Safe Speed Forums

http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/arti ... ture.shtml

I haven't looked at the comments yet....

F**k me, there are some stupid comments in the replies. 'Don't speed and you won't get caught', 'speeding is potential manslaughter' etc.

Obviously I'm not the most eloquent of writers. Does anyone want to go on the site and stir things a bit?

It's the usual propaganda, blindly being repeated by the usual random hard-of-thinking individuals.

I'm pretty sure the moderators on that discussion forum have been told to block every post except the pro-camera ones, just allowing one or two posts from anti-camera people through, to give the illusion of a balanced argument.

As such, the discussion is worthless. Everyone exceeds speed limits from time to time, if only by a small margin. The discussion is just a case of the people who are lucky enough not to have been caught gloating over those that have.

None of the posters seem to have paid any attention to what Paul actually said.

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“For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.” - H. L. Mencken

Well I have just fired in a very imflammatory comment, accusing the speed enforcement industry of killing people in order to raise tax revenue (with a suitable explanation). Whats the betting it doesn't get included?

It wouldn't be the first time, I have only had one comment, I think about cricket, published in the BBCs forums despite many attempts.

I've just tested the 'moderated' theory. A couple of hours ago I posted a long logical 'anti', now, I've just put on a short 'mildly pro' post if taken on face value. It's actually more of a sarcastic comment...i wonder if either will be posted?

Post 1.
These are called, what is it? "Safety Cameras". Which is a complete lie. They are SPEED cameras, pure & simple. They detect ONLY excessive speed and not unsafe driving. ONLY police officers, REAL people with brains & the ability to assess the situation can really improve the safety of freely travelling vehicles. When was the last time a camera caught a drunk driver, an uninsured driver, unsafe vehicles, tailgating, aggressive drivers, mobile phone use, learners out on their own. Need I go on? Exactly. They don't. They are revenue generators. To quote GOVERMENT stats. "60% of fatal crashes occur on rural roads". OK, so on these 'killer' roads, where are the Speed Cameras if these are indeed installed to save lives...oh wait, it wouldn't be economically viable as the revenue generated through fines would never pay for the installation....so much for saving lives. The urban speed limits are generally sensible, and this is where most fatalities occur. I don't see many cameras in residential areas? Do you? The 70mph motorway limit adopted in the middle of the last century was designed with Morris Minors in mind, with none of the advantages of modern motoring. ABS, disc brakes, SRS, seat belts, crumple zones & improved road surfaces & tyres.
Yes, the ONLY thing that hasn't advanced is the driver. But now we are no longer 'hurtling' along at near top speed - with 70mph feeling like the space shuttle on re-entry, on the limits of mechanical safety. It's about time we moved with the times and adopted a sensible limit. Remember, nobody FORCES you to drive at upto 70 at the moment - you just accept it as safe. Why? Because you bought the propaganda. "70 safe / 71 not so safe", "you kill 80% at 40, 5% at 20" or some twaddle. Do you know when this 'study' was done. 1979!, and what was it based on? Evidence? No, that would be to convenient. Police testimonies of supposed impact speeds & that of the drivers themselves. Imagine if it were repeated today: "Mr Brown, what speed were you doing when you knock down little Jimmy?" "Exactly 30mph." "How can you be so sure?" "Well, you know that speed camera I just passed, I was so busy watching my speed, I must've checked it 6 times, that I didn't see him." "OK sir. Just so long as we can be sure you weren't speeding."

The "Speed Kills" mantra is pathetic. If speed alone killed, there would be more fatalities on motorways full stop. In fact, these are (Gov. Stats.) the safest to drive on. Very few KSI's are directly caused through excessive speed. Before any more rants about road deaths - perhaps you should actually do some research. Look at the actual figures - not a websites 'spin' on them. Don't believe the hype. If it were all true, we'd all have died from SARS, been eaten alive by rotweillers, been blown up by terrorists, found WMD's in Iraq and have 8" of snow today.

Post 2. The sarcasticly 'pro' one.

Speed Cameras ALWAYS have the desired effect. You check you speed when in the vacinity of them. It may well be a rein-of-terror for some as mobile and P.C. units operate, well anywhere. So if you or I go too fast we win 3 points & a £60 entry ticket to the Hall of Shame. Job done.

Excuse me for being thick, but where is the messageboard link?

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Only when ideology, prejudice and dogma are set aside does the truth emerge - Kepler

It is entitled "talk about speed cameras" on that page - here's a URL to save you hunting. http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/travel/speed ... eras.shtml

.. or if you just want to send one in without reading the others... http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/travel/speed ... .shtml#hys

They appear to no longer accepting posts. The 'Dick Dasterdly' (latest) has been there since midday. Posting would appear to be a lost cause.

Possibly - or possibly the moderator is on a half-day. If each post is manually screened it will be a hapless and low priority task for someone.

Well, I've tried again, this time with a much miler post disputing a statement that "all you have to do is obey the limits and you won't get flashed". It refers to the Daily Mail and BBC research on the LTI 20-20.
I also mention that speed cameras don't catch drivers in untracable cars, who can now drive as recklessly as they like.