This from todays Daily Mail. Page35.
Tough restrictions on the use of speed cameras have been drawn up by ministers in an attempt to placate motorists.
Police forces will have to paint the cameras bright yellow and there will be a clampdown on the number of undercover units.
The rules also reinforce earlier guidelines that speed cameras should only be used in accident black spots or areas where speeding is a problem. The measures from Transport Minister John Spellar are an attempt to reassure drivers alarmed by a massive increase in the number of cameras.
Drivers will be three times more likely to be fined under rules which will allow police forces to keep some of the money from fines.
The document issued to officials in Mr Spellar?s department last week stresses that colours other than yellow can only be used in ?exceptional circumstances? such as areas of outstanding natural beauty. [ All of Wales :-) ]
The guidance goes on to signal an end to the use of undercover mobile speed traps. Mobile units can only be used ?in conspicuous site visible to oncoming traffic?
It was predicted that Labour?s decision to expand the camera network would see prosecutions soar from 1 million per year to 3.5 million by 2004.
Ends.
Some of this is already contained in the ACPO guidelines and ignored by some traffic officers.
We will see!!!!!!
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Bright colours? what a splendid idea.
I have been following the UK speed camera debate for a while, and can only point out what has been happening here in South Africa for years.
Roads which are notorious for accidents have roving speed traps placed at certain times. Knowledgable motorists drive on these roads at a low speed whenever they use them - and know where the traps are normally set.
Unfortunately our local 'boys in blue' are a municipal traffic force - as opposed to 'proper' police officers - and go out of their way to trap as many motorists as they can, as this bumps up their revenue.
So we get used to cameras being secreted in bushes, under scrim nets, on lonely out-of-the way stretches of empty road etc etc etc, solely with the intention of making money.
As at least 50% of drivers in this country have no license, and as roadworthy tests are only done when a vehicle is sold to a new owner, driving can get really hairy, with overloaded minibusses driven by teeenagers hammering along.
But the intrepid law-enforcers do very little about it - sitting on the roadside waiting for an errant speedster (in a roadworthy vehicle, with a valid drivers license, and the ability to pay) seems a better option, obviously.
I read that in the UK there is an increase in 'cloning' of plates, covering numbers with laquer or similar, and supplying false addresses to the VLC is on the increase - and probably all down to the speed camera threat.
And once these clowns realise they can get away with speeding, what will be next? Jumping red lights? Failing to stop after an accident? bothering to get an mot (or a drivers license)?
Maybe the authorities should wake up to this - as opposed to catching 'Mr honest' who erred over the limit by a few mph.
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Don't believe a word of it - they're playing 'good cop, bad cop'.
'Cameras will only be placed at accident blackspots...' Oh yeah? Now look out for a massive increase in 'known black spots'.
'Cameras camoflged only in areas of outstanding natural beauty...' Suddenly we find ourselves surrounded by beauty spots.
The only way we will change this stupidity will be to change the government for one with less of an anti-car dogma.
Andy.
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Andy wrote:
>
> 'Cameras camoflged only in areas of outstanding natural
> beauty...'
Camoflaged is an interesting term. I saw a speed camera completely hidden behind a speed camera sign.
Now, you can't convincingly argue that it was hidden, but it was. Very effectively.
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EVentually this plenitude of petty laws and measures joyfully administered by jobsworths who've never done a decent days's work in their little lives will breed so many counter-measures as a consequence of built-up resentment that they will become unworkable from people spending time and resources that could be put to better use, simply to get around them.
In Manila, one day a week depending on the last letter of our license plates, we cannot use our cars. What do we do? Easy, take the plates off that day. THe numbers are so overwhelming that they can't check everyone. Rise up and rebel, you placid trampled on Brits.
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Oh yes, this is happening- Not!
Yesterday I came across a speed camera with its back (facing the traffic) painted with red and yellow stripes, making it very visible to motorists.
Pity the whole camera box was concealed behind a bridge abutment rendering it totally invisible until the last 10 yards before the 'snap zone'!
What they say and what they do ain't the same.
Has anyone agreed to repaint all existing cameras with 'visible' markings?
As this will cost local authorities, I can't see it happening
Is there anyone out there who works for local (or National) government who wiill stand up on this website and be truthful about all this claptrap!
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Few people round Stafford way seem to used their own initiative and started painting some of the speed cameras in various colours.
Some have even painted the front of them as well :o)
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