Safe Speed Forums

Surely the Police have the powers to clear an obstruction such as this, instead of advising, they could have ordered?

I got caught in one of these surveys some time back in Boston(Lincs, not Massachusets), I was delivering to a company within the town.
I initially thought it was a traffic accident, by the time I realised what it really was, I couldn't divert.
Then I got caught on the way out of the town
I only just got home within my hours.
Apparently they do this survey every 5 years, and have been doing it for 25 years, to find out if Boston needs a bypass
If they had asked the local primary school, they would have got the answer "Yes, Boston needs a bypass"

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

How exactly do they survey people? Surely the only proper way is to put up some kind of sign saying "Voluntary survey, if you want to give your views you may do so here".

If they are puttting on high vis-jackets and ordering people to pull over, then IMHO they are getting people to stop under false pretences by impersonating the police. That can't be right.

The police stop the traffic and direct them to the census. AFAIK the signs just say "TRAFFIC CENSUS". Legally you must stop for the police officer but when you get to the census people you can drive off. I am pretty sure they will commence with a standard spiel like the telephone insurance companies, and hidden in their very fast talking there is probably a hint that you don't have to particiapite, but imperciptible that most people.

Gareth

I think that is a sad abuse of a necessary police power.

I got stuck in the early part of it, fortunately through in abot 15 minutes. Downside some of the berks doing the survey are job centre crowds who are 'do this job if you want your benefit check' and the guy I had couldn't spell or write, I asked for the form and said I'd fill it in. Wasn't allowed to, given that he was taking so long I was now holding the vehicles behind me up. PC comes up and asks what's the problem I explain and he tells Mr Job Centre to give me the form I fill it in and bugger off.

I wonder how much of the delay was due to illiteracy on teh part of the census operators.

PS This is not a dig at those who have problems, my cousin is dyslexic and I am discalculate, but Christ's sake if you are going to send people out to write down information on a census form then they should be literate.

In comparison about a fortnight ago I went into London on The A13 and whilst the traffic had slowed down they had a census point at each set of lights, they went along handing forms through the window, you fill it out and send it back (was pre paid 2nd class).

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Gordon Brown saying I got the country into it's current economic mess so I'll get us out of it is the same as Bomber Harris nipping over to Dresden and offering to repair a few windows.

Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.

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Unfortunately, they have to be like this or they can't get a cushy job with the LA... If they used common sense, forethought etc., they'd be working in the private sector.
Again, helps with their job applications to work for the council...

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

There was one of these in Newport yesterday; I didn't actually get stopped so I don't know why. It caused some congestion, not miles of it, but still annoying.

Does anyone know exactly what the police power is to stop vehicles for a census? I would have thought they could only stop you for a proper reason, such as suspicion of an offence? The people stopped couldn't drive on as they were forced into a side lane and were trapped behind the people in front of them.

I got caught in one of these last year in Swindon

LA drone: "Can I ask you where you are going sir?"
Me: "To work"
LA drone: "And where is that sir?"
Me: "None of your business I am afraid"
LA drone: "And where are you coming from sir?"
Me: "Home"
LA drone: "And may I ask where that is sir?"
Me: "No, I am afraid you may not."
LA drone: "Thank you for your help sir"

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"Are you sh**ing me?"
"John Spartan, you are fined one credit for a violation of the verbal morality statute."

There is currently one running round Bracknell but they seem to have had the (limited) sense to hand the forms to drivers to fill in later.

I looked at the form and it wanted:
Make, model and registration of vehicle
Full address of where you had just left
Full address of where you were going

I promptly filed it straight in the recycle box.

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Prepare to be Judged

Love it -
Perhaps the answers as per the Barron Knights mockery of the Smurfs would be more apropriate --
"Where have just come from " -"we're from Dartmoor on the run"
"And where are you going to " --- Help - JT/Oscar /Ernest -

Then again , perhaps not - they might invoke the terror laws.

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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