Safe Speed Forums

What am I doing wrong? Safe Speed is largely supported by memberships and donations.




Why are 14 out of the top 20 posters here not members? Surely (most of) you guys support my efforts? Why don't you do so in a material way?

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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

Paul

I've been thinking about becoming a member for quite some time now, but time just seems to fly by without me doing anything about it - story of by life, I suppose.

How much does membership cost, btw?

Cheers
Peter

Come on Basingwerk, stump up, you know it makes sense

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"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

My view,
Yes, I've given some thought to donating but as yet have not. Why? Well I don't fully agree with certain facets of your argument or your approach, I think this is reasonably obvious.
And if you think this thread is the right and proper way of garnering extra cash, eg shame you've got another think coming.

That's perfectly understandable - I considered excluding basingwerk and yourself from the list.



Is that necessary? I really do want to klnow what I'm doing wrong. Thanks.

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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

I apologise unreservedly, you are quite right that was uncalled for, sorry

Believe me, I have much appreciated this website, I have learned so much, been able to pass on so much, and agree so much with what is said on here, I just wish I could afford to support this and a couple of other websites.
The research that has been done by Paul is of huge value to every single road user, and all in his own time.
Unfortunately, a not very well paid job and the CSA prevent me providing financial support.

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

I'll do a half price membership for anyone in difficult circumstances.

But the truly impoverished should feel no guilt when they spend their cash on much more important stuff like food and rent.

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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

A standard membership is about the same price as a single tank of fuel - £45. See the 'join' link in my sig.

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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

My business is hovering on the edge of the abyss but there are some bright lights on the horizon.

When/if they finally arrive I will upgrade to life membership... Best I can hope for at the moment.

I just wish I could win a lottery so I could make a significant donation but I'm so strapped at the moment I can't afford to buy tickets...

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Ross

Yes I'm a hoon, but only on the track!!!!

Accepted unreservedly. <smile>

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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

I think there are a number of reasons.

Firstly: "Dilution". Do I join SafeSpeed, The ABD or Pepipoo? All 3 organisations are tackling the same problem, albeit in 3 different ways, so which best deserves a contribution? It probably doesn't help that SafeSpeed is the most expensive of the three.

Secondly there is the actual expense. Yes it's only a tank of petrol, but when you have a wife, two kids, an overdraft, and there's always a birthday coming up it is hard to divert forty quid away from the family. Having a "rob the rich to feed the Civil Service" Government doesn't help either - I'm fortunate enough to be quite well paid, yet in the last 5 years I've been broke in a way I've never been before, simply because the current taxation regime always takes a bit more than you've budgeted for.

And again, if you want to support all 3 organisations that's nearly £100, so it's very tempting to neglect the dearest one, notwithstanding the fact that it's almost certainly the one doing the most good, across the board.

Finally, there's simple old apathy. It doesn't matter how easy it is, even a lot of those who would happily part with some dosh somehow "never get round to it". I think that's maybe human nature, and indeed "shaming them into it" is probably a necessary tactic, however awkward it might feel. Wasn't there a thread on pistonheads a couple of months back that did just that, in a fairly low key sort of way? How much did that bring in?

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CSCP Latin for beginners...
Ticketo ergo sum : I scam therefore I am!

Personally speaking, I couldn't afford to stump up a year's worth all at once, but monthly it's only £4, and that's not really a significant amount of cash at one time. Realising that was what finally made me decide to become a member. (actual SafeSpeed work notwithstanding )

I think a major factor in this is whether you think your subscription is actually likely to make a difference.

I decided it would, so bit the bullet and stumped up for a life membership.

I think there's ample evidence that Paul's constant "picking at the spot" is reaping dividends.

It could be said that the normal subscription is a lot higher than other organisations (£45 as against a typical £20-25), but on the other hand, if it was £25, would more people have joined, or would people who have paid £45 simply have paid less?

Perhaps a bottom rung of membership at £25 could be considered, with £45 becoming "Silver Membership" or something.

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"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

That's exactly the thinking that caused the membership to be set at the £45 level. There's also a certain (and potentially increasing) admin load associated with the number of members, so £500 from 20 members is actually less valuable than £500 from 11.1 members.



I'm certainly monitoring the situation - and anyone who thinks that £45 is too much can always send a lesser donation. Quite a few folk have, and even small donations are welcome. There's a variable amount 'donate' link in my sig.

The operation is currently breaking even, but I need better budgets for travel and equipment, and I'm carrying about £10k of debt which is a very unwelcome millstone.

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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

I think apathy is likely to be the single most important individual reason. I have no idea what more I could do to beat it. I'd guess wildly that we'd have at least five times the number of members if it wasn't for apathy.



I don't track 'causes of memberships' but I'd say about 5 or 6 from memory. It helps, certainly.

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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

I joined because one post on Pistonheads made me realise that there is a way I can contribute to the anti camera campaign and that is through SafeSpeed. I have a wife who would give me huge amounts of grief over a life membership so I sold loads of stuff on ebay that she did not know about and when at a high enough level I subscribed via paypal.

Good question, and one I don't have an answer for....

Apart from procrastination.

You swine Paul. You've just managed to catch me on a good day and I have absolutely no excuse for not joining. Not only is it pay day today but I managed to win £140 at Cheltenham. You've got me, I'll join.

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If nothing else works, then a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.

I think, well in my case anyway, that it's not so much apathy as procrastination.
True story: about five years ago I bought a book on procrastination (I just happened to see it while I was in a bookshop). I still haven't read it.

Cheers
Peter