united protest with much local support
. We get support from locals. We think we achieve some gain with revised cut offs at much better margins renrut said:
They make me angry because on the one occasion I have received points from one, none of the 7 cars in front or after me in the queue, got flashed. Hardly a systematic approach.
That's right - they're really biased those cameras and will pick on you based on the colour of your skin or if they are jealous of your car.Jules360 said:
vonhosen said:
topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
It doesn't bother me personally at all. sometimes. 
I think he human sometimes though Just occasionally we manage to penetrate steel enforced leather von - trousers He will fall foul of fellow robots sometime. They all do just as Madame Guillotine claimed the head of Robespierre
Jules360 said:
vonhosen said:
topjay said:
I've just seen an unmarked van (tues 3.30), sitting at jcn 5 of the m1 with two unmarked cameras on the bridge over the motorway into london. It made me really angry to think of all the poor people that will recieve tickets. It seems strange to me that i'm getting bothered as it affects me in no way. Just seeing it and knowing that people not driving dangerously or doing excessive speed are giong to get fined and points made me really angry. Its just getting silly now with points and fines.
It doesn't bother me personally at all.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff