Safe Speed Forums

Hi all,
I've just registered, Great forum!

I had an idea a week or two ago about ways to hit back at speed cameras; it's called the Signal Thumbs Down campaign. Simple idea really, I'm trying to get motorists to signal oncoming traffic with a Thumbs Down signal if there 's a speed trap ahead.

I think we could really hit the profitability of speed cameras if we simply communicate with each other.

I'm going to get a load of bumper stickers printed and give them away or sell them to promote my campaign. I'd love any feedback or thoughts anyone has on this project. The address is http://www.donate-a-mate.com/dam/member.asp?uname=std

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Signal Thumbs Down http://www.donate-a-mate.com/std

excellent idea, pity MCN have done it already

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now retired

Of course truck drivers have been doing this for years. The signal is already well understood in certain circles.

However, be warned, the legality of this sort of signal is being challenged. A truck driver was aquitted (at crown court I believe) recently and the CPS are appealing. I'm not sure if it's being appealed to the High Court or to the House of Lords.

The two possible charges are 'obstructing a Police Officer in the course of his duty' and 'attempting to pervert the course of justice'.

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

Interesting who would MCN be?

Yeh I know truck drivers do it but not many car driver do. I didn't know that it could be considered as illegal!

If you have any links or info about the court jugment I would be very interested. (perverting the course of justice, that's ironic )

Thanks a lot.

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Signal Thumbs Down http://www.donate-a-mate.com/std

Damn. I was afraid that you would ask me that. I don't have a link to hand, but it was only about a month ago. Anyone?

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

Lorry driver cleared of waving

Lords to rule on speeding warning

MCN = Motorcycle News

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Nick

Thanks guys, makes for very interesting reading.

As I understand it then, It's OK to give a thumbs down for gatsos and talivans, but maybe not for police traps (possibility of obstructng an officer) even thuogh this case seems to suggest that the police would have to prove the person was speeding when you warned them.

I liked this comment by the judge:
(Mr Justice Owen suggested that some people might think the police would appreciate "the efforts of others to prevent speeding").

Does anyone have any detaills of the Motorcyle News campaign?

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Signal Thumbs Down http://www.donate-a-mate.com/std

Who?

The cop sat there waiting on the edge of a 30 zone
or the truckers, for signalling to each other about
the cop being there?

This is hilarious Keep it coming!

But you see, I shouldn't be laughing.

I know a guy whose father this happened to,
he was coming up to a 60mph zone from a
30mph zone and ended up with points on his
licence.

Its all smoke and mirrors folks.

Not so far away from the way the AA did things in days of yore - cars carried large badges on grill - AA man saluted members - unless speed trap about -

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

I find this whole court case quite bizare.

Surely, notifying another driver of a speed trap is merely making the trap more visible to other road users.

The SCPs all spout the same old rubbish; "all we want to do is slow people down, not to catch people".

In my opinion, making a hand gesture or flashing headlights slows other drivers down, exactly what police and SCPs want; so how can the police possibly complain?

I find it amazing that this even came to trial.

I find it equally amazing that some jobsworth was actually lying in wait trying to spot motorist's hand gestures. For god's sake, our council tax goes to these people!

What is the police force coming to?!

What I don't get either is how do they tell why you are waving? Maybe he didn't know about the camera and was just telling someone to slow down because they were actually going too fast! Or maybe he was just waving to a mate? *


* Disclaimer: This smilie indicates disapproval of some of the events being discussed and is not in any way intended to warn others of a safety camera being operated nearby, whether hidden or otherwise.

Exactly...........unless the communication was in approved british Sign Language, ie an unambiguous message, and the police could demonstrate the receipient of the message understood it, i don't think the police even have a point to make. I hope they feel very embarassed with themselves.

Also, if the police wish to conduct covert enforcement surely it is their responsiblity to take reasonable measures to make the enforcement covert.

It is my humble opinion that a police officer standing by the roadside holding aming a laser gun at passing vehicles, in clear view of other road users, is by definition not covert.

How does notifying any other road user of the proesence of enforcement, that is clearly visible, in any way an obstruction of the police.

Because they will not make any money, and could loose their jobs.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

i should set up a countdown clock to April 2007, when the rules of netting off go out the window and the SCP become grant funded,

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now retired

Does this mean tax payers money will be used instead of speed camera revenue?

If so i'm not sure which is the most controversial; tax payers money funding a pseudoscience, unproven road safety measure, or a biased SCP with a vested interest in putting revenue generation before road safety.

I am so stupid that when someone flashed me the other day I assumed they knew me and while I was trying to figure out who it was I drove through a speed trap.

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Shooting is good for you and too good for some people.

Am I missing something here? Presumably he was speeding in the 30 zone?

Simple, change the current fine system to only a points on your licence system. Fair enough?

I thought not...

How about, we just let all the speeders carry on breaking the law, and the rest of us can watch as our loved ones are butchered by selfish speeders who couldn't give two hoots about anybody else.

I've got a brilliant idea to 'hit back' at speed cameras:

Don't speed!

Brilliant! I wish I'd thought of this before.

Can anybody explain to me just WHY you find it necessary to speed? Please?