Safe Speed Forums

we are constantly being told how X number of people die on our roads each year and how awfull it is and we should do something about it. But we are never given the figures in any context.

There one thing that is definate is that we are ALL going to die.

I have before me my Chambers Book of Facts. there is a table of Major Causes of Death. It goes like this. (source world health statistics annual 1996(WHO,1998))

Infectious and parastic diseases 3.9 per 100,000 head of population

Malignant neoplasms (cancer) 137.1 per 100,000

diseases of the circulatory system 187.5

diseases of the respiratory system
(heart disease) 63.7

motor vehicle accidents 5.6

homicide 1.0

Out of the list of contries, only Sweden has a lower figure of 4.9 than ours. The USA is 14.9 It would appear that road deaths are not that big of a problem compared to cancer. Then even if the One Third Lie is to believed, two thirds of the 5.6 per 100,000 weren't killed buy speed.

Some people might say that innocent people get killed on the roads. Well ok. none smokers get lung cancer from passive smoking. On a personal note I have, as I write, a broken neck. It happened at work and it was an accident that I just got caught up in. I have been injured more at work than I have ever been on the roads. Bad stuff just happens sometimes.

Here's a thought then, how about the profits (and yes, there is profit) made from SCP's across the country go to Imperial Cancer research fund?

Not the first time something like this has been suggested.

A while back, the ABD (I think), stated that if Speed Cams weren't all about cash then why not donate the fine income to charity.

Needless to say they did not

One argument I've heard is that they need to cover their expenses. Although accoring to figures las year they it cost £54m to run SCP's and they grossed £60+. I'd love to now what's happening to the extra cash.

Perhaps they're p*ssing it up against a wall by investigating tailgatign cameras?!?

Great idea, except I dont think we should go on about the profits anymore, as they do there best to make out they dont make a significant profit in an attempt to justify the 'safety first' aspect.

No, the real problem is that these quango partnerships exist in the first place, and then have a reason for self preservation.
Image if you worked for them; you wouldnt be concerned with profit, just job protection; and thats not the way to run road safety.

As an aside, does anyone have hany ideas how much the project manager of a Safety Camera/Casualty reduction partnership earns?

Good Project Managers generally earn £30K - £40K in the country.

£30K is 500 £60 fines. Job creation anyone?

well labour has to cover all those jobs its about to axe in the public sector... annoys me to see labour creating all them jobs in the first place, claims jobless figures down and now elections coming up it's time to sack them all!

*sigh* and yet looks like they'll get in again