New Research - speed cameras fail

[icamm]

And article in todays Daily Mail shows that new research (done at some University) using statistics from the EU, Australia shows that speed cameras don't reduce accidents.

The study showed that in the UK and Australia road deaths were decreasing until speed camera numbers started increasing. During the same time period countries with no, or few, speed cameras the decrease in death numbers continued.

[dontlift]

No amount of research will change the course of this, we all know why they are doing it and it isnt for safety

[Apache]

Not quite, we all know why they're doing it, Joe Public is just becoming aware of why they're doing it. More media publicity like this is just what is needed

[sandman]

Its strange actually - I have generally thought that speed cameras in the right places are a good idea. I've always felt that most of the Gatso cameras on the A40 in London (before it turns into the M40 for anyone who knows it - Greenford R/bout), are positioned in good spots - a few hundred yards before junctions that get heavily congested during busy times, so they slow the motorists down at the right place - just before the really busy junctions.

HOWEVER - over the last month I have seen the police attending two rather bad accidents on the A40 - funnily enough one which was just after a camera, and one that was just before the same camera!! Has made me rethink their ability to make driving safe!!!! Especially since its nearly 100% certain the cars involved were probably NOT speeding at the time they crashed - because of the presence of the cameras.

[stackmonkey]

Both accidents caused by people hitting the brakes hard to make sure they're not speeding past the cameras??

[sandman]

stackmonkey said:

Both accidents caused by people hitting the brakes hard to make sure they're not speeding past the cameras??

Quite possibly - would be interesting to find out.

[sps]

If any other group other than the Police had a cash scam like this it would probably be closed down by guess who.....
We should join other pressure groups to keep the whole "Safety Camera" issue under control.
It can be done. I understand that it has been in Canada.
Cheers
SPS

[Peter Ward]

This story was run in the Sunday Times today. There it said that in France and Germany the numbers of deaths continued to fall through the 90s-00s whereas in UK they haven't.

Does anyone know of sources of evidence for this France/Germany statement? I would have thought that if it were true the ABD would be quoting this along with their "5500 extra deaths" statement.

[dazren]

Aticle from an Australian newspaper regarding the research:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=63807&f=23&h=0&hw=Australia+AND+Bath

DAZ

[supermono]

(re A40 cameras)

Cameras before sliproad exit junctions are amongst the most dangerous in my opinion. You have enough to think about as it is, indicating, looking over your shoulder, changing lane, checking ahead. The last thing you need at the same time is to have to worry about totally unimportant stuff like how fast you're going -- also you don't want everyone suddenly changing their speed for no predictable reason. I find I like to be travelling just a few mph faster than the other stuff as I'm navigating across a lane or two because it just seems a lot safer. These cameras will encourage you to jump on your brake as you move across in front of someone in an otherwise safe manouvre.

SM

[KenP]

Peter Ward said:

This story was run in the Sunday Times today. There it said that in France and Germany the numbers of deaths continued to fall through the 90s-00s whereas in UK they haven't. Does anyone know of sources of evidence for this France/Germany statement? I would have thought that if it were true the ABD would be quoting this along with their "5500 extra deaths" statement.

Wouldn't give much credence to the S.T article, which also said that Germany has not got speed cameras. They do and they are referred to as 'Euro-pumps' (because they pump Euros into police coffers).