Mobile Cam: Need advice please

[Rory]

appropriate driving speeds for the conditions.

Unless you're on 9 points, or 3 if you've been driving under 2 years. Then it's 'appropriate driving speeds for the conditions', but never over the posted speed limit.

I used to laugh at people who got caught, thinking that I was too clever, 'cos I'm the world's greatest driver. Then I got caught twice, by an unmarked police car and by a (very well) hidden mobile camera.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

http://www.roadpeace.org/

lol, do us a favour. That site is disgraceful.

If you really want to learn about road safety, visit www.safespeed.org.uk

 

[Ashley]

Why is it disgraceful?

BTW I spent an hour reading the Safe Speed site.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Its disgraceful because it includes links to pro-speed-camera organisations whose use of faulty statistical data is outrageous.

The site also gives mention to many accidents on the roads, but seems mainly to place the blame for these accidents upon motorists - most pedestrian accidents are the fault of the pedestrian.

http://www.roadpeace.org/partaffi/saferstr.html

We also see the old line about 'speeding in villages' trotted out. Yet I bet most of the 'speeders' are local residents - familiarity breeds contempt. Children are also much less likely to die or be injured in a road traffic accident, but parents feel that they are more at risk - so how is that the fault of traffic?

All of us are united in believing that the Government should act firmly to reduce road danger. We broadly welcomed the launch, by the Prime Minister, of the road safety strategy in March 2000 (and the accompanying speed management review), which recognised both the casualty reduction imperative as well as the social and environmental consequences of activities such as speeding. ,and Government targets include pledges to reduce child deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 50% and to reduce other deaths and serious injuries in road crashes by 40%. We welcome the government’s support for 30mph speed limits in all villages.

As people have posted here already, speed is not the key to road safety. Yet this site seems to embrace 'speed reduction' as the magical elixir - recent trends in road safety in this country categorically prove that such schemes are flawed.

 

[glojo]

As people have posted here already, speed is not the key to road safety. Yet this site seems to embrace 'speed reduction' as the magical elixir - recent trends in road safety in this country categorically prove that such schemes are flawed.

I feel it is always easy to play with statistics, but anyone that believes 30mph is a safe speed to drive when passing a busy school when children are in the process of either entering or leaving, simply does not belong behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Likewise I believe in just the oppposite attitude about driving along an empty or quiet motorway. The 70mph speed limit is simply antiquated and should be reviewed.

Going back to statistics. The majority of fatal accidents do occur at speeds of less than 30mph and are in built up areas. Sadly a large proportion are children and a good number could have been avoided by better situational awareness.

Children running out between parked cars!!! It's not my fault officer they just appeared. No, sadly they did not materialise in front of our vehicle, any advanced driving course will teach you how to be aware of perhaps ALL potential hazards and help reduce the risk of being involved in a terrible traumatic incident. Better driving leads to safer driving. Travelling through a busy town at 30mph will only get you to your destination seconds quicker than travelling at a slightly slower speed.

Breaking speed limits and fatal road traffic accidents are a red herring.

We can ALL improve our driving skills, and none of us are beyond being taught better roadcraft.

John

 

[jeremytaylor]

There should be no problem if your speedo says you were doing 80, which is probably actually nearer 75-77 (speedos always over-read - it is an offence for them to under-read, so the manufacturers err on the side of caution).

You're usually safe up to 80-85.

 

[BTB 500]

(speedos always over-read - it is an offence for them to under-read, so the manufacturers err on the side of caution).

I seem to remember though that when a "zero tolerance" policy on speeding was being proposed, tests revealed that a large number of speedos (Ford, Vauxhall, etc.) did actually under-read at lower speeds like 30 mph - hence it was dropped?

 

[glojo]

I seem to remember though that when a "zero tolerance" policy on speeding was being proposed, tests revealed that a large number of speedos (Ford, Vauxhall, etc.) did actually under-read at lower speeds like 30 mph - hence it was dropped?

Can't comment about Vauxhall and cannot comment about up todate Fords, but for years Ford speedometers have pushed the limits on optimistic readings. This has generally been the recognised thing amongst car manufacturers as it gives a very optimistic rating. Ford speedometers have usually been at least 8% out and obviously that is over reading.

John

 

[Swiss Toni]

If you call your local Traffic Cops (assuming they have not been disbanded) ask them where a local "measured mile" is located - that will be where they check their speedos (60 secs at 60mph to cover a mile) and check your own.

 

[Flyer]

If you call your local Traffic Cops (assuming they have not been disbanded)

Are there any traffic cops left? My local force, Cheshire Constabulary, has disbanded the Traffic Unit. Still, that's OK, we have speed cameras to protect us, don't we?

 

[glojo]

Are there any traffic cops left? My local force, Cheshire Constabulary, has disbanded the Traffic Unit. Still, that's OK, we have speed cameras to protect us, don't we?

I actually think they are council maintained, so a quick phone call to your local highways authority or perhaps even a Google search??

Regards,
John

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I feel I should point out that I have actually taken the IAM course, although I haven't done the test yet, as I've been too busy with work (weekend stuff).

I also have a major problem with roadside furniture - these days there are far too many roadsigns, direction signs, painted lines, advertisements. A driver can be forgiven for missing the school triangle when its preceded by several brown signs, a set of speed humps, lines of cars parked on either side of the road, and a pelican crossing.

 

[glojo]

A driver can be forgiven for missing the school triangle

I have no idea what your trying to say, but I disagree entirely about forgiving a driver that misses a warning triangle. If there are signs obscuring the warning triangles then contact your local highways authority.

A school is a sanctum for our most treasured possessions.... We should NOT need a warning triangle to tell us what our eyes can clearly see?

Sorry if I appear aggressive, that is not what I intend, I do however question your statement.

Perhaps your user name should be Profit of Doom??? (my failed attempt at humour)

Have a happy Christmas and keep your eyes peeled for schools and their occupants.

Very kind regards,
John

 

[SilverSaloon]

if your licence is less than 2 years old & you value it, then i suggest slowing down is your only way to keep it.

if you say you regurally travel at 80 - 100 mph then sooner or later you will be caught.

we all speed, but i hate the excuse that "my car is new and it can take the speed". Its not the car, its the driver who is the danger.

I'm not flaming you, i'm just saying what you probably know already, keep the speed down - even more so in built up areas. Its the only way.

safe driving

 

[Mondorich]

Cameras fixed inside vans normally have the camera pointing out of a side window - I think.

The ones round here (Northants & Beds) point out of the back door / window of white vans and usually are aiming towards oncoming traffic and I've seen them point across the other lane as well, at the front plates (Biddenham on the A428).

Hope this helps - especially in your case maxima.

 

[BTB 500]

The ones I've seen in Warwickshire are usually mounted in the back of Sprinter vans, they park side-on to the oncoming traffic and sit with the sliding door open shooting from there.

 

[nickmann]

Put simply, there are two limitations on your speed

If you are driving at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance that you can see to be clear then you will have no trouble avoiding hitting things, pedestrians included. This is usually the limiting factor for your speed in built-up areas.

The above applies up to the speed limit. At that point it doesn't matter how far you can see to be clear, the speed limit is the limit. This will usually be the limiting factor outside of built-up areas.

There may be conditions in which your car can safely travel at 100mph without leaving the road, or exploding, or the wheels falling off, but the appropriate spped for these conditions is still the speed limit.

As for road furniture, if you cannot pick out the important warning signs then you are going too fast for your brain to process the visual information available to it. You will find that if you slow down a bit you won't get overloaded.

 

[fuzzer]

are the windows big enough for a stink bomb?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I have no idea what your trying to say, but I disagree entirely about forgiving a driver that misses a warning triangle. If there are signs obscuring the warning triangles then contact your local highways authority.

A school is a sanctum for our most treasured possessions.... We should NOT need a warning triangle to tell us what our eyes can clearly see?

Sorry if I appear aggressive, that is not what I intend, I do however question your statement.

Perhaps your user name should be Profit of Doom??? (my failed attempt at humour)

Have a happy Christmas and keep your eyes peeled for schools and their occupants.

Very kind regards,
John

Not all schools are visible from the roadsigns. Many warning triangles are there to indicate that children may be using the pavement, and crossing the road.

Your eyes can't 'cleary see' a school thats 100 yards back from the road with a line of houses between it and yourself.

My point was that the roadside is so cluttered with furniture these days, and there are so many painted lines and speed bumps on the road, that its difficult sometimes to take everything in - including warning signs.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The ones round here (Northants & Beds) point out of the back door / window of white vans and usually are aiming towards oncoming traffic and I've seen them point across the other lane as well, at the front plates (Biddenham on the A428).

Hope this helps - especially in your case maxima.

LTI 20-20 cameras can point at oncoming or retreating traffic - it makes no difference.