THE CHIEF's CON for CASH! UPDATE!It seems that LRSP haven't changed their methods of exploiting the public!
Far from it they are now going further, raking in the cash for Lancashire County Council through their speed awareness courses.
I'm sure many of the older posters on here remember the outrageous claims about speeding in a 30 limit and how damaging to a child speeding at 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, etc was and that is why the rantings of the then CTO Manager compared them to drunken drivers. That's why it was SOOOO important to fine them & penalty point them at 35mph +. SAVE LIVES & ALL THAT!
Remember- cameras were ALL ABOUT ROAD SAFETY & not income!
How Policies change when Government cuts cut in & Road Safety doesn't really matter anymore...
Does anybody remember The Chief Constable's CAUTIONING POLICY that was rolled out to the public as "FAIRNESS", that was never implemented, & was exposed through Parliamentary Questions?
Thought I'd just add this as confirmation that it DID EXIST! (In a fashion!!!!)
Code:
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/archive/2004/06/03/Lancashire+Archive/5837577.New_fine_rules_for_speeding_drivers/
"Lancashire Partnership Against Crime
Lancashire Constabulary HQ
PO Box 77
Hutton
Preston
Lancashire PR4 5SB
Telephone 01772 618733/618372
Thursday 3rd June 2004
Dear Associate Member
LANCASHIRE CONSTABULARY REVEAL SPEEDING CAUTION POLICY
FOLLOWING a review, Lancashire Constabulary has revealed details of its new speed enforcement policy. The new policy allows for the introduction of a Caution, and an enhancement of the Speed Awareness Option. These can only be offered following detection by a Fixed Safety Camera Site or Mobile Site, operated by the new Speed Enforcement Technicians. Outside this, all other speed detection should meet the following agreed levels of enforcement from Thursday 3rd June 2004.
In a 30mph limit - 38mph and above
In a 40mph limit - 50mph and above
In a 50mph limit - 61mph and above
In a 60mph limit - 70mph and above
In a 70mph limit - 82mph and above
The review, which was commissioned by the Chief Constable Paul Stephenson, examined all aspects of speed related issues, including the work of the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership. This has resulted in the introduction of a cautioning policy as well as enhancing the speed awareness option. Mr Stephenson told the Police Authority that he had decided on the review after listening to a variety of views from the motoring public and members of local communities. He explained: "It is quite obvious that people are anxious we continue to target speeding motorists who are a danger to road safety, but at the same time we recognised a need to look again at the way we dealt with lower level offenders."
From today drivers caught speeding in a 30 mph area will be
cautioned at 35 mph, offered a speed awareness course at 36 and 37, and given a fixed penalty at 38. Similarly in a 40 mph area drivers will be cautioned at 46 and 47 and offered speed awareness at 48 and 49. Above that will result in a fixed penalty. In a 50 mph area drivers will be cautioned at 57 and 58, offered speed awareness at 59 and 60 and a fixed penalty at 61. The Constabulary will continue its intelligence led approach to ensure that camera sites with a higher number of casualties are prioritised.
Drivers will be eligible for up to one caution in a three-year period for their first offence of speeding. Following the receipt of a caution they will move to the offer of a speed awareness course if it falls within the guidelines. It is to be emphasised that this is not a green light to drive more quickly in Lancashire. It is about dealing with people in a flexible and proportionate manner. Lancashire Constabulary will not reconsider any penalties previously imposed in relation to driving licence endorsements but will allow all motorists in the county to undertake all options under the new proposal. The Constabulary's newly appointed mobile enforcement technicians will be used on roads where analysis shows there are significant casualties.
Superintendent Clive Tattum, who headed the review, said: "It is important to remember that the safety cameras are working here in Lancashire. We are now well on target to achieve casualty reduction levels set for 2010 by next year which will be a remarkable achievement. These reductions would not have been possible without the cameras and the impact they have made on driver behaviour. The cameras reinforce our message that speeding remains unacceptable here in the county. "But at the same time we do recognise that speed enforcement, particularly at the lower end of the speeding scale, does have an impact on motorists many of whom might have driven for years without penalty. That is why we decided to introduce a cautioning policy and enhance the speed awareness training. "The vast majority of motorists in Lancashire drive in a safe and responsible manner. This has assisted us in reducing average driving speeds and road casualties. The new policy will be closely analysed over the initial three months period and if this responsible approach continues we will consider further expansion of the cautioning scheme and of our speed awareness course."
Dr Stephen Morton, Consultant in Public Health and Director of Public Health Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust, said: "The use of safety cameras is a proven measure to improve road safety. They can reduce accident risks at sites with a bad accident record and can contribute to overall speed awareness across the county of Lancashire. "However, it is important to maintain public understanding of, and confidence in, the way in which safety cameras are used. That is why it is timely to review the operational policy and refine their use, based on the most recent data on accidents and traffic speeds. I strongly support this review and the commitment to jointly monitor and refine the policy over subsequent years."
Terry Carter, Section Manager for Traffic and Safety for Lancashire County Council, said: Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire County Council work closely together within the Road Safety Partnership and share the aim of meeting the Government's targets for road safety reduction. Significant progress has already been made with the co-operation of road users and the time was right for a review of the speed enforcement policy. "The County Council has worked closely with the police in the review and entirely support the new arrangements, which are being introduced. We all anticipate that this will maintain the co-operation and commitment of all road users to casualty reduction."
John Davies, Project Manager for the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, added: "The partnership has worked closely with the police throughout the review process and fully support the new speed enforcement policy which is being introduced. The partnership's aim is to reduce road casualties and the new arrangements, whilst maintaining this focus, will be more educational in their approach. This can only be beneficial in improving safety on our roads."
How The Chief Constable claimed he would look into it?
Heres the results of his enquiries:
Written Warnings regarding Speeding Offences:
2007-08
Total issued England & Wales 5,012
Total Issued Lancashire 0
2008-09
Total issued England & Wales 4,000
Total Issued Lancashire 1
2009-2010
Total issued England & Wales 5,478
Total Issued Lancashire 0
Total Warning issued throughout England over the latest 3 years relating to speed offences = 14,490
Total Warnings issued Lancashire Constabulary = 000,001
And now the are milking the cash cow again!
Latest policy
for speed awarenes course info
"Enforcement Data
Lancashire RoadWatch, a new scheme, aiming to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured
on the county’s roads by managing speeds has been launched in Lancaster and Wyre.
For all the information CLICK HERE
Speed Awareness Courses
In Lancashire Speed Awareness Courses can be offered within the following thresholds:
Speed Limit Speed Awareness Threshold*
30mph Up to and including 42 mph
40mph Up to and including 53 mph
50mph Up to and including 64 mph
60mph Up to and including 75 mph
Source Lancs CON_STABULARY website.
Safe2travel (That's a really apt title now!!!) website:
Speed Awareness Course
Course Details
As part of Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety's aim to cut road accidents, the Speed Awareness Course has been devised by Lancashire County Council's Road Safety Group to bring the issues relating to speed to people's attention. The Lancashire Constabulary refer people caught speeding to the course.
Completion of a Speed Awareness Course is a direct alternative to prosecution resulting from excess speed. Offences arising from deliberate or reckless actions should result in prosecution.
The aim of the Speed Awareness Course is to explore the reasons why drivers exceed speed limits and to try to prevent future re-occurrence.
You can now book and pay for your Speed Awareness Course using the new online booking facility. You will need your Driving Licence number to book a course. Visit
http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roadsafety/drivertraining for more information.
Cautioning Policy ( My Comments: PLEASE NOTE: The cautioning policy is still there on the website today but the link has been removed!)
Speed Limit Speed Awareness
30 mph 36/37/38/39/40/41/42
40 mph 47/48/49/50/51/52/53
50 mph 58/59/60/61/62/63/64
This table is subject to change as the enforcement thresholds for Speed Awareness is offered at the Chief Constable's discretion.
A boy racer doing 42 in a thirty zone doesn't deserve three points or a fine? He can pay Lancashire County Council £69 and have a day out, with no points that could be added to his next capture. 42 in a 30 zone (remember the early death warnings!!!!) is reckless driving (See reckless action in policy statement above) and should be dealt with as such by a court - not speed awareness.
But Look how the speed limits have been used to generate income with concern for Road Safety the last consideration
Every possible speed combination generates income for the Council, nothing for the Court System & NO PUNISHMENT for the drivers!