Speed cameras – should they stay or should they go?

I think that speed is good if you can do it somewhere safe. I mean what is the point of developing cars which can do in excess of 150 miles per hour if the maximum speed limit is 70 miles per hour?
There are probably no sensible arguements for suggesting that speed cameras should be done away with but alternatively there are very few places where people who enjoy speed can actually go to enjoy speed. There are also the ‘drivers’ who stick to 30 mph even on 60 mph+ roads. I personally find this infuriating. There is also factual evidence (apparently) which states that modern cars are capable of stopping a lot quicker at speed that the highway code would have us believe. The problem is that people do die on our roads and sometimes that is due to drivers driving too quickly but as suggested elswhere on this thread there can be other reasons also.

Overall, I would like to be able to drive fast because I enjoy driving at speed and pushing both myself and my car but I don’t want to injure or kill anyone in the process so because of the legal ramifications I drive within safe driving restrictions, but only because of the restrictions.

We all travel at high speed without incident. Speed is not the issue. The issue is the impact and preventing the impact. Pedestrians should be taught to cross the road at safe places using crossings where possible. Drivers should slow down when approaching hazards. Road safety is a joint responsibility. I have no objection to road safety cameras being used to determine facts. I object to road cameras being used to penalise the motorist. Has anyone heard of a road safety camera being used to exonerate a driver in an incident involving a pedestrian and car?

In the February issue of Which? you ask “What do motorists really think about speed cameras?”. A more interesting question would be “What do pedestrians and cyclists think about speed cameras?” as they are often the innocent victims of drivers who seem to think shaving 2 minutes off their journey times is worth risking other people’s lives for.

Ultimately, speed limits are the law. If you disagree with that law, by all means write to your MP or start a petition – but you cannot just ignore it. Speed cameras are simply a way of enforcing the law as it stands – if you don’t break the law, you’ve nothing to fear from them.

As for the argument that they distract drivers – well that’s only because, thanks to the bellyaching of “motorist groups”, they’re all painted bright yellow and are pointed out on people’s sat navs. If they were hidden and their locations kept secret, that wouldn’t be a problem.

In dangerous places where “going too fast” must be curtailed then I am fully in favour of trying to hold back those drivers who are not sufficiently self-disciplined. However, in all these discussions there is hardly a word about what is the “right” speed; and there is certainly no consistency in setting those limits.As drivers, we need to have faith in the speed limit, and consequently in those that set them. Where is the evidence of that today? The limits set are often laughable.Here in Suffolk we can travel at 50 and 60 in narrow lanes but as soon as we meet an urban dual carriageway the limit is set at 40 and sometimes 30. Madness. Its no wonder drivers are frustrated. We have to get a standard on setting limits; it has to be applied throughout the country; and drivers have to “buy in” to those standards.

I have little faith in those setting speed limits. I remember a public discussion on reducing a speed limit in an area where getting to the speed limit would have been worthy of a life time achievement award due to the construction of the road and weight of traffic!

Reading the comments I think I can safely say there are idiots on the road. At times I am one of those idiots. Life throws the odd curve ball into your life and you are distracted. Is a moment of human failing going to kill anyone? Most of the time no. Drivers need to think about driving safely in the prevailing conditions. Most people do drive safely and watch out for the momentary lapses that everyone has from time to time. I do not believe in speed limits. I do believe in living a long life and taking care on the road. I have compassion for the man who killed his daughter.

The thing I find fascinating is how people who would otherwise describe themselves as “law abiding” think it’s somehow OK to break this particular law. I know people who get angry if they see someone, for example, dropping litter, but think nothing of speeding! Of course dropping litter is illegal and bad – which is why I’d never do it – but so is speeding. And litter ain’t going to kill anyone.

If people believe the speed limits are too low, they should campaign for a change in the law – set up a pressure group, write your their MP, whatever. But, as things stand, this is the law and you can’t just pick and choose which laws you obey.

Not that it makes a difference to the legality, but the vast majority of drivers caught speeding acknowledge that they do it much of the time. The honest ones accept that being caught at some stage was inevitable. Attitudes to breaking the law are largely influenced by the chances of getting away with it. Cameras are only unpopular in some quarters because they potentially reduce this chance to zero.

Ordinary speed cameras are useless.as they only control the speed within a few yards of the camera. Average speed cameras would keep a much greater length of road under control. The number of drivers breaking hard just before a camera shows that they have no regard for the speed limit as they accelerate after getting out of range of the camera. I would like to see more road marked with the speed limit as the normal speed signs ore easily hidden by foliage or large vehicles parked as it is much easier to see what is ahead as it is to see what is high up to the left. Most drivers don’t really concentrate on the job in hand , but are thinking of something else, having deep conversations or distracted by something other than driving.