Safe Speed Forums

So much for the promise to cut speed cameras... now there are even more!
By Ray Massey - PUBLISHED: 01:37, 10 July 2012 | UPDATED: 07:51, 10 July 2012

Spreading: Speed camera sites have increased despite Government promises to end the war on the motorist
Speed camera sites have increased despite Government promises to end the war on the motorist, figures reveal today.

The number of fixed speed camera sites in England increased to 2,331 this year, compared with 2,188 in 2010.

The Government promised it would end Labour’s 12-year war on the motorist, citing the obsession with speed cameras as the most visible example.
But critics say local councils and police safety partnerships have not got the message.

The expected camera ‘switch-off’ has failed to happen, according to the RAC Foundation, which obtained the figures in a Freedom of Information request.
The number of cameras that can actually take pictures fell from 529 in 2010 to 487 this year, meaning only one in six has film in.
And the number of fixed speed camera housings fell slightly over the period, from 3,039 to 3,026. Supporters argue that, as motorists cannot tell which cameras do not take photographs, the deterrent effect is the same.
Some areas have more than one fixed speed camera site as they have space for a camera on both sides of the road.

The RAC figures also show that, of the 32 administrative bodies that used fixed speed cameras and which responded to the request, ten said they had made no changes to the level of provision of camera sites. Several others registered only small changes in provision over the past two years.
And only two areas – Avon and Somerset and Wiltshire and Swindon – have switched off all operational cameras.

The bodies with the largest number of camera sites in 2012 were Transport for London with 526, West Midlands Safety Partnership with 304, Blackpool Council with 282 and Thames Valley with 245. The Association of British Drivers said the speed camera figures were ‘surprising and disgraceful’.

A spokesman added: ‘The Government has reneged on its promise to end the war on the motorist. This obsession with speed cameras is continuing apace. Councils and police are continuing to put all their emphasis on one thing.
The number of fixed speed camera sites in England increased to 2,331 this year, compared with 2,188 in 2010

‘Speed cameras cannot detect a drink-driver, a drug-driver, a dangerous driver or someone driving at an inappropriate speed for the conditions – which is most likely below the allowed speed limit.’

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: ‘Many people believe there has been a mass switch-off of cameras over the past couple of years. But the data shows that overall this is simply not true.
‘Although there are many more housings than cameras, it seems that the cameras are regularly rotated between them ensuring there is some level of positive enforcement at most sites.
‘It is also important to note that many police constabularies rely heavily on mobile cameras to catch law breakers and in many cases now have an increased emphasis on this type of operation.’
But he said the foundation was concerned that councils’ shrinking budgets meant there was ‘a lack of money for all aspects of road safety’.
He added: ‘We urge councillors to allocate adequate budgets to protect people on the roads by whatever means is appropriate.’

r.massey@dailymail.co.uk
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To be fair the government cut the funding - and we saw those drops in numbers, until they discovered the Speed Awareness Course method of diverting funds back into their speed camera empire.

Paul always said that the SAC was flawed in that drivers just over the limit benefited from not being awarded points, while those well over the limit, and most in need of retraining, were simply punished and allowed to continue.

The Government needs to tilt the table back so that those just over get a fine and points, while those well over get to retake their test, and end this SAC racket for good!

Just have a drive around Stoke-on-Trent. There are hundreds upon hundreds of cameras. It is absolutely grotesque, they are literally every 100 yards. Most people are driving within the limit, (obviously !!), but what a way to treat people. I don't care what others may say, this is just oppression; you don't have to break the limit to feel you are being spied on by malevolent people from the second you leave your driveway to the second you return.

Every time I drive there I am in a constant state of apprehension that I may have missed a limit sign, although most streets are 30 mph. I suspect the "partnership" would like to extend cameras and constant surveillance into peoples homes next; should keep their jobs and pensions safe, I would think. The parking regime is also very oppressive here too, parking wardens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week !!! No wonder this is an unemployment black spot; what potential employer could possibly want to come here ?

Every time I drive there I am in a constant state of apprehension that I may have missed a limit sign, although most streets are 30 mph. I suspect the "partnership" would like to extend cameras and constant surveillance into peoples homes next; should keep their jobs and pensions safe, I would think. The parking regime is also very oppressive here too, parking wardens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week !!! No wonder this is an unemployment black spot; what potential employer could possibly want to come here ?

Sorry, Greenshed, maybe you don't drive, (it certainly seems so from your post), but I don't have to break the law in SoT to feel that there are people there whose sole aim in life is to catch law-abiding people out for small mistakes. My description of this is:

Feasting on Fallibility.

My, they are certainly feasting in SoT !! We all make mistakes from time to time; should we always be hammered heavily over the head for them ? Did you get 100% in all your school exams ? No, thought not.
I have been driving 40 years without causing an accident so far, even minor. I think I am doing most things right, but recognise I am fallible like most of the population.

Do you never, ever, make any mistakes in driving or other activities ?

I rest my case.

So only the guilty feel oppressed do they Greenstick? There must have been a lot of guilty people during world war 2 then!

I drive 10's of thousands of miles a year and own 4 vehicles, 2 motorcycles and 2 cars; I also hire a lot of vehicles, almost weekly in fact and have been driving since 1977.

I make loads of mistakes and have broken the speed limit from time-to-time, of course I have. I mostly got close to 100% in my exams but only achieved the magic 100% on a few occasions. What I attempt to do though is to drive in a safe and compliant way. In doing that I feel in no way oppressed because I have bothered my arse to learn the rules and attempt to practice them; so far with 100% success.

I mostly got close to 100% in my exams but only achieved the magic 100% on a few occasions.

Well we all know that Maths wasn't one of them....did they do a CSE in Buls@@@ back then?

I have been driving 40 years without causing an accident so far, even minor. I think I am doing most things right, but recognise I am fallible like most of the population.

Do you never, ever, make any mistakes in driving or other activities ?

I rest my case.

...


2012-1977 = umm 35, I rest my case

oh dear,you have f^cked up again. Pay more attention.