If you ever wanted proof that they are a waste of time and money look at these stats, which are supposed to support the re-introduction of cameras?!?!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-12928747
I don't agree with excessive speeding or reckless driving but I don't think persecuting drivers is not the way to achieve a result. I don't believe it achieves much at all other than diverting resources away from efforts to reduce 'real' crime.
The last ticket I got for speeding was many many years ago for doing 36 in a 30. But the most recent ticket I got was for using a mobile phone while driving. I just left the hospital where my critically ill father was and the hospital had instructions to phone me urgently if his condition got worse. As I was sat a junction, stationary, the phone rang; so I picked it up to check that it wasn't the hospital. Just then a police car went past. Fortunately it wasn't the hospital so I said I would call the person back. Despite explaining the circumstances and despite being stationary and never having used the phone for more than a few seconds they still booked me.
Respect = zero. They achieved nothing other than antagonising me and showing petty vindictiveness. If they had given me a stern talking too and then let me go, fair enough. But given the circumstances issuing a ticket and producer was way over the top IMHO.
Speed (sorry safety) camera's
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JollyGreen
- Posts: 2047
- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:06 am
I have no time for the police these days, they have lost touch with the public. I know there are some good people in their ranks but they are in the minority and are swimming against the tide.
In 30+ years of driving my only offence was crossing a red light. It had been snowing and this had compacted and frozen. I was crawling along and the lights changed. I tried to stop but instead I did my best impression of Nigel Cousins, the car did a near 360 and then flipped back. Meanwhile I had managed to pirouette across the junction - empty I hasten to add - when the camera flashed. I felt certain the circumstances would be mitigation enough but 2 weeks later a letter arrived with a great photo. My car was photographed almost sideways on and you could just make out the registration number. I wrote to the Police and explained the situation. I also pointed out the snow and the ice but the reply was hilarious. They said "the camera shows you has 0.6seconds to react to the changing light and an experienced driver should be capable of bringing their vehicle to a safe stop"
They made no allowance for the snow and ice (you could even see the blizzard conditions in the photograph) and so I had a £60 fine and 3 points.
Then they wonder why nobody is interested in helping the Police these days!
In 30+ years of driving my only offence was crossing a red light. It had been snowing and this had compacted and frozen. I was crawling along and the lights changed. I tried to stop but instead I did my best impression of Nigel Cousins, the car did a near 360 and then flipped back. Meanwhile I had managed to pirouette across the junction - empty I hasten to add - when the camera flashed. I felt certain the circumstances would be mitigation enough but 2 weeks later a letter arrived with a great photo. My car was photographed almost sideways on and you could just make out the registration number. I wrote to the Police and explained the situation. I also pointed out the snow and the ice but the reply was hilarious. They said "the camera shows you has 0.6seconds to react to the changing light and an experienced driver should be capable of bringing their vehicle to a safe stop"
They made no allowance for the snow and ice (you could even see the blizzard conditions in the photograph) and so I had a £60 fine and 3 points.Then they wonder why nobody is interested in helping the Police these days!
I'm no great fan of speed cameras. Whether they prevent accidents or merely create rat runs and put drivers in the wrong state of mind of safe driving is debatable.
But one good thing about them is that sky-high insurance premiums might mean that they dissuade young drivers who think they're the Stig against putting their pedal to the floor, as 3 points could cost a lot more than a £60 fine...
BTW, speaking of petty enforcement, I got booked the other day for parking in a loading bay outside a charity furniture shop, literally a minute before I purchased a desk! Why couldn't the warden have popped into the shop and said 'Is anyone here about to load something into this car?'. I'm not sure penalizing users of charity shops is the best way to promote the Big Society...
Jeff
But one good thing about them is that sky-high insurance premiums might mean that they dissuade young drivers who think they're the Stig against putting their pedal to the floor, as 3 points could cost a lot more than a £60 fine...
BTW, speaking of petty enforcement, I got booked the other day for parking in a loading bay outside a charity furniture shop, literally a minute before I purchased a desk! Why couldn't the warden have popped into the shop and said 'Is anyone here about to load something into this car?'. I'm not sure penalizing users of charity shops is the best way to promote the Big Society...
Jeff