The Beginning Of The End For Speed Cameras In The UK?
from the one-can-hope dept
The UK was one of the first to embrace speed cameras, but it looks like things are starting to go in the other direction. Chris Clark points us to a (video) news report from the BBC highlighting how funding is drying up for speed cameras in the UK, and multiple cities have been ditching them (and, by the way, not noticing any increase in accidents or casualties). The video, of course, shows police and other speed camera supporters insisting that speed cameras save lives, and that taking them away will lead to harm... but they don't actually present any evidence. What is clearly presented, however, is that governments are increasingly less willing to fund speed cameras, and most of the money today is for upkeep, rather than installing any more.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: speed cameras, uk
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
What's up with the icons?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Icons
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The best way to break them is to burn them according to some people who have done it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not here
No only do we have the combined red-light / speed cameras at intersections, we have the mobile ones mounted in parked unmarked cars which can appear anywhere in the state.
Strangely enough, though, they never seem to be where accidents occur. They are always on roads where limits change frequently (and arbitrarily) and, if possible, at the bottom of hills.
But we are told incessantly that they are not revenue raisers, they are there to save lives...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not here
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They work ok here.., in Oz
Yes, over the years there have been problems with them, but they generally get sorted out.
they announced on the news that they were introducing more here, and putting them in accident hot spots. The police making the announcement said they pay for themselves in less that one day.
And that is a good thing, because its only getting money off those who break the law and speed. If you dont speed you dont pay for them.
They are effective, because as a driver I know speed cameras exist, and that I might be caught by one, so I drive at the speed limit and dont worry.
If you dont want to pay a fine, you dont speed, its not hard.
You dont have to be caught by a speed camera to know they exist and that if you speed you can be fined, so I have never been caught for speeding, and I have never been in an accident (after 35 years of driving).
So speed cameras dont effect me, and in the same way they do effect me in that I dont speed anyway, and do not have accidents. So I would not be counted in statistics that speed cams do any good, but it changes the way people drive and view what speed they go.
So they are a win win, for the police, and for the people who dont break the law, the only people who would complain about them are those who want to break the law and get away with it..
And I dont really care what they want, and would prefer they get caught and lose their licenses.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
Really? In my experience, when you're dealing with fixed speed cameras (the majority as they don't require direct staffing and are so cheaper), everybody still speeds. They just slow down immediately before the camera's position then speed back up again afterwards.
Everybody still speeds, just not where the cameras are.
"And that is a good thing, because its only getting money off those who break the law and speed. If you dont speed you dont pay for them."
There are many incidents of false accusations by speed cameras. Drivers of bicycles and stationary vehicles have been called to court to defend themselves against tickets. There are multiple incidents where people have had to prove in court that their vehicles are not capable of going the speeds that the cameras say they are, and not everybody has the patience or resources to fight these things in court.
They're a very imprecise way of measuring speed. Even if they weren't, the other problem is that they do nothing to improve safety. Even if a driver is speeding, that doesn't always mean "dangerous".
For example, which of these is more dangerous: driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit through a school zone, at 2am, not tired or intoxicated in dry clear conditions or driving through the same point at 3pm on a school day, 1 mph below the speed limit, in foggy & wet conditions? One of these is clearly more dangerous, yet the camera will only target the safe one.
On top of all of that, many speed cameras only record the vehicle being used, not who's driving it. Many times, people who aren't even in the car at the time of the incident are affected.
So, inaccurate readings, lots of false accusations, no safety improvement, no deterrent to people who want to speed. See the problem?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
The other thing is when you're going through an area with speed cameras what are you looking at?
Are you looking at the road, other vehicles pulling out of intersections, that young child just waiting to run out into road after her ball?
No, you're most probably looking at the speedometer. At least more than you should be.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
Assuming that they are working correctly - which isn't certain. We had a case here in the UK where the camera was issuing tickets to people stuck in traffic queues at around 15mph ( it wa a 60 or 70 limit). Seems the camera had a software bug...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They work ok here.., in Oz
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Falling revenue
Local authorities aren't daft; if the income stream is drying up then they'll scap them.
It really does prove that it was an cash-generating scam from local government in the first place.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's not about money, it's about safety
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Government funding? I thought these things were paying for themselves and then some. Where did all the money go?
Good riddance ... hello audit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I have gotten 2 tickets...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I have gotten 2 tickets...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Icons
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
In US private companies install and maintain them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: In US private companies install and maintain them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Arizona Experience...
As someone that drives a lot, it has been interesting to watch the subtle changes over the last month or so in my state.
In the past, I would drive across the valley and literally see NO, NONE, not even 1 highway patrol car. Now that the cameras are down, I see AT LEAST 1 patrol car on every major stretch of road.
This got me to thinking, what is better, a speed camera that the locals just game and quickly figure out that without patrols that they can just slow down and then go 90 to 100 to the next camera with literally no worries of getting caught, or one where you the common person doesn't do 90/100MPH because of fear of get caught in the wrong lottery.
I think speed cameras especially at the freeway level are a perfect form of micro-management and we all know that micro-management is bad for so many reasons (although in today's political environment you'd think micro-management (cough) heavy regulation was a good thing). Much better to just punish the true offenders that are the real safety risk and not going with the natural flow of traffic - for that, you need a police officer and patrols.
I'm also frankly happy to see a presence of patrols again. For me, just having the cops active again on the freeway provides extra safety, etc. that cameras just can't provide.
Freedom
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Arizona Experience...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Revenue?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It really is that simple
The lack of accountability is shocking
Rather than not speeding, people are crying about getting caught and how it should be someone elses problem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Unintended consequence much?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20090929/0435146354.shtml
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/01/22/20090122pinalradar0122.h tml
[ link to this | view in chronology ]