staylor wrote:
If you look at the fatality trend it flatlined from about 1996-2003 (~3,400) and then resumed downwards at a tremendous rate.
And that is a major problem. To halt what was otherwise a gentle downward trend takes a really serious alteration and speed enforcement was the only major introduction.
The lower numbers
would have been reached sooner much earlier had speed enforcement never been introduced!
staylor wrote:
With minor blips total traffic volume has been on an increasing trend ever since the existence of statistics on the subject.
It is widely known that when there is an economic downturn you can look at car sales figures and see clearly that they fall every recession and rise during every boom. So to say that there has been a steady increase is not correct.
From 2005 to 2010 there was a huge drop in K's (3,400 - 1,900) which coincides with the highest nationwide speed enforcement activity. Obviously, it's not all down to this, [/quote] The drop is down to a number of factors : more defensive driving during the recession (the longest for many years), people travel less far, go less often and are so exposed to less danger.
The increase in fuel prices too is also limiting people's ability to travel as many move to be nearer to work too thus making shorter journeys too.
You need to look at the whole picture.
staylor wrote:
I am suggesting that the huge campaign on speed enforcement activity still played a major part in this reduction.
How?
What evidence do you have to support that please?
staylor wrote:
I question the oft-made assertion that people drive round like zombies staring at their speedometer as a direct consequence of speed cameras.
You are muddling two points that I have sometimes referred to : if you are trying to refer to driving in average speed enforcement areas where people become brain tired and bored thus creating a zombie-like driver ... and then the requirement to regularly refer to one's speedometer to ensure that one is travelling legally. As speed limits have been artificially reduced this is not helping people to travel safely, but encourage frequent speed checks to preserve one's license. While time is spent having to more frequently check your speedo you are not paying attention or thinking about the road environment.
Please note that the forums are here so that all topics can be freely discussed in detail and at length. In no way is anything that I state here a 'statement from Safe Speed', for that please ask me by PM or email for an official response.