I don't blog here as often as I should because everything I said was wrong about speed cameras has been proved to be true.
And today there's proof that speed cameras do not cut accidents - they cause them instead (Daily Mail story below).
It's only a small victory for us since we've been saying this since NuLieBore introduced them to raise cash (and not every speed camera partnership has supplied information for this survey which underlines just how hopeless they are).
Speed cameras have nothing to do with safety but instead just raise cash from motorists. We've been saying that most accidents occur within a mile of your home at a junction - and that's from the Dept for Transport's own figures (though they are also shy about revealing that speed is a factor in less than 5% of accidents).
Most of the police officers we know all say that education is the key to bringing down the accident figures. That and putting more police patrols on the street. Labour cut down on the number of patrolling officers and this is the price you pay. Speed cameras do not recognise drunk drivers for instance. It also explains why the accident rate was in decline before speed cameras were introduced and then rose afterwards.
Anyway, here's hoping that a lesson will be learned - but don't hold your breath!
Speed cameras 'do not cut accidents'... they create them, study finds
Many speed cameras have not cut accident rates and may even have increased them, figures reveal for the first time today.
Statistics published by the Department for Transport show many cameras have done little or nothing to improve accident rates, but have proved highly effective in clocking up speeding fines.
Only a small number of councils have agreed to publish the full data on each speed camera in their area.
But ministers will today urge all councils to follow suit – saying motorists have a right to know whether local speed cameras are justified.
Road safety minister Mike Penning said: ‘We are shining the light of transparency on the performance of speed cameras.
‘People want to know that if their tax money is being spent on speed cameras that they are actually making their roads safer, not just raising money.
‘They will now have the information to be able to hold their councils to account if they think that some cameras have actually made the situation worse, rather than better.’
Read more:
Showing posts with label speed camera partnership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speed camera partnership. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Sunday, 25 July 2010
The Coalition Govt - we salute you!
News over the weekend that Govt spending cuts will see roadside cameras switrched off is good news for ALL motorists.
Let's see the end of speed camera partnerships (forget the word 'safety' in their titles because they aren't interested in road safety) and then return to the days when the UK had the safest roads in the world.
Is that too much to ask for?
Here's how Sky News tell the story:
Thousands of speed cameras could be switched off after the Government slashed cash for road safety by 40%
According to The Sunday Times, the first county likely to abandon the devices is Oxfordshire, which may shut down its 79 cameras as early as next week.
Other counties could do the same, with camera networks in Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and Northamptonshire also under review, the paper said.
About 6,000 speed cameras across the UK cost motorists an estimated £100m in fines a year. Oxfordshire's network raised more than £1m in 2009.
But the money goes to the Treasury despite local authorities complaining they should be able to keep the proceeds for spending on road safety.
The reduction in Government cash for road safety has prompted Oxfordshire officials to recommend a £600,000 cut in Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership funding.
The body, which operates the county's fixed speed cameras, has reportedly said it will no longer be able to afford them, if funding is slashed.
All the cameras will be switched off if county councillors ratify the cutback on Tuesday, the Times continued.
The reviews of camera networks follow a Government decision to claw back £38m from English local authorities' 2010-11 £95m road safety budget.
Road safety minister Mike Penning told the paper: "In the coalition agreement, the Government made clear it would end central funding for fixed speed cameras.
"This is another example of this government delivering on its pledge to end the war on the motorist.
"I would hope that councils will use the funds available to put in place new measures to tackle road safety problems."
Road safety charity Brake's Ellen Booth feared Oxfordshire's decision could prompt other councils to scrap speed cameras.
She was quoted as saying: "We're incredibly concerned in case this is more than an isolated incident. That would be a disaster for road safety and the public."
NO THIS WOULD NOT BE A DISASTER.
Motorists Against Detection wants to see more police on the roads to enforce the laws of the land AND an increase in driver education.
This really is a time for celebration!
Captain Gatso
The Motorists' Friend
Let's see the end of speed camera partnerships (forget the word 'safety' in their titles because they aren't interested in road safety) and then return to the days when the UK had the safest roads in the world.
Is that too much to ask for?
Here's how Sky News tell the story:
Thousands of speed cameras could be switched off after the Government slashed cash for road safety by 40%
According to The Sunday Times, the first county likely to abandon the devices is Oxfordshire, which may shut down its 79 cameras as early as next week.
Other counties could do the same, with camera networks in Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and Northamptonshire also under review, the paper said.
About 6,000 speed cameras across the UK cost motorists an estimated £100m in fines a year. Oxfordshire's network raised more than £1m in 2009.
But the money goes to the Treasury despite local authorities complaining they should be able to keep the proceeds for spending on road safety.
The reduction in Government cash for road safety has prompted Oxfordshire officials to recommend a £600,000 cut in Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership funding.
The body, which operates the county's fixed speed cameras, has reportedly said it will no longer be able to afford them, if funding is slashed.
All the cameras will be switched off if county councillors ratify the cutback on Tuesday, the Times continued.
The reviews of camera networks follow a Government decision to claw back £38m from English local authorities' 2010-11 £95m road safety budget.
Road safety minister Mike Penning told the paper: "In the coalition agreement, the Government made clear it would end central funding for fixed speed cameras.
"This is another example of this government delivering on its pledge to end the war on the motorist.
"I would hope that councils will use the funds available to put in place new measures to tackle road safety problems."
Road safety charity Brake's Ellen Booth feared Oxfordshire's decision could prompt other councils to scrap speed cameras.
She was quoted as saying: "We're incredibly concerned in case this is more than an isolated incident. That would be a disaster for road safety and the public."
NO THIS WOULD NOT BE A DISASTER.
Motorists Against Detection wants to see more police on the roads to enforce the laws of the land AND an increase in driver education.
This really is a time for celebration!
Captain Gatso
The Motorists' Friend
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Greedy Gatso on safe road row
Just when people think the Gatso row has died away there pops up another example of the greed of the 'safety camera' partnerships.
You won't need me to spell out why this camera is so wrong (but it's on a road without any RTAs and is a dual carriageway with a 30mph. Go figure).
But, goodness me, to rack yp £1.3m a year in fines on what is suppoed to be a SAFE road? Come on!
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
A SPEED camera on a road with a sparkling safety record has sparked fury — as it nets £1.3MILLION a year in fines.
The controversial camera, one of the most lucrative in Britain, has been catching an average 1,843 motorists a month — hitting each with a £60 ticket.
But the dual carriageway it sits on has had only ONE serious injury in ELEVEN YEARS.
Motoring groups have slammed it as a move to "milk the motorist" — claiming the 30mph is far too low for the road.
Thousands of drivers have been fined for driving at a few miles over 30mph, not realising the limit is so low.
Read more of The Sun story
You won't need me to spell out why this camera is so wrong (but it's on a road without any RTAs and is a dual carriageway with a 30mph. Go figure).
But, goodness me, to rack yp £1.3m a year in fines on what is suppoed to be a SAFE road? Come on!
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
A SPEED camera on a road with a sparkling safety record has sparked fury — as it nets £1.3MILLION a year in fines.
The controversial camera, one of the most lucrative in Britain, has been catching an average 1,843 motorists a month — hitting each with a £60 ticket.
But the dual carriageway it sits on has had only ONE serious injury in ELEVEN YEARS.
Motoring groups have slammed it as a move to "milk the motorist" — claiming the 30mph is far too low for the road.
Thousands of drivers have been fined for driving at a few miles over 30mph, not realising the limit is so low.
Read more of The Sun story
Friday, 14 May 2010
War on motorists to end
It's the news that everyone here at Motorists Against Detection have been waiting for - the new Govt will end the war on motorists.
No more cash for speed cameras is great news; and now they need to disband the camera partnerships and their 'jobs for the boys' mentality.
The UK had the safest roads in the world until Nu Liebore took office.
Perhaps we can go back to those days and stop trying to fleece the motorists to fund barmy schemes.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
NEW Transport Secretary Philip Hammond vowed to "end the war on motorists" yesterday.
He promised there would be no tolls on existing roads, no more government funding for speed cameras, and consultation on a "stabiliser" mechanism to bring down fuel duty when petrol prices rise.
Mr Hammond said: "Motoring has to get greener, but the car is not going to go away."
Read more of The Sun story.
No more cash for speed cameras is great news; and now they need to disband the camera partnerships and their 'jobs for the boys' mentality.
The UK had the safest roads in the world until Nu Liebore took office.
Perhaps we can go back to those days and stop trying to fleece the motorists to fund barmy schemes.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
NEW Transport Secretary Philip Hammond vowed to "end the war on motorists" yesterday.
He promised there would be no tolls on existing roads, no more government funding for speed cameras, and consultation on a "stabiliser" mechanism to bring down fuel duty when petrol prices rise.
Mr Hammond said: "Motoring has to get greener, but the car is not going to go away."
Read more of The Sun story.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
And finally the truth comes out
I've been telling anyone who will listen for years - and so have fellow members of Motorists Against Detection - that speed cameras have nothing, and I mean NOTHING to do with road safety and here is the proof.
Swindon took the brave step of removing their cameras and got lambasted for it. Now a year later they haven't seen a difference in their accident rates.
That's because speed is not a factor in 95% of accidents.
If this deceitful government and their misguided camera partnerships announced today that they were going to improve driving standards and behaviours I would be on their side immediately. We have too many drivers in this country (many without licences or insurance) who have no idea how to drive properly. Crack down on those idiots and see the accident rate fall. Simple.
Here's today's story in the Sun:
Swindon took the brave step of removing their cameras and got lambasted for it. Now a year later they haven't seen a difference in their accident rates.
That's because speed is not a factor in 95% of accidents.
If this deceitful government and their misguided camera partnerships announced today that they were going to improve driving standards and behaviours I would be on their side immediately. We have too many drivers in this country (many without licences or insurance) who have no idea how to drive properly. Crack down on those idiots and see the accident rate fall. Simple.
Here's today's story in the Sun:
FIXED speed cameras make no difference to road accident rates and are simply money-making machines, it was claimed last night.
The first council in the country to ban Gatsos revealed it has seen little change since making the move in the summer.
Chiefs in Swindon, Wilts, reckon the results have proved that the cameras didn't save lives - but were only there to make money.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Happy Xmas from the Speed Camera Partnerships
Well, not really a happy Xmas - or a happy new year - come to that after they have been told to reveal how much speed cameras earn.
This will underline what I have been sayig for years that speed cameras were never about safety. If that was the case they would be outside schools and hospitals and high streets. But no, the authorities had to raise cash for their silly schemes. (Speed is a factor in less than 5% of accidents - Govt figures).
Anyway enjoy this great story in today's Sun.... (With quotes from me!)
SPEED cameras were condemned as mere money makers last night after cops were ordered to reveal the huge sums raised.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2785613/Bonanza-gatso-hauls-exposed.html#ixzz0azbrcrRN
This will underline what I have been sayig for years that speed cameras were never about safety. If that was the case they would be outside schools and hospitals and high streets. But no, the authorities had to raise cash for their silly schemes. (Speed is a factor in less than 5% of accidents - Govt figures).
Anyway enjoy this great story in today's Sun.... (With quotes from me!)
SPEED cameras were condemned as mere money makers last night after cops were ordered to reveal the huge sums raised.
England's busiest Gatso at the bottom of the M11 outside London raked in an estimated �2.3MILLION in five years as it flashed 38,243 drivers breaking the 50mph limit.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2785613/Bonanza-gatso-hauls-exposed.html#ixzz0azbrcrRN
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Speed cameras to go - Tory promise
At long last! People are starting to listen to the arguments I have been making for years now.
I'm not just a lone voice. The Tories at the conference have said they will get rid of cameras (for the full SP read the Reuters story below).
I've done SKY News and lots of radio on this fantastic decision.
In a nutshell - for all you disbelievers out there - speed cameras are about raising cash NOT about road safety.
FACT: According to the Government's own figures, less than 5% of accidents are down to speed
FACT: Most accidents take place at a junction within a mile of your home.
The secret data will put an end to the camera partnerships lies once and for all.
Now let's vote Conservatives and get these lying, double crossing, war mongering, inept tossers who have bankrupted the country out of office!
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
How Reuters told the world:
The Conservatives declared war on the rapid spread of speed cameras on Tuesday, saying there were better ways to keep the roads safe.
"It's time to put a stop to Labour's cash cow camera culture," Conservative transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers told the party's annual conference.
"Electing a Conservative government would signal the end of the relentless expansion of fixed speed cameras. It's time to say 'enough is enough'," she said.
Fixed speed cameras on British roads had almost trebled during Labour's 12 years in power, but the fines they generated blinded Labour to the merits of better ways of keeping the roads safe, such as education, vehicle-activated signs or traffic police, she said.
Predicting that fixed speed cameras had reached their "high watermark" in the country, she said a Conservative government would not fund any new fixed speed cameras.
"If local authorities want new cameras they'll have to prove nothing else works better and they'll have to find the money themselves," Villiers said.
She said the Conservatives would publish information, now secret, on each speed camera's record on safety and on fines, so local communities could judge whether a camera should stay or go.
I'm not just a lone voice. The Tories at the conference have said they will get rid of cameras (for the full SP read the Reuters story below).
I've done SKY News and lots of radio on this fantastic decision.
In a nutshell - for all you disbelievers out there - speed cameras are about raising cash NOT about road safety.
FACT: According to the Government's own figures, less than 5% of accidents are down to speed
FACT: Most accidents take place at a junction within a mile of your home.
The secret data will put an end to the camera partnerships lies once and for all.
Now let's vote Conservatives and get these lying, double crossing, war mongering, inept tossers who have bankrupted the country out of office!
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
How Reuters told the world:
The Conservatives declared war on the rapid spread of speed cameras on Tuesday, saying there were better ways to keep the roads safe.
"It's time to put a stop to Labour's cash cow camera culture," Conservative transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers told the party's annual conference.
"Electing a Conservative government would signal the end of the relentless expansion of fixed speed cameras. It's time to say 'enough is enough'," she said.
Fixed speed cameras on British roads had almost trebled during Labour's 12 years in power, but the fines they generated blinded Labour to the merits of better ways of keeping the roads safe, such as education, vehicle-activated signs or traffic police, she said.
Predicting that fixed speed cameras had reached their "high watermark" in the country, she said a Conservative government would not fund any new fixed speed cameras.
"If local authorities want new cameras they'll have to prove nothing else works better and they'll have to find the money themselves," Villiers said.
She said the Conservatives would publish information, now secret, on each speed camera's record on safety and on fines, so local communities could judge whether a camera should stay or go.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Strange case of the man terrified of speed cameras
It's almost beyond belief but I have an understanding of how this man feels. I have issues whenever I drive past a speed camera. Sadly, I don't think I would get a speed camera partnership to help me overcome my anger.
Anyway, good luck to Colin Gant who couldn't drive past said cameras because he had a phobia.
Let's hope he doesn't get any points now that he has been 'cured' by the speed camera partnership!
Though I would have thought the easiest solution would be to remove the speed cameras from the road.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
Anyway, good luck to Colin Gant who couldn't drive past said cameras because he had a phobia.
Let's hope he doesn't get any points now that he has been 'cured' by the speed camera partnership!
Though I would have thought the easiest solution would be to remove the speed cameras from the road.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
AA (!) proposal to take cars off drunks
Here at MAD we are all for making the roads safer (despite what many of our critics would claim) so we salute the proposal from the Automobile Association.
They want to see the cars taken from persistent drink drivers.
We think that's a very good idea. Sadly, speed cameras can't spot drunks - only police in vehicles can do that.
So let's bring in this proposal for the sake of road safety (are you listening speed camera partnerships?) and at the same time enforce it properly with more officers patrolling our roads to ensure these idiots are actually caught, banned and stopped from driving again.
Sorted!
They want to see the cars taken from persistent drink drivers.
We think that's a very good idea. Sadly, speed cameras can't spot drunks - only police in vehicles can do that.
So let's bring in this proposal for the sake of road safety (are you listening speed camera partnerships?) and at the same time enforce it properly with more officers patrolling our roads to ensure these idiots are actually caught, banned and stopped from driving again.
Sorted!
Friday, 26 December 2008
A question of speed - a great blog
Apologies for missing this when it was published in The Guardian.
It's a very interesting blog and some of the comments below it are pertinent too.
You don't have to be a speedfreak to realise that speed cameras do not work. They don't do what the Government, Police and 'safety camera' partnerships insist on.
Their own figures don't even back up their argument.
Anyway, here's the beginning of the article:
A question of speed
It is becoming clear that speed cameras are not just cash cows for government – they don't even promote safety
Swindon today. Northamptonshire tomorrow. Where next? Some of our local elected representatives have bravely begun to question the wisdom of speed cameras. The revolution is in its early stages and has already shown a doctrinal split, with Swindon scrapping fixed-point cameras and mobile ones, while the Mensheviks of Northamptonshire are looking at ridding the county of just the mobile variety.
Read more here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/08/speed-cameras
It's a very interesting blog and some of the comments below it are pertinent too.
You don't have to be a speedfreak to realise that speed cameras do not work. They don't do what the Government, Police and 'safety camera' partnerships insist on.
Their own figures don't even back up their argument.
Anyway, here's the beginning of the article:
A question of speed
It is becoming clear that speed cameras are not just cash cows for government – they don't even promote safety
Swindon today. Northamptonshire tomorrow. Where next? Some of our local elected representatives have bravely begun to question the wisdom of speed cameras. The revolution is in its early stages and has already shown a doctrinal split, with Swindon scrapping fixed-point cameras and mobile ones, while the Mensheviks of Northamptonshire are looking at ridding the county of just the mobile variety.
Read more here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/08/speed-cameras
Friday, 5 December 2008
Older drivers 'six times more likely' to be caught by speed cameras
Well, well, well. Who would have believed it?
The people most likely to be caught be speed cameras are elderly drivers.
They are six times more likely to be fined for speeding than a decade ago, outnumbering young offenders almost three times, a survey has found.
The number of men aged 60 and over receiving penalty points for speeding soared by 540 per cent, and among women of the same age by 1,200 per cent, though starting from a very low base.
By contrast, the number of drivers under 25 being caught for speeding grew by only 18 per cent in the past 10 years.
So let's not focus on 'boy racers' and consider why older people are being caught. Do we believe they are such a real problem on our roads? Are they bad drivers?
Or have they always been a problem but police were reluctant to ticket them? maybe we should be looking at preventing people over a certain age not having licences.
Don't expect an answer soon from ZANU Labour. Or the speed camera partnerships - not while so many grannies are racking up fines. Which they will always pay without complaint.
Cheers!
CG
The Motorists' Friend
http://captaingatso.net
The people most likely to be caught be speed cameras are elderly drivers.
They are six times more likely to be fined for speeding than a decade ago, outnumbering young offenders almost three times, a survey has found.
The number of men aged 60 and over receiving penalty points for speeding soared by 540 per cent, and among women of the same age by 1,200 per cent, though starting from a very low base.
By contrast, the number of drivers under 25 being caught for speeding grew by only 18 per cent in the past 10 years.
So let's not focus on 'boy racers' and consider why older people are being caught. Do we believe they are such a real problem on our roads? Are they bad drivers?
Or have they always been a problem but police were reluctant to ticket them? maybe we should be looking at preventing people over a certain age not having licences.
Don't expect an answer soon from ZANU Labour. Or the speed camera partnerships - not while so many grannies are racking up fines. Which they will always pay without complaint.
Cheers!
CG
The Motorists' Friend
http://captaingatso.net
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