Speed Camera - Moral Question?
Discussion
This is a true predicament for a friend of mine.
He lives near to a school, where without doubt, vehicles of all kinds do not stick to the 30mph limit. The road lends itself to speeding (if you know what i mean)and there are untold RTA's some serious with one fatality.
The Council are planning to put up a camera right outside his house.
Obviously, he believes that there is most certainly a need for a camera here but doesnt like the fact that its going at the end of his driveway.He also has children at the school which is about 200m away.
What would you do in this situation?
He lives near to a school, where without doubt, vehicles of all kinds do not stick to the 30mph limit. The road lends itself to speeding (if you know what i mean)and there are untold RTA's some serious with one fatality.
The Council are planning to put up a camera right outside his house.
Obviously, he believes that there is most certainly a need for a camera here but doesnt like the fact that its going at the end of his driveway.He also has children at the school which is about 200m away.
What would you do in this situation?
Petition for the funds to be used instead to place TrafPol outside the school at the times of most risk of accident.
I'm sure he'd be happier with a police car sitting outside his house part time during the week rather than an indisriminate scamera full time.
Think also of the community policing benefits - the school kids might actually learn something about road safety from the officer on duty.
I'm sure he'd be happier with a police car sitting outside his house part time during the week rather than an indisriminate scamera full time.
Think also of the community policing benefits - the school kids might actually learn something about road safety from the officer on duty.
Ask them to put up a speed indicator sign - you know, the happy smiley face, or "38mph" ones, even better the ones which also display reg. nos with it.
Proven to be more effective than speed cameras too...
And also campaign for road safety education for the kids at the school as pedestrians, as opposed to youth denouncers of parents' driving.
Proven to be more effective than speed cameras too...
And also campaign for road safety education for the kids at the school as pedestrians, as opposed to youth denouncers of parents' driving.
1) Look for a more suitable location for the camera that isn't merely placing it outside someone else's drive.
2) Suggest that one of the cameras be put up that flashes up your speed and says slow down (can't rem name of them), rather than Gatso. They're apparently 3 times more effective at reducing speed than a Gatso, so why not use the more effective measure rather than a revenue earner?
my previous house was on a busy road. I could have lived with one of those outside, but not a Gatso.
2) Suggest that one of the cameras be put up that flashes up your speed and says slow down (can't rem name of them), rather than Gatso. They're apparently 3 times more effective at reducing speed than a Gatso, so why not use the more effective measure rather than a revenue earner?
my previous house was on a busy road. I could have lived with one of those outside, but not a Gatso.
This thing will make his life a misery. The constant sounds of emergency braking. The flashes in the middle of the night. Awful.
I wouldn't want one outside of my house.
People often don't think about the quality of life reduction people near them have to suffer - same with speed bumps.
I'm afraid if I was him I would object to it. I would also try to think up a viable alternative for the location too, mind.
I feel sorry for your mate. He'll get the flippin' thing anyway...
I wouldn't want one outside of my house.
People often don't think about the quality of life reduction people near them have to suffer - same with speed bumps.
I'm afraid if I was him I would object to it. I would also try to think up a viable alternative for the location too, mind.
I feel sorry for your mate. He'll get the flippin' thing anyway...
tonyrec said:
This is a true predicament for a friend of mine.
He lives near to a school, where without doubt, vehicles of all kinds do not stick to the 30mph limit. The road lends itself to speeding (if you know what i mean)and there are untold RTA's some serious with one fatality.
The Council are planning to put up a camera right outside his house.
Obviously, he believes that there is most certainly a need for a camera here but doesnt like the fact that its going at the end of his driveway.He also has children at the school which is about 200m away.
What would you do in this situation?
Well its better to have it right outside his house as late at night when he is on the way home, nobody else on the road, all schoolkids are in bed etc, and he may therefore be slightly in excess of the speedlimit he won't get caught as will have to slow to get in his drive!
If the camera is a couple of hundred yards down the road it could catch him!
Fixed cameras only record the speed at a given moment in time, irrespective of the bigger picture.
It sounds like this site would be ideal for marked BiB to go down with laser etc. once/twice a week during the day and clobber people! (people that are muppets and drive at inappropriate speeds for the conditions etc. etc.). This will allow the BiB to use discretion if he/she sees fit to give said driver good ticking off. Once people knew this was happening speeding would almost certainly fall. The trouble with fixed cameras in these situations is people know where they are, slow and smile at the camera and drive off.
Having watched that prog. on BBC last night about speed cameras, it would appear the BiB traffic duties are being starved considerably, and therefore this option would not be viable!
It sounds like this site would be ideal for marked BiB to go down with laser etc. once/twice a week during the day and clobber people! (people that are muppets and drive at inappropriate speeds for the conditions etc. etc.). This will allow the BiB to use discretion if he/she sees fit to give said driver good ticking off. Once people knew this was happening speeding would almost certainly fall. The trouble with fixed cameras in these situations is people know where they are, slow and smile at the camera and drive off.
Having watched that prog. on BBC last night about speed cameras, it would appear the BiB traffic duties are being starved considerably, and therefore this option would not be viable!
Speed activated warning sign, surely? Three times more effective, non intrusive (ie don't flash) and people don't panic brake for them. If that doesn't do the trick then maybe plod should pop by every now and again?
There's a few round here (Watford)...oddly enough near a private music school in one of the more affluent parts of town. Another school in a not so affluent part has 4 Gatsos within a mile. Wonder where the local council members live eh?
There's a few round here (Watford)...oddly enough near a private music school in one of the more affluent parts of town. Another school in a not so affluent part has 4 Gatsos within a mile. Wonder where the local council members live eh?
It will make his house more difficult to sell. I looked at a house with a Truvelo camera about 30m away and visible from the house. The thought of having to brake early every time I drove home and accelerate slowly when leaving to avoid getting caught certainly put me off buying the house. And having to look at the ugly thing from the window did not appeal either.
Gatso - never good idea. We complain that they are not near schools. Anyone really know why?
Perhaps it is because of the radiation. Have read in medic's rag (Lancet - ages ago) - BiBs and talivanners - increase in cancer, reproductive malfunctions and general stroppinness brought on by their love of speed guns! Research was and still is inconclusive - but think they have good point about the stroppiness!
Would the radiation and electrosmog interfere with his telly, pacemaker and hearing aid, not to mention his peace and tranquillity within his own home - tyre screeches, horn honking and constant flashes from PC Gatso! If it got vandalised - would one get done for not seeing it or failing to report a crime? Would they then erect CCTV footage to protect camera - and then have great spectator view into the chap's front bedroom?
But who wants ugly Gatso in view of front bedroom window - most offputting!
Better off with trafpols, lollipop man/lady, Smiley Sids and occasional talivans to get message across, along with a good dollop of Road Sense into the PSE lessons!
Perhaps it is because of the radiation. Have read in medic's rag (Lancet - ages ago) - BiBs and talivanners - increase in cancer, reproductive malfunctions and general stroppinness brought on by their love of speed guns! Research was and still is inconclusive - but think they have good point about the stroppiness!
Would the radiation and electrosmog interfere with his telly, pacemaker and hearing aid, not to mention his peace and tranquillity within his own home - tyre screeches, horn honking and constant flashes from PC Gatso! If it got vandalised - would one get done for not seeing it or failing to report a crime? Would they then erect CCTV footage to protect camera - and then have great spectator view into the chap's front bedroom?
But who wants ugly Gatso in view of front bedroom window - most offputting!
Better off with trafpols, lollipop man/lady, Smiley Sids and occasional talivans to get message across, along with a good dollop of Road Sense into the PSE lessons!
TC hasnt stated that speeding is the cause of the accidents occurring here, he simply says the road "lends itself" to that kind of thing.
Speed cameras' abilities to prevent accidents are dubious (thats putting it lightly) so why the need for a camera to take a picture of someone who dosent go on to have an accident?
In all probability the accidents are occuring with the vehicles being within the speed limits as most do. Once again that renders the camera useless as itll take no photos of anyone...its deterrent effect is therefore non-existant so why the need?
All the talk of "ok outside schools" is complete tosh for all the reasons stated.
I do however agree with trafpols being utilised at the correct time to deal with blatant examples of speeding at such times of school attendance.
Far better for all concerned if the cause of the accidents was ascertained and then acted upon dont you think?
In direct response to the question then, NO! its a pointless exercise.
>> Edited by deltaf on Tuesday 20th April 12:44
Speed cameras' abilities to prevent accidents are dubious (thats putting it lightly) so why the need for a camera to take a picture of someone who dosent go on to have an accident?
In all probability the accidents are occuring with the vehicles being within the speed limits as most do. Once again that renders the camera useless as itll take no photos of anyone...its deterrent effect is therefore non-existant so why the need?
All the talk of "ok outside schools" is complete tosh for all the reasons stated.
I do however agree with trafpols being utilised at the correct time to deal with blatant examples of speeding at such times of school attendance.
Far better for all concerned if the cause of the accidents was ascertained and then acted upon dont you think?
In direct response to the question then, NO! its a pointless exercise.
>> Edited by deltaf on Tuesday 20th April 12:44
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