belladonna wrote:
'It's time the road safety organisations like 'Brake, Roadpeace, T2000, et al, came out and said this in public.
We want proper steps to reduce deaths and injuries, not more stupid cameras to photograph the safe drivers who just happen to be slightly over the posted limit.'
I couldn't agree more. The problem we have here at RoadPeace is that we are sub-divided into local groups, and each group has there own feelings/opinions. BUT, I hasten to add that our group RoadPeace NW, think and act on the same thoughts as Safe Speed. It may not make us popular, but what-the-hell. Popularity is not the aim. Common sense is.
Bella, how refreshing to hear that your views do align with so many of us.
There is no doubt in my mind that the politicians were seduced by slick sales patter that told them that if they bought loads of speed cameras they would get road safety 'on-the-cheap' and would be able to scale down the manned traffic patrols which have made the UK road safety figures the best in Europe (although still not good enough).
Now we have the quango 'safety camera partnerships' using all sorts of 'spin' and 'sound-bites' to justify not real improvements, but any figures which may go towards their job preservation and salary enhancement. From the gov't point of view they are successful as they raise lots of cash, but then, the gov't don't really care about lives lost, only the possibility of 'votes lost'. I'm sorry to be cynical, but if this were not so, action would be taken to reduce deaths due to MRSA in our hospitals on an urgent basis. These deaths run at many times the number killed on our roads and most could be prevented. Of course, that would not be self-funding or make a profit immediately, so it doesn't happen, just as increased proper road policing won't happen.
Perhaps I may email you privately on this - would that be OK?