Speed cameras axed over funding
 

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/brea...5578-26928069/

yes result !:clap: :D

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

All they will do is use a mobile camera van which will catch unsuspecting motorists as they will be unaware of it until to late, they use them all around merseyside to great effect.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

So, the local council cannot afford to keep them if central government aren't funding them.

Can't be making much money then. Interesting considering many say they are used purely for revenue.

After all, if they were making a lot of money, someone would find the money to finance them, whether it be central government or the local council.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

i sure that it will cost more to pay men sitting in vans than it will to load a fixed speed camera.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Agreed

And who is going to fund them. ?

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Dont need funding we have had volunteers operating cameras for years, just bring them back as part of Dave's BS sorry big society initiative.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

They could try sponsorship.
You could have in association with Tesco written at the bottom of your ticket. and on the back some special offers in store.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

And the reason behind the dropping of Fixed speed cameras is that they simply don;t need them anymore, more and more traffic flow camera's are becoming ANPR networked and it's just a very little time before it's used as a SPECS system :) Which means even more speeding tickets..

As they say if you don't like speed cameras then simply don't speed :D

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

We already have them in Liverpool and they will pay for themselves all they do is move around and cars are caught in both directions very cost effective and with them not being static they catch more speeders.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

If you don't speed the cameras won't catch you - simple! It amazes me how many 'perfect' drivers there are out there who don't consider themselves a risk to anyone yet can't apparently see the warning signs and either don't know what speed they're doing or what the prevailing limit is.... :confused:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Seems a strange decision to make in the present economic climate, I can remember reading that in 2003 over £120 million was raised in fines, either this total has fallen as the years have passed in which case they have served there purpose, or this government is taking them off our roads for short term political gain.
Either way I don't see why cameras are being removed on mass, if this is true, because surely this will result in motorists increasing their speed.
Nobody wants a speeding ticket obviously, but all this will do is ensure that drivers will be less concerned over their speed knowing full well there isn't a speed camera about to catch them.
Also I wonder where the revenue local councils would have collected from cameras will now come from?...council tax rise?

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

There losing revenue because people know where they are or have sat navs that warn them or have radar detectors. I use all 3 and sleep much better knowing when i drive i get all the information i need about the location of these black spots. :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

:D And of those 72 cameras probably only 10 or so ever had film in at any one time. So you can see why they are not cost effective. Nearby Swindon seems to manage well without them.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Under the terms by which they are deployed, and due to the way that the fines are collected, ALL revenue coming from the speed cameras goes directly to the Treasury.

Local/District councils won't fund something that is basically going to generate a loss for them, and the Government are cutting funding of 'Road Safety' in line with everything else.

The only way the Local/District councils would consider funding them is if the Treasury allowed them to keep all (or even a reasonable percentage) of the revenue they generate.

---------- Post added at 08:57 ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 ----------

As I understand it, all the cameras were switched off in Swindon as a cost savings measure a while back - for some strange reason there was NO corresponding increase in accidents..... Go figure..... ;)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Turning a camera off is different than removing it. One of the reasons as to why there's so many camera boxes but few actual camera units that fit inside of them.

Remove the camera box then speeds will increase ;)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

They'd cottoned onto this in Liverpool a while back (near to the airport for thiose who know the area), when someone decided to whizz the whole thing in half. I still have visions of someone using the top of a speed camera as a coffee table in their living room :D

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

But it's Central Government who cut the grant, not the local council. Why would the Government stop funding something if they were making a profit?

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Every driver speeds at one point.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

You will probably find the only people actually making money are the firms running Speed Awareness courses. :rofl:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Because they're short-sighted idiots. They've been told to cut, cut, cut. They've chosen to cut spending on 'Road Safety' (not specifically on cameras). Councils have realised that if they're going to use their (now very) limited road safety budget on something they might as well use it for something that will actually improve road safety (crossings, signs, traffic calming measures, etc) rather than something which generates revenue for the Treasury.

So, treasury cuts funding on 'Road Safety', Councils remove/shut down speed cameras and spend limited budget on real road safety measures, less revenue generated for Treasury, Treasury therefore has less money to spend and so cuts funding on 'Road Safety'.....

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Very true. even if it's just 3mph over the limit it's still speeding.

You take a standard long 30mph road, or a standard 40mph dual carriageway. nobody is doing dead on 30/40. the average speed will be at least 35/45 or even 40/50 quite easily all day long.

I'm not including the Sunday drivers that drive as if it's a Sunday all week long. :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

SERCO is going to be upset... a cash cow taken away from them...

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

So we should ignore some laws?? Lets see someone use that defence in death through dangerous driving incidents especially where the only thing the driver did wrong is break the speed limit..

There are probably areas that do have an outdated speed limit but the limits are there for a reason. If you break them the fines are there for a reason..

I'm all for those who constantly speed, they get more and more points, they then get banned and they then remove themselves off the road for a period of time.. Well done :D

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

My point is that if they were making a profit for the Treasury, the Treasury would do all it can to protect that profit. The Treasury has it's faults, but it is actually quite good at protecting schemes that make it a profit.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

I'm not saying we should ignore the laws of speeding. I'm saying that we all naturally do it as a matter of course.
you go and sit at the side of a dual carriageway now and the average speed will be in excess of 40mph.

one without a speed camera on.

Them people are a different argument.
and it's a get out clause for not riding a 50cc moped :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

That's the issue, to most people it's become socially acceptable to break the speed limit laws (the same way as 30 years ago it was acceptable to drink and drive even though it was against the law since 1967 when the first limit was set)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Is it socially acceptable to you? do you ever go over 30 or 40 unless there's a speed camera telling you to slow down?

it will be impossible for traffic to move at a constant 30 or 40. and because it's impossible it's acceptable to drive over the 'limits' unless there is a camera or the whole police station are having a nice day out in the sun.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Problem in the UK is we are sold cars which can do well in excess of the speed limit and because speed is easily measured it is used to control everyone, good or bad. Current speed limits out of towns and built up areas are archaic by comparison to the current vehicle specifications.

Even this most perfect driver may be forced into a situation where they have to speed to avoid a collision or some other hazard. So trotting out the trite "if you don't speed you have nothing to worry about" becomes tedious & sanctimonious. At 3am in the morning on a wide empty road doing 10 mph above the speed limit is NOT dangerous.

Speed cameras do not stop bad drivers being bad drivers. Police at least can stop the bad drivers if they can spot them. Speed cameras often slow traffic down with hard braking & cause jams.

A far more effective safety measure are the whinge boards which people actually attempt not to set off but keep moving at a sensible speed.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Very poor point to make..

The car can only break the speed limit by the drivers actions.. The cars not to blame..

Also the speed limits might be archaic but whilst they are there then they simply are the law. It's not upto us to say that we don;t think this should be a 30 zone so we'll instead do 50.. ;)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

:dozey: .... :rolleyes: ..... :zzz:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Point being why do we have cars that will do such speeds. What is the point or use for them. In terms of safety cars have got better & better where speed limits have got progressively lower. :shrug: I cycle most days so driving is not really an issue for me.

I specifically mentioned out of town and built up areas which you omitted in the quote. Town speed limits are sensible because of pedestrians.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

What speeds are we talking here? you've added 20 on top. isn't 5 on top enough to be a speeding motorist that deserves to be fined?

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Autobahns???

Easier to make one model that does all speeds than many models for different speeds, plus the top speed tends to be a combinatiopn of gearing and capable engine power. This gives the car better acceleration, handling but also has the by product of better top speed.

It's still people that break the laws not the cars ;) You don't see us fining the cars for breaking the speed limit :D

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Where's the nearest Autobahn in the UK. Google's not much help.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Never said there was, but as cars don't tend be made "just" for the UK it was a valid answer to the question
:p:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

And the only valid answer to the question :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Unless of course you take your car on track days, where you can go above the national speed limit. ;)

Or if you are driving a emergency services vehicle to/from an incident, which is also allowed.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Also in one of my previous jobs I regulary took UK production cars to 150mph legally ;)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Oh I forgot about the Police.

Are you any good with figures? can you work out the percentage of cars made/sold/used in the UK there are to how many cars used in the emergency services? ;)

---------- Post added at 14:26 ---------- Previous post was at 14:21 ----------

Oh we've all done that at one time or another. not all of us got paid for it though :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

You mean you can't do it yourself for your own argument.. Now that says it all

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

It doesn't say nothing. you not answering my previous questions says more :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Yawn....

The simple facts are that the speed cameras are there to stop idiots, they do a good job but won't stop them all.. Me personally I'd love them to link together every cctv camera in the country and do a full ANPR SPECs network.. It wouldn't effect me in the slightest because I know what speed I'm doing and I'm in full control of the vehicle..

Break the speeding laws you get punished if caught and not the car which is capable of doing 155+ on a german autobahn.. The cars never at fault, take a driver out of a Bugati Veryon and how many speed limits will it break...not one..

Now try googling your own emergency services question, but as you can't even google autobahns and distance from the UK I don't hold out much hope :rolleyes:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

foil hat time

:erm: maybe it's a red herring ,the cameras will still be fully active we are just told they will be turned off so we all start speeding again thus raising more revenue ...;)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Single position camera's have never been a fantastic money earner, everyone know's they're there and people just slow down and speed up. Specs or mobile cameras are a lot better system, perhaps the goverment is finally seeing this :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

They don't discriminate against idiots and those doing a speed that is acceptable on all other roads of the same limit.

it's acceptable to speed* everywhere, only time we all start pointing is when there's Police about or there's a speed camera.

*as little as 5mph over is speeding.

Has anybody stupid enough suggested otherwise?

I was just interested. it wasn't a basis for an argument or anything.

Have you ever gone over 30 in a 30 or over 40 in a 40. and would you class yourself as a speeder, or not a speeder because you're talking excessive speeds unlike the rest of us :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Guns don't kill people, rappers do.

---------- Post added at 16:29 ---------- Previous post was at 16:23 ----------

I've yet to see any camera technology that can do that.

Point is, nobody advocates speeding in 30 or 40 zone, in a built up area.

However, when you're talking about dual carriageways and above it is quite safe to travel at speed on these roads in certain conditions at certain times of the day. Especially in modern vehicles.

But we're constrained by archaic speed limits set when an austin 7 was considered a performace vehicle and driving tests consisted on driving forwards and backwards 10 feet.

If the collapse of speed cameras is the only thing that comes from voting in the coalition then it's been well worth it IMO.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

You said "only" (which means "alone of its or their kind; single or solitary"), and you were given three other examples - must be a new definition of "only" that only you understand. ;)

Models of cars sold in the UK used in the emergency services? Well, according to this guy, quite a lot, including (but not exclusively, as this is just the Essex Police) -
Ford Focus
BMW330d
Volvo V70
Vauxhall Corsa
Ford Transit
Land Rover Freelander
Ford Focus
Ford Fiesta
Land Rover Discovery
Ford Mondeo
Ford Galaxy
Ford S-Max
Citroen Relay
Mitsubishi Shogun
Mercedes Sprinter
Mitsubishi Lancer
Subaru Impreza
Vauxhall Omega
Vauxhall Senator

And according this this site, there are wide and varied models of cars used throughout the UK Police forces, including -
Vauxhall
Skoda
Ford
Vauxhall
Land Rover
Mercedes
Citroen
Iveco
LDV
Nissan
Peugeot
Renault
Volkswagen
Range Rovers

Hope this helps.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

I don't think it's a matter that speeding has become socially acceptable, I believe that automation has seen the authorities focus on a crime that is easy to capture. The result of large numbers captured by this method has seen a backlash of opinion, and is probably responsible for some peoples low opinion of the government who implemented it and the police.

I am all for catching motorists who exceed the speed limit in built up areas for example outside a school or at a bad junction. I am however totally against practices where 30 or 40mph limits have been extended on nice straight roads exiting a village, in these instances (2 here locally) the mobile camera van catches motorists on the low risk straight section of road as they accelerate to exit the village. They do however ignore the dangerous section through the village, where many exceed the limit and slow down for the safer section where they know the camera van will be located.

I would like to see the return of more traffic officers who are looking out for dangerous driving and other offences.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

I doubt that will ever happen... they stopped escorting odd loads on motorways, they stopped watching motorways ready to chase offenders, and in Cardiff they now don't deal with most parking offences!

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Probably too early to judge the effect but

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22479548/

It could be what you'd expect from this paper

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

But they are just reporting a story which has also been covered by national TV news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-10929488

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Oh, so they are.

I guess I'll just have to start driving more carefully

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Just hope people will now drive properly along the A40 rather than stomping on the brakes to drop below 50mph for the speed cameras when the speed limit is 60mph :rolleyes:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/C:...nter%5Chi2.gif
I assume that the survey that was done using a hand held LTi 20-20 speed gun which seems to be inaccurate.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south...-cameras.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9BgKebdgWE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbNmD...eature=related

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Cruise control is brilliant for areas where speed limits have recently dropped. Habit and knowing the road gets you used to a certain speed so cruise control is really helpful.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Actually no, they left on 2 of the speed cameras to do their survey just registering car speeds

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10995861

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Yes and it proved that a sizeable proportion of drivers have no respect for the law but it's OK because they're all safe drivers acting responsibly.... :rolleyes:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

As I said in the other thread higher speeds can only be done during school holidays & the road in question is a natural very wide 40mph type of road.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Hundreds of speed cameras

looks like everybody just got used to 30 mph so they cut it down to 20 mph
:dozey:
to enforce 20mph zones in Londonhttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...20mph-zones.do


rest of the U.K is cutting speed cam's and London is adding more

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

20mph zones have been in use for years.. especially in urban streets, outside of schools/parks so why can;t they enforce these the same way as any other road ?? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Not round here. I cant think of a single one.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Loads round here.. (which is also local to vanman)

Whether a locale has 20mph zones or not it till doesn't stop the fact that no matter what the speed limit is the police will enforce it..

As I've always said in many a forum (especially the biking ones) if you don't want to worry about speed cameras then don't speed :D

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Actually, he's right. Nottingham has no 20mph zones that I can think of. Even in the throat of the city centre it's still 30mph.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

8% of the roads in Leeds have a 20MPH speed limit, including about 70% of those near schools.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

From over a year ago

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/ne...l/article.html

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

yer load of 20mph zones none have got cameras on them but in London they want all urban areas to be 20mph

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

only if they go faster than the speed limit....

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

When I'm in the mood I drive at 30mph on a 30mph road. I gradually see a queue forming behind me and I can tell they're not very happy. I only do it to prove to myself that it's impossible for everyone to do the required speed limit for longer than say a few seconds.

a tip for going through these average speed cameras. if you know you've gone over, then stop for a while before coming out the other end.

your average speed will probably work out as walking pace that way. :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Hackney is part of London, but it is not London.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Surely it would be less inconvenient for yourself just to drive at 30?

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

That used to be correct upto a point as the camera's were paired (though not always in the same lane) so you had to go through both paired cameras to register an average speed.

These days though all the cameras can be interconnected so it doesn't matter which lane you're in..

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

30 will cost you a £95 fine.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

sounds a bit bloody dangerous to me ,hope i never end up behind you

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Or the appropriate speed limit for wherever the average speed cameras are; I was going on your comment but you probably knew that......

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Seems like turning them off worked well...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-12928747

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

If that is an april fool then its in bad taste. Also why is there no figures to compere with. How do we know that the numbers have changed if they have not issued the original figures. ???

Maybe they have found its cheaper to fund the cameras so they can get rid of some traffic cops !

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

If your licence will stand it, if you get the option of three points or take a 'speed awareness' course, take the three points.

They are using the money from these courses to help fund the cameras, deny them the cash

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

I have the equipment to ensure that any black spots are known to me well in advance. Updated automatically via the Internet ;)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

The easiest way for people to deny the authorities the revenue from cameras and prevent their further proliferation is to drive within the relevant speed limits isn't it. Do that and they'll be less likely to acquire points, suffer related increases in insurance premiums too or wind up in court or prison. Simples :)

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

would agree cant be a april fool.

DEREK if you read it its hypocrite as although accidents are up those sites which had Speedcameras locations have actually had a reduction of accidents.

Now that says two things here the Cameras are NOT in blackspots and there clearly as money making excercise.

How can they justify switching them back on if those sites reduced accident rates.

Surely re-location to those area which have the brunt of accidents should be done.

This where I dont get this fixed Camera locations 20 years ago it might been horrendous location. However in time it may have had a restructure of road or better education/knowledge makes the location no more an accident blackspot.

However that location is still deemed blackspot yet true blackspots become ignored on grounds of resources. I doubt many camera's is here for accident prevention.

---------- Post added at 11:30 ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 ----------

agreed I never speeded intentionally always gone within the speed rules.

I however had two incidences where I was forced into speeds beyond the legal limit and both ocassions the police accepted the reasons.

Firstly coming down a hill in wroxham had car tailgating and was unable to brake down to 30 through idiot. Copper with speed gun and pulled over to tell him I was trying to break and he said he could tell by the reducing speed and even commented the driver behind was an idiot.

Another was a Fire engine and a bad bend I speeded up to match his speed as it was dangerous to pull over. Soon it was safe to pull over I did so again spotted by cop thought was in trouble pulled me over for chat. He commended me for thinking ahead and knowing driving within speed would caused a delay.

So despite years of driving within the speed I have had 2 incidents suppose a copper forcing the absolute law could fined me both times.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

I have sped up, moved through a red, (and will continue to do so) to allow emergency vehicles past.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

It shows its never black and white.

Now if my incident and yours was caught on fixed unmaned camera then both would been fined. Yet we both did what was correct to help emergencies get there without delay.

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

Shame the local figures were inconclusive regarding accidents, so they used national figures instead. :dozey:

Re: Speed cameras axed over funding
 

http://www.trapster.com/

End of exercise.