Safe Speed Forums

http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motorin ... 10307.html

Brake: speeding drivers not being prosecuted
19 April 2007

Brake, the national road safety charity, is shocked to learn that hundreds of thousands of drivers caught on camera speeding and going through red lights are not being prosecuted.

BBC Radio 4 will tonight air The Investigation, a documentary which reveals that, according to figures supplied by Safety Camera Partnerships to the government, hundreds of thousands of drivers are getting away with breaking the law. Click here to see the full BBC online story

In light of the revelations, Brake is demanding a full investigation into the problem to ensure that drivers who risk their own lives and the lives of others by speeding are duly prosecuted and punished for their deadly crime.

Sarah Fatica, general manager at Brake, says: “We are appalled to learn that technical faults with cameras and problems with untraceable and vehicles mean that drivers are getting away with speeding and going through red lights. Speed cameras are proven to deter drivers from speeding, an important means of enforcing the law, and crucial in the ongoing bid to cut road death and injury. If drivers think they won’t be punished if they are caught speeding, they may continue to speed and more lives will be put at risk. It is vital that speeders are duly punished and all drivers are encouraged to drive responsibly, sticking to the lifesaving limits.”

A 2004 Government report shows that speed cameras in the UK are reducing deaths and serious injuries by more than 40% at camera sites and speed is a contributory factor in a third of all fatal crashes.

As an ardent supporter of life-saving speed cameras, Brake was delighted when, on April 1, the rules on speed camera placement were relaxed, particularly the rule stating that at least four people have to be killed or seriously injured on a specific stretch of road over a period of three years before a fixed camera can be installed. The new rules mean a greater range of crashes can be considered over a five year period, giving a more accurate picture of risk. The new rules also meant all revenue raised by cameras will be centrally controlled and local authorities will receive money for a range of road safety measures, including cameras and road engineering, from an annual fund of £110m.

Brake is calling for increased Government investment in road safety including enforcement technology such as speed cameras, more dedicated traffic police, and road safety education.

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Thereby admitting that they don't have the first clue about what's going on. This is really much too much. Who will keep these idiots away from our roads?

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

All the references to "lifesaving" cameras and limits really do smack of hysteria

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

What happened to the most recent reports ie 2005 and 2006?

Did they listen to the show?

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

Cancelled. DfT knows the truth and doesn't want it proven. They would rather save face than save lives.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Even I found this article sickeningly puke-inducing

Lifesaving limits and deadly crime were the worst offenders.

This is what worried me most - it's basic data, and widely published. We have known for years... That Brake can behave as if it's something new and strange reveal just how little they understand about the policy they advocate.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

From media reports I got the impression that what was perhaps somewhat novel in this investigation was that a lot of drivers were not being prosecuted not because they were foreign or driving unregistered cars, but because the authorities didn't have the time and resources to pursue difficult or complex cases.

On here we have seen several examples of people holding out and eventually getting their cases dropped, and with the spread of knowledge about the speed camera scam, and the ending of hypothecation, this is likely to increase.

As we all know, if every accused driver took their case to court, the entire edifice would collapse overnight.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Looking at part of the Brake statement -"Sarah Fatica, general manager at Brake, says: “We are appalled to learn... "

Appalled , or ashamed to admit that they can't learn that this is not road safety in action ??( many a true word said often in jest )