Fatalities rise in speed camera hotspots

[Legion]

By Lester Haines
Published Tuesday 19th July 2005 11:09 GMT

The UK government recently suspended the deployment of more speeds cameras pending the outcome of of a University College London probe into whether they actually save lives.

We have no doubt, then, that the investigators will be taking a close interest in the Motorcycle News revelation that road deaths have risen dramatically in those areas favoured with the most Gatsos.

According to the MCN figures - joyfully reported in today's Sun - Hertfordshire saw a 24 per cent rise in speed camera numbers between 2003 and 2004. In the same period, road fatalities rose by 34 per cent.

Likewise in Wiltshire, camera numbers went up 14 per cent, and those killed 22 per cent. In County Durham, meanwhile, a lone Gatso oversaw a 22 per cent drop in fatalities.

The Sun is also delighted to report that in North Wales, where "Gatso fan Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has a league table for traffic cops", 56,247 speeding tickets were issued although this had little effect on safety, with an 18 per cent increase in road deaths.

The reason? Simple, says safety expert Paul Smith: “Crashes are avoided by making a safe plan based on what you see. Cameras move attention away from hazards to speedometers.” ®

Score one for Big Brother :cantbeli:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/19/gatso_deaths_link/

[Oddbod]

Having seen the slamming on of brakes by those who see these bloody menaces at the last minute, I can only agree that they do little to promote safe driving.
I can see their worth in Urban areas, where 30mph is the speed limit but placing them on the only possible overtaking place for miles, on an otherwise twisty road, is plain revenue collection. :bash:

[BadKarma26]

**** if they are stupid enough to drive that fast then they are stupid enough to die because of their actions

[Turhapuro]

f*** if they are stupid enough to drive that fast then they are stupid enough to die because of their actions
I have no problem with stupid people killing themselves, but usually car accidents involve other people as well so that is quite stupid attitude towards car accidents.

[Legion]

Charges against driver of speed-camera van caught speeding dropped after irony levels in court exceed British occupational safety limits


Camera van speeding case discontinued


The driver of a mobile speed camera van who had been accused of breaking the speed limit on a Shropshire road has had his case discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The case against Steven John Harvey Tyrer was discontinued at Oswestry magistrates court yesterday. Magistrates were told "there was not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction".

Mr Tyrer, 30, of Tom Morgan Close, Lawley, Telford, was not in court. He attended an earlier hearing at Oswestry Magistrates Court in June, and denied one charge of speeding.

Mr Tyrer works for the West Mercia Safety Camera Partnership. It had been alleged that he drove faster than 50mph on Trefonen Road, near Oswestry, breaking the limit on a stretch where the national speed limit applies.

For normal cars this is 60mph, but because of the speed camera van's weight it is limited to 50mph maximum.

rofl

http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=35343

[joe mama]

Charges against driver of speed-camera van caught speeding dropped after irony levels in court exceed British occupational safety limits

that's a good one...

[Legion]

Charges against driver of speed-camera van caught speeding dropped after irony levels in court exceed British occupational safety limits

that's a good one...

Can't take credit for it though, stole it from Fark. Funny as hell though.

[Geezah]

I would have to say speed bumps work a hell of a alot better than a speed camera, how many boy racers want their Renault 5 Turbo to bottom out due to going too fast. As mentioned above the idea might have been a good one originally but it is nothing more than a way to increase revenue now.