Safe Speed Forums

Found this on Yahoo news today.

Cameras 'cause traffic congestion'

Speed cameras are a major cause of traffic congestion and the technology to replace them already exists, Britain's new motorway "jambuster" has admitted.

Derek Turner, who was appointed by the Highways Agency last month to tackle congestion on major routes, said speed governors, similar to those used in lorries and coaches, offer an alternative way of slowing traffic.

He said the device could help prevent the traffic jams caused by drivers braking sharply as they approach a camera.

Mr Turner told the Observer: "Speed cameras do cause congestion.

"There is a lot of sophistication in the electronics field that you could introduce."

He also criticised car drivers who clog up motorways by taking short trips.

He told the Sunday Times that highways should be the preserve of traffic of "economic importance" such as lorries. (WRONG WRONG)

He said: "A lot of the problem is to do with people joining the motorway at one junction and coming straight off at the next junction. These are strategic roads, designed for longer-distance traffic."

He is considering placing more traffic lights on slip roads to encourage drivers to shun motorways.

He also revealed plans to turn the motorway hard shoulder into a traffic lane at peak times, impose variable speed limits and introduce improved signs and information

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'Detritus, get yer stoney arse over ere'

Before criticising the drivers who decide to use the motorways in this manner, perhaps he should aim his criticism at the planners who've created scenarios up and down the country where the motorway is seen as the best choice for short hop journeys.

I make no apologies for using the M4 (J6-J7) for short-hop journeys to get in and out of Slough, given that the next best alternative is to endure the never-ending sequence of traffic lights on the A4, all of which seem to be phased so that just as you've set off from one green light the next set is about to turn to red, breaking the journey into a series of short stop-start hops from one junction to the next. Not only does this at least double the journey time compared to using the M4, it also feels far far more tedious than the journey time alone would suggest.




And how does he intend to define "economic importance"? If I drive to work, in order to earn a living, pay taxes, and potentially generate export revenue for the nation, does that make my journey one of economic importance? If I drive to the shops, in order to spend money on goods possibly made in this country, paying tax on said goods, and helping to pay the wages of everyone in the retail chain responsible for making those goods available to me, does that make my journey one of economic importance? If I just want to jump in the car and go for a Sunday afternoon blat around the country, using up petrol that I'd otherwise not have used and so requiring me to refill my tank sooner, which then brings in more fuel tax revenue for the government not to mention increasing the amount of trade done by the petrol station I use, so helping to pay the wages of everyone involved in making that petrol (and whatever else I may end up buying from the kiosk when I go to pay for the fuel) available to buy, does that make my journey one of economic importance?

Where's the super-sized smiley when you need it???




It's precisely policies like this for local roads which is causing drivers to shun those in favour of the motorways for short journeys...




Leave the f%^#ing hard shoulder alone, you numpty! VSL's - good idea in principle, but if in practice they're implemented like on the M25 where all too often you'll see the signs continuing to show a lower limit long after the reason for that limit has disappeared, then it won't take long for drivers to assume the signs are always crying wolf and start ignoring them. Improved signs and information - YES YES YES!!!

Also in a news article on the radio talking about "BETTER ALTERNATIVES TO SPEED CAMERAS" ,particularly mentioned M42(and some form of variable speed restriction on it), but talking about motorways in general was the idea (NOT THE SUBTLE INTRODUCTION , I HOPE) to speed control ( THE DREADED LIMITER)

This article seemed to dwell on speedlimiters on cars.
Perhaps we all need little men in front with red flags -( i want Tone and a dirty big JCB) , or do we have to draw lots for that privelidge

Ah well, if the govt bring down the top speed of cars etc, just think , (what a saving , so they wont need scameras) , heads of police forces won't be able to flout the law , and the police wont need all those high speed copmobiles, a bike with 15 gears or a good horse will suffice.(Unless youre a cabinet minister ( youl get two donkeys)

What an ignorant twerp!

Does he not realise that speed governors would make the entire motorway network one enormous rear-end shunt?

Does he actually drive, you have to wonder?

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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

More background on this creation of PC madness from Sunday Times.



He ran Londons Traffic unit where green light time for vehicles is down to 20 seconds.

My licence is valid for ALL roads in the UK ( LEAST IT WAS LAST TIME I LOOKED ) , my VED covers me for all roads .

What next - your VED isnt valid on motorways - "that'll be (as much as we think you can afford) per mile sir. Dont like it - join the congestion on the A roads.

The sooner we give Tiny Blur / golden Brown and the rest of Tonies cronies their P45 the better it'll be for the motoring public. As for 2 Jags, give him two of like inteligence( donkeys) and put him out to grass.

More criticism of, 'Batty' Turner !



From:

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"CAMERAS "DO NOT" SAVE LIVES" !!
(Richard Brunstrom Says so !!)