N/A - Speed camera idiocy

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Mon 26 Oct 2015 16:24
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - FP

Sorry, guys - this is just venting frustration.

SWMBO and I returned yesterday evening from our bi-annual trip to Cornwall. Most of the driving was uneventful and stress-free. However...

About and hour and a half into the journey back on the A30 on a dual carriageway (the exact location isn't relevant) there is a section of road with a dip. A speed camera is sited at the bottom to deter those who are inclined to let their speed increase excessively downhill, preceded by the usual warning signs.

It's pretty quiet, traffic-wise; I'm in Lane 1. I'm watching my speed carefully - it's an indicated 70 mph, maybe a tad over; the satnav says 68. About 100 metres before the camera a white Kia Rio comes bombing past. I'm thinking there's going to be some heavy braking in a minute.

Spot-on. Except that the car has moved straight into Lane 1 after overtaking. I have no chance of checking the mirror to see if I could pull out, just concentrate on avoiding ramming the idiot driver up the backside.

The Kia brakes hard to 50 mph. I am speechless.

Assuming this was not an act of malice, how much (or little) ignorance does it take to do something so utterly stupid and dangerous?

Immediately after, the Kia disappears at speed, the driver probably blissfully unaware of how close to death several people have just been.

To avoid fanning the flames of prejudice I shall avoid mentioning the gender of the driver or the colour of their hair.

Edited by FP on 26/10/2015 at 16:25

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Mon 26 Oct 2015 16:40
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - RobJP

The other driver's brain (what little exists of it) : drive drive drive. Speed camera. No idea of the limit, so BRAKE BRAKE BRAKE. No Flash. drive drive drive ...

It's exactly the same just outside Chester. There is an area that is 60 mph limit but has a speed camera. The number of people who approach it at 50-55 and jam on the brakes when they see it ...

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Mon 26 Oct 2015 17:11
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - bathtub tom

This exact behaviour also occurs on the A3 around Claygate where it goes from three to two lanes. The limit drops to 50MPH some distance earlier, but the muppets speed up to the camera and brake: goo.gl/maps/UBEv1VdygX12

There's another on the A1 northbound at Biggleswade. The limit's 60MPH. I take great delight at this one in slowly overtaking the brakers: goo.gl/maps/9iEbxx44TMS2

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 06:47
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - dimdip

This exact behaviour also occurs on the A3 <snip>

Yes I had a very near-miss on the A3 past Kingston. In the middle lane doing 50.0 mph approaching the revenue camera. Car in front sees the camera late, doesn't know the abitrary limit in force and stands on the brakes at the same moment as I'm checking my speedometer... Partly my fault, but it's hardly a safety-enhancing situation.

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Mon 26 Oct 2015 20:23
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Smileyman

You cannot do much about the NIMBYs who put up cameras in some stupid locations, but you can do something about the Kia driver - get yourself a dashcam. Then if you are involved in an accident you have solid & irrefutable evidence to support your comments

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Mon 26 Oct 2015 22:56
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - focussed

But safety cameras SAVE lives

But safety cameras SAVE lives

But safety cameras SAVE lives

But safety cameras SAVE lives

Don't they?

Just keep repeating " safety cameras SAVE lives" and you will eventually believe it!

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 10:55
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Andrew-T

Just keep repeating " safety cameras SAVE lives" and you will eventually believe it!

It might be interesting to look for solid and credible evidence that cameras cost lives. The incident reported by the OP could contribute to that. But on balance I suspect that cameras make most drivers proceed a bit more sensibly, at least where there are cameras.

As RobJP says, there may be a rash of new speed limits in the Chester area. I gather that speed is now limited all the way from Helsby to Chester on the A56 - some 50, some 40. IMHO that is where drivers accustomed to certain routes get caught out - they just aren't sure what the limit is from one mile to the next.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 12:43
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Wackyracer

they just aren't sure what the limit is from one mile to the next.

That includes our road into town that does have signs showing the speed on each stretch between and in the villages. You'd be surprised at the amount of people that drive at a constant 45mph even though the villages have a 30 mph limit and the bits inbetween are mostly national speed limit.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 10:12
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Leif

You cannot do much about the NIMBYs who put up cameras in some stupid locations, but you can do something about the Kia driver - get yourself a dashcam. Then if you are involved in an accident you have solid & irrefutable evidence to support your comments

Exactly.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 10:37
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - skidpan

IMHO the only cameras that actually achieve anything are the average speed ones. Stand alone cameras only catch people who are not familiar with their location, the locals just speed up to and after the cameras. Use of vans at blackspots is also valid especially when there has been a large number of incidents.

Those signs that tell you your speed are a total waste of time. The local kids in our area have competions to see who can get the highest speed on the display from a standing start, some have been prosecuted but it still goes on.

The best bit about average speed cameras is the way the demonstrate how many people do not know what the word "average" means. Laugh my socks off when drivers in new large Jag's, Merc's, BMW's etc drive at their usual illegal speed, slow down for the camera and then speed up again immediately after. With that level of intelegence how did they get jobs that pay for such cars.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 10:59
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Andrew-T

Those signs that tell you your speed are a total waste of time.

I don't agree. Sure, your 'local kids' will respond as you describe. But dreamy motorists may well be reminded usefully - especially some ladies of a certain age I know of, who have no intention of speeding. They just don't concentrate.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 11:11
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - bathtub tom

>> Laugh my socks off when drivers in new large Jag's, Merc's, BMW's etc drive at their usual illegal speed, slow down for the camera and then speed up again immediately after.

Reminds me of a muppet on the M25 approaching one of these left behind after roadworks. It sported a sign clearly saying 'THIS CAMERA IS NOT IN USE'. They still braked hard!

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 11:29
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Engineer Andy

In a similar vein, some local speed cameras along the A505 dual carriageway from the A1 to Royston (where I live) seems to attract so many idiots, sometimes bombing along at 80mph+, but just as often only doing 70, then planting the anchors on at the last minute when they see the cameras ahead, dropping to 60, not 70, because they stupidly believ that the speed limit on dual carriageways is 60mph - the limit is always 70 unless otherwise indicated (and will continue to be by the small 'repeater' signs).

This idocy causes more near-misses along this already dangerous stretch of road than speeding alone. You have to wonder how some people actually pass their driving tests. I think its the same people who brake when they see the word 'SLOW' painted on the road, whatever speed they are doing, or who barrel up to roadabouts/junctions (not including those with a 'Stop' sign - more those for dual carriageways and larger, busy roads), slam on the anchors, THEN look to see what's coming/on the junction, rather than sensibly look BEFORE, back off to a safe speed so you can easily stop if you need to, and if clear, manourve at the junction safely without stopping, which is safer, better for fuel economy and saves time. What happened to common sense?

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 11:56
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - diddy1234

Engineer Andy, your right about the A505.

I drive that every day and there is always someone bounding along, sees the camera then plants the anchors on dropping to 60 or in some cases 50mph.

they then speed back up to warp factor 9 for the remainder of their stressed life on the A505.

The first roundabout near Royston (McDonald's end of Royston ) is very dicey to deal with.

the layout of the round a bout is dangerous in that its not round in shape, has tress planted across it and any driver cannot see clearly what is coming around until nearly on the round a bout.

However what is really surprising is that some drivers don't seem to care to bother looking for what is already on the round a bout and just pull out as if they have right of way.

The give way paint markers are there for a reason !

then there are the left hand lane drivers that are actually turning right on the round a bout and just take out other cars whilst manovering on the round a bout

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 12:36
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Engineer Andy

Yep - The McD's (formerly Little Chef) roundabout (going eastbound) is bad - you can only really tell if a vehicle is coming round the roundabout (potentially) towards you in the dead of winter at night-time when you can see the vehicles' headlights through the leaf-less bushes/trees in the central reservation.

I normally back off to about 30/40 coming up to the roundbout (and start to back off reasonably early to give those behind fair warning) so can choose whether (once I can see) it's safe to proceed or not and thus have the opprtunity to come to a halt without needing to leave skid marks as some do (breaking late from 60/70mph +).

I'm surprised the powers-that-be haven't installed a speed camera on this stretch of road, as many people (especially motorcyclists) use it and the next (now smooth like an F1 circuit) as a racetrack (I've seen some doing well in excess of the ton - I can even hear them [sports bikes] over a mile away at home in the late evening when the rest of the town is quiet).

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 13:02
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - diddy1234

also to add there is the turning for Litlington just before the round a bout.

that should be blocked off really as the round a bout is so near by.

seen many cars skoot across (the the central reservation cross area) and almost get slammed side ways by on coming cars

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 12:09
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Bromptonaut

- the limit is always 70 unless otherwise indicated (and will continue to be by the small 'repeater' signs).

Not necessarily. Limit on dual carriageway is 60 for commercial vehicles (except car derived vans <2000kg), minibuses, caravans and larger motorhomes. And some cameras can tell the difference!!

Edited by Bromptonaut on 27/10/2015 at 12:11

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 12:25
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Engineer Andy

- the limit is always 70 unless otherwise indicated (and will continue to be by the small 'repeater' signs).

Not necessarily. Limit on dual carriageway is 60 for commercial vehicles (except car derived vans <2000kg), minibuses, caravans and larger motorhomes. And some cameras can tell the difference!!

I understand, but I was meaning for cars even if I didn't explicitly say. Sorry for any confusion. That being said, those vehicles wouldn't be in the 'fast' lane, which is where most of these 'incidents' happen. It doesn't help that the camera which has the most of these incidents is on an upslope, meaning (as diddy says) that some drivers even drop below 60 when people behind are actually (even if under the speed limit) putting their foot on the gas to keep their speed constant up the incline. Very dangerous.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 16:48
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - Andrew-T

What happened to common sense?

It's by no means as common as its name suggests.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 16:54
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - ExA35Owner

My (rather limited) entertainment comes from watching people brake for average-speed cameras......

And as for the "Camera not in use" sign - why bother? The camera, even when not armed, will tend to encourage drivers to keep within the limit.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 17:10
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - RichT54

There have been two sections of 50mph average speed cameras on the M3 for some time and I've noticed quite a lot of vehicles doing 60+ in these sections without slamming on their brakes when they get to a camera.

I've been wondering if they are just stupid or couldn't care less or whether they believe the cameras aren't actually working. A lot of them appear to be commercial drivers who I would have thought wouldn't want to risk losing their licence.

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Tue 27 Oct 2015 20:05
N/A - Speed camera idiocy - alan1302

What happened to common sense?

It's by no means as common as its name suggests.

Not sure there ever has been that much about!

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