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PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 00:16 
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Devon and Cornwall will be ramping up their speed camera enforcement to specificially target motorcyclists throughout the summer.
By pocketgpsworld.com
Motorcyclists are said to represent only one per cent of road traffic but represented a disproportionate 30 per cent of road fatalities in the region last year.

The new speed camera campaign is being launched by The Peninsula Road Safety Partnership who state that there will be an increased safety camera presence across Devon and Cornwall at weekends and in the evenings.

The head of roads policing for the partnership said "It is vital that motorcyclists understand their vulnerability on the roads. Whilst it's right to enjoy riding, there is a need to ride sensibly and legally. We have some of the most beautiful routes to ride in the South West, but travelling at speed or riding in an aggressive manner will potentially lead to a collision and injury."
Which seems to imply that all the fault is the motocyclists ! That seems both ignorant and arrogant. The speed limit is no proxy for safety and enforcing in this manner implies that it is !

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PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 18:56 
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Location: Treacletown ( just north of M6 J3),A MILE OR TWO PAST BEDROCK
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We have some of the most beautiful routes to ride in the South West, but travelling at speed or riding in an aggressive manner will potentially lead to a collision and injury


So no clampdown on the "scenic gourmets" ,who think that driving well below the limit allows them to admire the scenery, (creating more jams than Robinson ) ,rather than keep eyes peeled on road . But no, it's easier to go after those who travel at speed ( nothing said if it was OTT speed, or inappropriate) ,than those with eyes on things other than road. If it's so dangerous ( it's the road "safety " lot saying this ,in case of misquoters) to use phone, then we now need a law to hit those who admire the scenery whilst driving.

Silly me -it's called due care . :D

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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 17:35 
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An Announcement like this is a public way as a warning as well as a 'we told you so'. What they forget is that many won't know or see that warning. I've heard Police state : I see no excuse they all knew we were going to be there. Which implied that people had deliberate sped into their trap ! The fact that not all people read the papers or listen to local radio shows, not happen upon their website etc was neither here nor there !
Disgraceful, except if one can keep a very good observation pattern/s, then one can usually (but not always) pick up the camera/s / speed trap. However when they appear around a bend or over a hill or out from a bush/wall (etc) it is unwise to criticise as it gives rise to 'un-acceptance' (of the whole process) and the belief that a form of 'less than honourable activity' is taking place on the part of the officers.

Then if you are a visitor to that area and only passing through, it is not likely that you will have checked for local 'activity' before entering that area.
Some County borders zig-zag and it becomes hard to know even which County you are in, never mind where some location is where activity is to be concentrated !
These notifications are as much a part of fear-mongering as well as a 'warning' of (course), to inform everyone of their expected presence - if people who are to travel that section, do hear about it and if they know where that location is, of course!
I do think that it is right that the public are informed of all speed traps. I would insist that all speed traps have large warning signs placed 400yds/m prior to the location at least. After all if they have managed to reduce the speed of every vehicle and catch no one then they believe that they have had a successful day. So lets have the warning signs again listed in legislation.

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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 19:10 
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Location: Treacletown ( just north of M6 J3),A MILE OR TWO PAST BEDROCK
Agree with all of that .
Certain areas have a policy of "hiding" . e.g. Locally I know that a van /small car will try to hide in behind certain bus shelters, or as in another local location, take cover under a Weeping Willow tree. Leicester used to try and hide a transit behind a board on the A5 close to the Narborough turn-off . There used to be a town( Reading comes to mind) where the Gatso markings were on the edge of the pavement. ( In the days before cameras were marked ,possibly an attempt to camouflage the site) .
As for counties borders zig zaging- prime example is on the A5 ,which jumps from Warks to Leics many times on it's way south .
Once upon a time we used to see "accident sites" signs up to advertise a problem area, and educate motorists. (especially ones not from that area ) .No more - it's (IMHO) ,their opinion that it's more "cost effective" to hide a speed trap somewhere .
If the site is that dangerous as to warrant enforcement, then perhaps a return to these signs ( with possible enforcement ) , could make things safer.
But then ,which measure would get the credit ?

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PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2012 10:30 
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If the A5 has so many areas which cause problems then they need to address each issue with proper engineering to literally engineer out the issues. If it demands that there are many different problems then if they are not addressed properly then the accident causes will never be resolved.

So when you see signs showing that so many have been injured or killed, it shows that the local Council or HA (Highways Agency) are failing to properly address the issue/s.
Therefore great care is needed as some parts of the road ahead might be especially unusual and might present unexpected hazards or late visual hazards.
As these roads receive concentrated enforcement traffic is likely to stay close following steady streams, so causing difficulties and frustration for those wishing to exit from side roads. They might pull out in a quick 'late' manner, so be ready for this, and leave (even) larger gaps to accommodate this !

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PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2012 19:16 
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Location: Treacletown ( just north of M6 J3),A MILE OR TWO PAST BEDROCK
One of the A5 hot spots first had cameras ,then the speed lowered and a DC section lined to blot out the second lane. The option to fit a roundabout has been on and off more times than the lights on a Zebra crossing, but cash seems to be the problem with the HA .
I only know the section from Rugby to Grendon, but it seems to be common to use the road signs as hiding places for both county's vans, more so Leics which used to hide on the grass verge behind a lot of road signs.
.Warks also uses a layby favoured by HGV as a place to hide .Surprisingly it's on a long straight .
Last set of speed reductions, yep -you've guessed it , it suffered from both counties reducing the limit.On long stretches with no housing around, and long straight sections it's as low as 40 .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on


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