Safe Speed Forums

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/leaders/ ... 42,00.html

The freak factor

Watch the birdie and cause a crash

Leader
Sunday July 17, 2005
The Observer

Anyone who has been reading Freakonomics, Professor Steven D Levitt's unlikely summer bestseller about behavioural statistics, will know that big numbers rarely act as we expect. The self-styled 'rogue economist' applies the tricks of number-crunchers to some of the riddles of modern life: if drug-dealers make so much money, why do most still live with their mothers? Which is more dangerous - a gun or a swimming pool?

The professor's chaos theory of risk is bleakly addictive; it makes you want to remind the thousands of commuters who bought bicycles after the Underground bombings that they are vastly more likely to be the victims of a road accident than of a terrorist bomb. The theories creep into other debates. Last week, the government announced a three-month moratorium on further speed cameras. This was partly in response to the work of engineer Paul Smith, who has spent 5,000 hours finding out why, though the number of cameras has risen exponentially, there has been no corresponding reduction in traffic fatalities. He concludes that, far from acting as a deterrent, speed cameras take responsibility for safe speed away from drivers, and their concentration from the road. Cameras are as likely to cause an accident as to prevent one. The Department of Transport seems in two minds, aware, perhaps, that cause is not always easily paired with effect, and that these days there are lies, damned lies and freakonomics.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Wow A commendation in the leader column of the Observer, sister paper of the Grauniad

Who would have thought it possible?

_________________
"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Very impressed Paul!

Like PeterE said, surprising where these positive mentions are starting to turn up.

_________________
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

I've seen you called some things but I think that's a first.