Mobile Speed Cameras

The Green Lantern · 08-07-2007, 18:43

On thursday last week I visited my mothers in Accy for tea. I usually go home over the coppice on the bypass, but this time I decided to drive up Manchester road, through Baxenden. As I passed the first speed camera, lots of people started to flash me, one bus driver was making signs at me, almost telling me to calm down. I passed 4 other cars and it dawned on me that there was a mobile van with a speed camera tracking everyone coming towards it!

I have to say that i was extremely grateful to all those drivers who tried to warn me and other oncoming cars!

Tin Monkey · 08-07-2007, 18:49

I hope they realised that they were committing a criminal offence by trying to warn you.

K.S.H · 08-07-2007, 18:51

If its the same one I saw it wasn't a speed camera they were using it was number plate recognition

blazey · 08-07-2007, 18:53

People shouldn't need to be warned. How many Think adverts does it take before people actually pay attention to the limits. They are there for a reason, not just to annoy drivers who think they're above rules and regulations.

My boyfriends a driver and even when i'm late for something he's meant to be taking me to I dont expect him to break the law just to please me, just as I dont expect bus and taxi drivers to do it to get more work in. I had a taxi driver once who was bragging about being caught speeding and how he had memorised the locations of them so that he doesnt get caught again and banned. Instead of learning his lesson he still tried to avoid the law.

Another reason why I for one cant wait for the car tracking devices. Stops law breakers who potentially are a dangerous liability to pedestrians who are put at risk due to these idiots.
And no, I'm not a driver, but I am a pedestrian who's nearly been hit by dangerous drivers and I am well within my rights to have such an opinion on this before someone gives me the 'you would say that, your not a driver, you dont know' speech. Once you hit someone in a car whilst speeding and your told they would've lived if you werent over the limit, there are no excuses like that.

The Green Lantern · 08-07-2007, 19:53

For the record i dont drive fast and never have, once when passing a school a couple of years ago a schoolboy ran between 2 cars without looking and into my path. I was doing the speed limit and managed to stop, but it got me thinking about how i would have coped if i had hit him. the schoolboy ran off laughing!!!! (Is the green cross code still taught in schools?)

One observation I have noticed is that there are a lot of idiots on the road. I live on a busy A road in Bury and loads of "boy racers" dont think twice about breaking the speed limit and overtaking without realising the consequences of their actions.

mallard · 08-07-2007, 21:49

Thats why the police are doing this to stop drivers speeding and i agree they should not flash you to let you nowe if you was doing the right speed you would have nowt to worry a bout

cashman · 08-07-2007, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Green Lantern

For the record i dont drive fast and never have, once when passing a school a couple of years ago a schoolboy ran between 2 cars without looking and into my path. I was doing the speed limit and managed to stop, but it got me thinking about how i would have coped if i had hit him. the schoolboy ran off laughing!!!! (Is the green cross code still taught in schools?)

One observation I have noticed is that there are a lot of idiots on the road. I live on a busy A road in Bury and loads of "boy racers" dont think twice about breaking the speed limit and overtaking without realising the consequences of their actions.

dont understand

why were you grateful to other drivers for warning you then? they must have been warning everyone,including any "boy racers" that were passing,you lost me with that logic.

entwisi · 09-07-2007, 06:24

There is an inherent problem with speed cameras. they only work for the hundred yards or so by them. You could spend 99% of your time above the speed limit and by local knowledge and being observant not get caught. The only saving grace for them to me is that they can be focussed on particular blackspots, e.g. why the heck there isn't one either side of the Brit X roads to make sure the cars going along Hassy old road are doing 30 when they approach that junction beggars belief.

Now an extra couple of hundred plod driving randomly around making sure people aren't eating/drinking, shaving, reading papers, driving with fog lights on, paying attention to the road etc. THAT would make a difference. As would regular testing of all drivers.

WillowTheWhisp · 09-07-2007, 07:45

I just know I'm not going to explain this properly before I start but I'll have a go anyway.

The problem with speeding is the speeding isn't it? So if people are warned there is a speed camera doesn't that mean they are going to stop speeding?

Isn't it better that they stop speeding than don't stop speeding?

The camera doesn't stop them speeding, it only means they get fined for doing the speeding. Warning them about the camera actually stops them speeding.

Does that make sense?

entwisi · 09-07-2007, 08:32

yes willow, I'd take it one stage further though, "Inappropriate speed" is whats the real danger.

expat · 09-07-2007, 09:24

Warning somebody about speed cameras is preventing people from committing
a crime you are doing a public service, I warn people but sometimes I am choosy who I warn If it looks like a hoon with the baseball cap on back to front I just smile has they go past, fair enough put speed cameras in appropriate places ie outside schools and hospitals I would not warn anybody then, they deserve to get pinged,but over here it,s more about revenue raising.