Spend it Wisely
RAC Foundation calls for speed camera proceeds to be spent elsewhere
Public perception of speed cameras is gradually turning public opinion against other useful road safety strategies. Now the RAC Foundation is calling for new ways of using the revenue from cameras to be introduced to break the link between enforcement and revenue.
The RAC Foundation for Motoring is an independent body established to "Protect and promote the interests of UK motorists".
The Foundation has welcomed reports that the Government is currently examining methods of delivering re-education courses instead of penalty points to motorists caught by speed cameras across the country.
The Department of Transport is looking at speed awareness courses - which are financed by offenders.
Kevin Delaney, Traffic and Road Safety Manager of the RAC Foundation said: "Speed cameras are an integral and essential part of the nation’s road safety strategy but they have polarised public opinion, politicised road safety and personalised the debate as well as criminalising millions of motorists over the past four years .
"If the cameras are to fulfil their potential as the prime achievers of the Government’s ambitious casualty reduction targets it is vital that the attitude of otherwise law abiding motorists are changed towards remote enforcement methods. In the correct locations, cameras are a real road safety benefit. But we need to de-couple the belief that cameras are about money.
"Such change will only come about if we address those perceptions. Many drivers think that speed cameras are as, or more, concerned about raising revenue than reducing collisions and that numbers of speeding tickets are more important than dealing with very high speeds, blatant offenders and drink, drug and dangerous drivers ."
The RAC Foundation has a four-point manifesto:
- Break the link between enforcement and revenue. Rather than funding camera operations as a separate entity, bring them within the general road safety portfolio. Instead of returning the revenue raised for the continued operation of cameras, apply it much more widely to include road user education within schools. Instead of paying traffic police overtime to operate speed cameras, pay them to undertake mainstream high visibility traffic patrol duties, including dealing with the anti-social minority whose dangerous and often uninsured driving poses a greater threat.
- Improve signing of speed limits to the point where every limit is signed clearly at the beginning and throughout. Ensure that a speed limit sign is always visible at a fixed or mobile speed camera site.
- Increase the use of speed related interactive signs, which either remind drivers of the limit, or display the actual speed of speeding vehicles, especially on the approach to fixed site, or mobile speed cameras.
- Tackle driver’s attitudes towards speed by increasing the provision of speed awareness courses as an alternative to automatic penalties in the case of minor infringements, or first time offenders. A speeding ticket through the post tends to harden rather than change the recipient’s attitude, whereas driver training encourages those taking part to think about their behaviour and perhaps change it.
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I think the police should distance themselves away from this from of collecting money for the government.
I feel that the police are losing any respect they had from us.
I don’t see why the police should have to collect money in for a government who do not have the balls to put up taxes.
Spacey said:
While i agree with a lot that the RAC foundation have said they still seem to be focused on speed being a major issue toward better road safety. Surely they should also be making some effort to shift the focus onto real causes like poor driving and promote better training etc? But they are still talking about speed awareness courses, cameras, road signs etc? If everyone had a high standard of driving, using approriate speed for the conditions would there be any need for speed limit signs as the limit would be self imposed?
Yes, concentration on speed is an inappropriate and too simplistic reaction to bad driving / lack of driving skills. The problem starts at the driving school stage through to low standards in the driving test.
Fewer people passing a stiffer test is the answer, unless of course the government are happy to continue with the present situation whereby ill-equipped new drivers are pouring onto the roads each day paying lots of petrol tax, road tax, VAT on servicing etc etc.
As someone else said - driving isn't a right, it's a privlege (or something like that?). The only people with a right to drive are the people who are skilled enough to do so. When people who have taken 10+ attempts to pass their test are allowed onto the roads you've got to worry!!
Spacey said:
Agreed, i've always said that you don't really learn to drive properly until after your test. A good driver should be continually learning. Unfortunately many people switch off the brain when the get behind the wheel. If the test was made harder, and more applicable to real life driving i'm sure road safety would improve massively.
As someone else said - driving isn't a right, it's a privlege (or something like that?). The only people with a right to drive are the people who are skilled enough to do so. When people who have taken 10+ attempts to pass their test are allowed onto the roads you've got to worry!!
That was probably me - mentioned it in a post a bit back! I had to prove to the family that I had earned the privilege of learning to drive. This meant I had to prove to my parents that I had road-sense and knowledge of the car's mechanics before they would consider helping pay for driving lessons - which were (and still are) extortionately high in Germany! (We were living there at time!)
German way involves 10 hours formal driving theory tuition, followed by practical lessons. You only go in for the test when Fahrschule thinks you are ready! (Course some will fleece on that basis!
) Driving lessons include night and Autobahn driving, and test includes short drive on Autobahn (or similarly fast road if you are miles from one!) MSM and COAST are taught very precisely - and you automatically fail if you do not MSM precisely and constantly on test! The Autobahn element was introduced ca 5 months after probationer caused multiple deaths on Autobahn back in 1976. Like UK - 2 year probationary period and any transgression during this spell is automatic return to Fahrschule to "mend your ways!"
Your probation starts again - in full! It is also very expensive!
Efficient - but they still have accidents!
Driving instructors have 5 months full time training in law, driving theories and teaching techniques, followed by 18 months practical before they can open up their own schools. (Longer for HGV/bikes). They have to go on annual refreshers too!
What is training requirement over here for driving instructors?
Agree with the RAC manifesto on the whole!
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