Jump to content

Speed cameras to go -


observer

Recommended Posts

Very good news. Hope to see them join the wheel clamp on the list of stuff that's going to be banned.

 

They have made precisely zero contribution to road safety at the points where they are installed - and have actually caused an increase in accidents as people brake hard before reaching them.

 

The campaigners who claim the reduction in road deaths is down to the cameras are completely ignoring the FACT that there have been equal reductions in collisions, injuries and fatalities at non-camera sites. So the reduction is actually far more due to things like ABS, advanced suspension systems, airbags, pedestrian friendly bumpers, better driver visibility - along with very high insurance costs and changes in driver attitudes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had two tickets and in both instances I was not driving any faster than any of the other cars on the road at the time and the road conditions didn't indicate any problems. So if it eliminates those cameras that seem to be there purly as revenue generators then its a good move.

 

Cheap satnavs and smartphone technology that warns where these cameras are allow people to drive like a maniac but then like a saint past the cameras totally defeats the cameras effectivness leaving people like me to get caught. :evil:

 

They may only slow most down for a short period but get done too many times and people soon change their driving habits to save their licence.

 

Bill :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, on the basis that there are laws against speeding, and presumably those laws require enforcement (otherwise you may as well scrap them); and taking into account that we need coppers looking into serious crime; therefore an automated system seems logical. The only question is, are they cost effective? As I understand it, todate they cost slightly more than they earn in revenue - so perhaps the fines should be increased to cover costs, and indeed, bolster revenues: after all who cares if criminals are taxed for their crimes?! :?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Think everyone knows deep down it is a bad thing.

 

Many years ago when the police used to follow you in cars, a (in)famous traffic patrol officer always refused to get in conversation with an aggrieved motorist, merely saying "we save lives".

 

Nothing has changed except the method and the comment is as true now as it ever was. (although in those earlier days 40 miles an hour and above was the set mark for prosecuting - locally that is. Anything between 30 and 40 got you a telling off, unless you got shirty). Police are not so generous these days, but there were more fatal accidents in those earlier days, so make your own mind up on what's right.

 

 

Happy days

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd far rather have the coppers out on the streets patrolling - and enforcing ALL of the laws while they're at it.

 

And before anyone says that police resources are too scarce to deal with speeding and motoring offences then just bear in mind that there are over 170,000 full time police and full-time-equivalent PCSO officers in England and Wales. That's 1 full time officer for every 300 or so people - including children - in the population.

 

In other words, every street in the country with 100 or so houses, every decent sized block of flats, every small estate of a couple of cul-de-sacs, should each have its very own copper.

 

Lymm, with a population of around 10,000, should have approximately 35 full-time officers. Instead, it has a share of one officer based over 5 miles away.

 

Where the hell are they all!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is it JUST the static speed camers they are talking about getting rid of ie the ones like Bill says that most Sat Navs etc will make you aware of. Not actually seen any news about it so sorry if it's a daft question.

 

Many static ones dont actually have film in them but you can't tell which ones so at least they serve as a deterant to some idiotic drivers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pete would like the officers patrolling but it is worth pointing out that a lot of crime is committed by motorists and I believe that a lot of the police cars have sophisticated equipment on board.

 

A quick response to most street incidents is required these days and only cars can provide it in most cases.

 

Would love to get back to the 1969 state where the police had more personnel to play with (somehow) and had a proper balance of cars; cycles; and foot patrols

 

Happy days

Link to comment
Share on other sites

INKY: suggest you revisit your calculations - try dividing the establishment totals by about 5, to account for specialist duties and shift patterns - after all, even coppers are allowed a home life! :wink: As for efficiency - it's more efficient and cost effective to automate where possible - hence we have cameras of all kinds all over the place. At the end of the day, if you don't want to pay the fine don't commit the crime OR dispense with all such laws, which would allow us to dispense with the Police and the Politicians who make these laws in the first place - would no doubt save ?billions - but anarchy would reign. :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

INKY: suggest you revisit your calculations - try dividing the establishment totals by about 5, to account for specialist duties and shift patterns - after all, even coppers are allowed a home life! :wink: As for efficiency - it's more efficient and cost effective to automate where possible - hence we have cameras of all kinds all over the place. At the end of the day, if you don't want to pay the fine don't commit the crime OR dispense with all such laws, which would allow us to dispense with the Police and the Politicians who make these laws in the first place - would no doubt save ?billions - but anarchy would reign. :wink:

 

Of course the 35 officers who represent the share of total police resources paid for by the population of Lymm would not all be working at the same time. I work in a 24x7 business so I know what proportion of your total staff are available at any one time.

 

But even by your own calculations, Lymm should have an average of 7 officers on duty at any one time, day and night. This is over 10 times the staffing we currently have, so my question stands.

 

Where the hell are they all???

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the optimum strength of a Police Force is around 1 to every 500 population; and the the only time we see their true numbers is when there's a miner's strike or a poll tax riot; so presumably the need to supply politicians with a constant stream of (favourable) stats AND to ensure all the paperwork is in order for the DPP, must take up a large chunk of time and manpower. :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You rarely have them at full strength due to several factors.

Sickness.

Holidays.

Seconded to the Drugs squad.

Seconded to the Murder squad.

Seconded anywhere. where there is a more important need.

Injury.

Training.

There could be more reasons, although I can't think of any at the moment.

Creamfields.

 

Doesn't Lymm come under South Warrington? That is one BIG arae for a small number of police/pcso's to cover. :shock:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Warrington as a whole has a population of around 196,000 - and so should benefit from well over 500 full time police officers (based on the fact that Cheshire Constabulary have around 2,700 officers serving a population of just a shade over 1 million). This figure does not count civilian scientists, technicians and other support staff, Warrington should have about another 300 of these. There should be plenty of officers and support staff in Warrington to provide for both round the clock detective work and uniformed patrols - with enough left over to properly police the town centre pubs, Creamfields, and all of the traditional local village events which the police have started charging to attend in recent years.

 

The only explanations for an apparent shortage of manpower to perform basic tasks given these figures are gross incompetence and inefficiency at management level and an institutional laziness on the front line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are 18 areas for Policing in Cheshire, taking into consideration not only population but size of neighbourhood.(eg Western Rural)

 

That would mean 150 Officers per neighbourhood, working on a 4 shift system ie mornings,afternoons, nights and those with days off. So that would mean a maximum of less than 40 Police Officers at any one time per neighbourhood, not counting sickness or other reasons like training, jury duty, football matches, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...