Huhne

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

good news John Wright .... around here there are speed camera vans irregularly stationed about the place with the least visibility they can get away with [around bend etc]

and good luck with the course and the concentration

[gurnemanz]

I got caught years ago when those cameras were new and I was hardly aware of them. No option of a course instead of points but it did increase my awareness. The motivation for keeping to the limit in built-up areas should not be to avoid getting caught but to reduce the chances killing someone.

[jean]

... around here there are speed camera vans irregularly stationed about the place with the least visibility they can get away with...

And why not?

If you don't speed, you don't get caught, however invisible the camera may be.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And why not?

If you don't speed, you don't get caught, however invisible the camera may be.

Yes, but, if the cameras are visible they're more likely to deter those who might be tempted to over-speed if they thought there were no cameras. As gurne rightly says [t]he motivation for keeping to the limit in built-up areas should not be to avoid getting caught but to reduce the chances killing someone - similarly the motivation for putting up speed cameras should be to deter motorists from speeding, not to profit from bad drivers' offending.

[Flosshilde]

Yes, but, if the cameras are visible they're more likely to deter those who might be tempted to over-speed if they thought there were no cameras. ... similarly the motivation for putting up speed cameras should be to deter motorists from speeding, not to profit from bad drivers' offending.

BUt my experience is that when people know where a speed camera is there they immediately slow down while they drive across the markings on the road, & then speed up again once they are safely out of range. So the camera has no over-all effect. If people know there are cameras, but not where, then they are more likely to stick to the speed limit (except for those who 'allow' their number plates to become so dirty they can't be seen). The best cameras are the 'average speed' ones that cover a long stretch of road.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

And why not?

If you don't speed, you don't get caught, however invisible the camera may be.

..er try telling that to my partner lady, she collected three such blights in a year .... all in the cause of her family agendas and fear of lateness ... on her speeding course which she did perversely envoy the tutor was most explicit that thirty mph feels like one is walking, it is slow and feels slow ... so you get done for doing forty in order not miss the dentist etc ...

many people speed, it is not all boys toys and Jeremy C

[Dave2002]

many people speed, it is not all boys toys and Jeremy C

So your point is ... that it's OK!

At 40 mph the chances of killing, injuring, being killed or injured are consideraby higher than at 30 mph.

There is no good excuse for most people, most of the time.

[eighthobstruction]

No I don't think that his point is 'that it is ok' at all....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Cruise control is a good way of sticking to the speed limit. If that isn't available, a good method is to stay in 3rd gear or below in 30 m.p.h. zones and in 4th gear in 40 m.p.h. zones. Well it works for me.

[eighthobstruction]

It must meant you are using lots more fuel though....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It must meant you are using lots more fuel though....

This thought occured to me, too!

[Dave2002]

No I don't think that his point is 'that it is ok' at all....

OK, but he seemed to want to evoke sympathy for his lady, and either that is special pleading, or trying to make a case for "tolerance" for speeders. Re going to the dentist, either miss the appointment, turn up late, or maybe just phone the dentist to arrange a later appointment.

[eighthobstruction]

I should really let him speak for himself....

....I consider myself a very conscientious considerate driver.... but I still usually have 3points on my license most of the time, mostly because cirmstances mean I am sometimes 5mph faster than I think I am....and that's enough to get a fine....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It must meant you are using lots more fuel though....

On the contrary, it's a very good way to conserve fuel, as these speeds in these gears are optimum for the engine.
I seem to be one of the few people who an actually achieve, or even beat the manufacturer's specified combined cycle fuel consumption.

[jean]

...she collected three such blights in a year .... all in the cause of her family agendas...

Sounds to me as if she is not getting enough help from other members of the family.