Done for speeding by mobile camera

[richard]

I am sure http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6131826.stm this will be of interest to some

Ok, heres a poll asking how many people you know who have taken points for others on their licences.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=294308#post294308

R

 

[JonLittlechild]

It would be fascinating to see what would happen to public opinion if the fines from speed cameras were eliminated and replaced with points only penalties. This would remove the 'greed camera' philosophy and would allow the authorities to really demonstrate to us that they were safety devices.

Of course it'll never happen because they would still have to fund the administration/running of the cameras and penalty scheme from somewhere.

Jon

 

[dagd]

Those signs that light up warning you off speeding are also very effective, and I would prefer to see those rather than people who can pretend to issue tickets.

R

I mentioned these earlier and the fact that the only speed camara that we had in the area has now been replaced by one of these. You get your current speed flashed at you around 200m away, most cars seem to take note.

 

[andy_k]

It would be fascinating to see what would happen to public opinion if the fines from speed cameras were eliminated and replaced with points only penalties. This would remove the 'greed camera' philosophy and would allow the authorities to really demonstrate to us that they were safety devices.

Of course it'll never happen because they would still have to fund the administration/running of the cameras and penalty scheme from somewhere.

Jon

but there has always been a fines system for speeding why should that change?

They are not "greed cameras" because all they do is enforce the law. Whether any of us like it or not all they do is relieve "criminals" of a few quid

It's not a tax it's a punishment and the sooner it is seen as that rather than some sort of badge of honour then the sooner we get speeds down and the roads ridded of these cameras.

It seems that everyone has there own ideas on which laws it is OK to break and which laws they want to see enforced. Your law of choice may be speeding, another's may be a bit of criminal damage, another a spot of joy-riding. Some people choose not to insure their cars or bother with an MoT.

Before everyone over reacts I'm not saying that any one is better or worse than the other but each individual may see it as OK to bend or break certain laws when it suits them.

I'm sure the Kray twins thought they were really good citizens

Andy

 

[Howard]

They only hurt their own ......

 

[219]

How patronising.

You've made a mighty assumption that I am in some way an unsafe driver, and I resent that. In my 18 years of driving I have been involved in one accident (where someone drove into the back of me, for your information) and until last December when some faceless Nazi in a van pointed a greed camera at me, I had had a clean licence. My vehicles are maintained regardless of cost.

I have 15 years NCB. For three years I was a named driver on my fathers insurance.

I'm not a risk taker. I don't speed through villages. I don't speed past schools. I don't speed in towns. I'm not dangerous to other road users. FFS get off your high horse and stop being so judgemental.

This is my final comment on this thread.

Actually , I never made any comment on you personally or your driving . However , when you come out with comments such as -

I'll let you into a secret - I regularly speed. Not past schools when kids are leaving, but on motorways, and usually into 3 figures. Its my risk and I choose to do this. If I drove everywhere at 70mph (and I'm quite certain you do Flasheart - all of the time), then frankly I'd never get anywhere.

it does rather seem that it is you who has the problem and is in need of an attitude readjustment. The camera operator you branded a 'faceless Nazi' has infinitely more right to feel resentment than you do .

You must have some sort of insecurity complex , because I never accused you of any of the things you so quickly denied !

You seem to belong to the 'I am a superior driver and I have a superior car - so I can do no wrong' mindset . That your car may be 'maintained regardless of cost' will not help you should the worst happen (and I hope it does not) - we had a fatality two weeks ago when the driver of a 1 year old C Class was driving along a dual carriageway when a 4 wheel drive pulled out across him to turn right - the Merc driver died and the woman in the jeep ended up in hospital . His car couldn't save him .

I'm not dangerous to other road users.

A projectile travelling at more than 100mph is likely to do more damage than one travelling slower .

FFS get off your high horse and stop being so judgemental.

Obviously you think you know better than me - YOU don't have to deal with a couple of dozen dead bodies a year , YOU don't see the distraught parents whose world has come to an end ( a couple of weeks ago two youngsters who wrapped their car wround a lamp post at approx 80mph , one died instantly ; the other crawled from the car in flames , captured on CCTV ) , YOU don't have to pick up pieces of brain tissue off car seats ...... I could go on .

I have been driving more than twice as long as you have and have seen more carnage on the roads than I hope you ever will .

Don't you DARE accuse me of being judgemental.

 

[Swiss Toni]

How patronising.

I'll let you into a secret - I regularly speed. Not past schools when kids are leaving, but on motorways, and usually into 3 figures. Its my risk and I choose to do this. If I drove everywhere at 70mph (and I'm quite certain you do Flasheart - all of the time), then frankly I'd never get anywhere.

You've made a mighty assumption that I am in some way an unsafe driver, and I resent that. In my 18 years of driving I have been involved in one accident (where someone drove into the back of me, for your information) and until last December when some faceless Nazi in a van pointed a greed camera at me, I had had a clean licence. My vehicles are maintained regardless of cost.

I have 15 years NCB. For three years I was a named driver on my fathers insurance.

I'm not a risk taker. I don't speed through villages. I don't speed past schools. I don't speed in towns. I'm not dangerous to other road users. FFS get off your high horse and stop being so judgemental.

This is my final comment on this thread.

I read this and think "Do you really believe this or are you just writing it to be a bit of an ar5e?"

I know nothing about you, but if this is your attitude, then it has to be a worry for anyone who shares the road with you?

 

[Swiss Toni]

Actually , I never made any comment on you personally or your driving . However , when you come out with comments such as -

it does rather seem that it is you who has the problem and is in need of an attitude readjustment. The camera operator you branded a 'faceless Nazi' has infinitely more right to feel resentment than you do .

You must have some sort of insecurity complex , because I never accused you of any of the things you so quickly denied !

You seem to belong to the 'I am a superior driver and I have a superior car - so I can do no wrong' mindset . That your car may be 'maintained regardless of cost' will not help you should the worst happen (and I hope it does not) - we had a fatality two weeks ago when the driver of a 1 year old C Class was driving along a dual carriageway when a 4 wheel drive pulled out across him to turn right - the Merc driver died and the woman in the jeep ended up in hospital . His car couldn't save him .



A projectile travelling at more than 100mph is likely to do more damage than one travelling slower .




Obviously you think you know better than me - YOU don't have to deal with a couple of dozen dead bodies a year , YOU don't see the distraught parents whose world has come to an end ( a couple of weeks ago two youngsters who wrapped their car wround a lamp post at approx 80mph , one died instantly ; the other crawled from the car in flames , captured on CCTV ) , YOU don't have to pick up pieces of brain tissue off car seats ...... I could go on .

I have been driving more than twice as long as you have and have seen more carnage on the roads than I hope you ever will .

Don't you DARE accuse me of being judgemental.

Clearly your experience shapes the way you view the world (as it does for anyone).

I guess that when you see what happens when it goes wrong, and when you see in reality just how often it goes wrong - you get something closer to the true picture?

My experience is that folks who over-estimate their ability get their come-uppance in the end (even if it takes a few years...), but that far too often they take some innocent person with them.

Its tough enough dealing with the aftermath of the driver who causes the carnage, let alone seeing the innocents who they have involved in their own mess (and think "that could have been my family...").

If you have no experience of dealing with this sort of thing (you work in an Office?) the sentiments can only be alien.

 

[219]

I guess that when you see what happens when it goes wrong, and when you see in reality just how often it goes wrong - you get something closer to the true picture?

Absolutely . Agree with everything you said above .

I used to drive faster when I was younger , even had points on my license at the time to prove it , had done IAM , League of Safe Drivers (Class 1) , went on to become an advanced instructor then went to the Police College and did a course so that I could teach others to become advanced driving instructors .

Even with all of that , I still felt I had the skill and judgement to drive safely at high speeds where I felt it was appropriate , much as I imagine GregE240 feels , judging by his posts . It is all too easy for someone with a reasonable level of skill in a reasonably good car to settle into a feeling of security and invincibility .

Having had driving jobs most of my life , I am easily a 'mile millionaire' and it is fortunate that I have covered high mileages over the years without serious incidents . However , it is only since joining the Fire Service some 3 years ago , where part of my job involves investigating road traffic collisions (amongst other serious incidents) that I have seen enough dead bodies and other horrific , sobering sights so as to change my attitudes to road safety forever .

It seems that in these media-saturated times that people become blase towards increasingly shocking advertising campaigns designed to bring the realities home to them ; it is usually only when a loved one is killed or injured that people change their attitudes .

 

[GregE240]

Even with all of that , I still felt I had the skill and judgement to drive safely at high speeds where I felt it was appropriate , much as I imagine GregE240 feels , judging by his posts . It is all too easy for someone with a reasonable level of skill in a reasonably good car to settle into a feeling of security and invincibility.

And I dared accuse you of being judgemental.

Look pontoneer, you've never met me, and, if you'll pardon me the pun, I really hope I don't meet you with your uniform on.

The point I was attempting to put across (badly, it seems) is that we all speed every day in our lives, even if it is by several mph, sometimes a little more. I've never felt invincible behind the wheel. Driving is a necessary part of my job. Luckily I happen to enjoy driving, but have always considered myself as still learning. I did IAM a while back, mainly to cut my insurance premium. I got a lot more out of it than I ever thought I would, so it had had more benefit than I initially thought it would.

I'm sorry if I caused any offence, but this is quite an emotive topic with opinions that can be quite polarised.

Best
Greg

 

[Swiss Toni]

And I dared accuse you of being judgemental.

Look pontoneer, you've never met me, and, if you'll pardon me the pun, I really hope I don't meet you with your uniform on.

The point I was attempting to put across (badly, it seems) is that we all speed every day in our lives, even if it is by several mph, sometimes a little more. I've never felt invincible behind the wheel. Driving is a necessary part of my job. Luckily I happen to enjoy driving, but have always considered myself as still learning. I did IAM a while back, mainly to cut my insurance premium. I got a lot more out of it than I ever thought I would, so it had had more benefit than I initially thought it would.

I'm sorry if I caused any offence, but this is quite an emotive topic with opinions that can be quite polarised.

Best
Greg

Greg

I think you made a poor point, badly.

And you promised it would be your last post on the subject too.

 

[219]

Look pontoneer, you've never met me, and, if you'll pardon me the pun, I really hope I don't meet you with your uniform on.

Greg , I also hope , in the nicest possible way , that I don't encounter you in my line of work - stay safe . BTW , I'm a civilian ; I don't have a uniform (although I do wear a firefighter's outfit when working on the fireground).

we all speed every day in our lives, even if it is by several mph, sometimes a little more.

Yes , it is all too easy to stray slightly over the limit , most people will do that , perhaps even regularly , most of the time without consequence . However , I do believe that the majority of drivers nowadays keep more or less to the posted limits ; exceeding a limit by more than 50% of the posted speed is , in my opinion , asking for trouble .


Keep safe

Derek.