Car-tax dodgers go free as police target speeding
Discussion
Well we all know this but hey that's no reason not to post it? 
BTW our 'friend' Brunstrom gets a mention
www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-523-772327,00.html
August 10, 2003
Car-tax dodgers go free as police target speeding
Mark Ludlow
THE number of motorists being prosecuted for evading paying tax and insurance and for driving unsafe cars has plummeted as police concentrate instead on using cameras to trap speeding drivers.
Recorded speeding offences have risen by 250% since cameras were introduced on a large scale in 1996. Over the same period there has been a 30% fall in the number of drivers caught with defective cars and a 10% drop in licence and insurance offences, government figures show.
Many critics believe police are opting for the easy revenue to be gained in speeding fines from otherwise law-abiding drivers. As a result, it is claimed, forces have cut the number of traffic police and ignored offences that are just as likely to lead to road deaths.
“It does appear in some areas that revenue is taking over from safety, and that is a major concern,” said Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation.
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving. The things you lose when you don’t have cops out on the street looking for bad drivers is people who drive dangerously, recklessly and carelessly. They don’t get caught.”
From 1996 to 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of speeding offences went up from 313,000 to 1.1m. Over the period, the number of motorists prosecuted for careless driving fell by 7.4% from 99,000 to 91,700 and the total caught for defective cars dropped from 704,500 to 496,200.
Meanwhile, the 1.25m uninsured drivers, equivalent to one in 20, are now estimated to cost those who stay within the law £500m a year, or £30 a head, in higher premiums.
There are more than 4,500 speed cameras in Britain, yielding £66m in revenue from fines. But advocates of the cameras deny their main aim is to raise revenue. Richard Brunstrom, chief constable of north Wales, recently said: “Speeding is antisocial behaviour just as much as yobbery.”
The National Safety Camera Partnership said: “The casualty rate where cameras are placed has fallen dramatically. We believe there is huge support for them because they save lives.”
Durham is the only British constabulary area without fixed speed cameras. Its chief constable, Paul Garvin, has been hailed by motoring groups for his common sense.
BTW our 'friend' Brunstrom gets a mention
www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-523-772327,00.html
August 10, 2003
Car-tax dodgers go free as police target speeding
Mark Ludlow
THE number of motorists being prosecuted for evading paying tax and insurance and for driving unsafe cars has plummeted as police concentrate instead on using cameras to trap speeding drivers.
Recorded speeding offences have risen by 250% since cameras were introduced on a large scale in 1996. Over the same period there has been a 30% fall in the number of drivers caught with defective cars and a 10% drop in licence and insurance offences, government figures show.
Many critics believe police are opting for the easy revenue to be gained in speeding fines from otherwise law-abiding drivers. As a result, it is claimed, forces have cut the number of traffic police and ignored offences that are just as likely to lead to road deaths.
“It does appear in some areas that revenue is taking over from safety, and that is a major concern,” said Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation.
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving. The things you lose when you don’t have cops out on the street looking for bad drivers is people who drive dangerously, recklessly and carelessly. They don’t get caught.”
From 1996 to 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of speeding offences went up from 313,000 to 1.1m. Over the period, the number of motorists prosecuted for careless driving fell by 7.4% from 99,000 to 91,700 and the total caught for defective cars dropped from 704,500 to 496,200.
Meanwhile, the 1.25m uninsured drivers, equivalent to one in 20, are now estimated to cost those who stay within the law £500m a year, or £30 a head, in higher premiums.
There are more than 4,500 speed cameras in Britain, yielding £66m in revenue from fines. But advocates of the cameras deny their main aim is to raise revenue. Richard Brunstrom, chief constable of north Wales, recently said: “Speeding is antisocial behaviour just as much as yobbery.”
The National Safety Camera Partnership said: “The casualty rate where cameras are placed has fallen dramatically. We believe there is huge support for them because they save lives.”
Durham is the only British constabulary area without fixed speed cameras. Its chief constable, Paul Garvin, has been hailed by motoring groups for his common sense.
This bit was intresting
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving.
So how do these cameras detect that again please cos im a bit fick
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving.
So how do these cameras detect that again please cos im a bit fick
pies said:
This bit was intresting
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving.
So how do these cameras detect that again please cos im a bit fick
Absolutely but how do they qualify dangerous driving, one guy resently was convicted for dangerous driving at 110 mph on a deserted motorway, I sappose thats because they have removed the resources that would catch real cases they have now put themselves under pressure to get their figures up by making cases up
cazzo said:
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving. The things you lose when you don’t have cops out on the street looking for bad drivers is people who drive dangerously, recklessly and carelessly. They don’t get caught.”
Promote that man
cazzo said:
Chief Superintendent Mike McAndrew, former head of traffic policing for the Metropolitan police, and spokesman for the Police Superintendents’ Association, said: “Speed on its own is not the killer; it’s dangerous driving. The things you lose when you don’t have cops out on the street looking for bad drivers is people who drive dangerously, recklessly and carelessly. They don’t get caught.”
Well said Guvna!!!!!!
>> Edited by tonyrec on Monday 11th August 10:04
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff