Safe Speed Forums

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/di ... K=12136895

EXTENDED NORTH POLICE SPEED CAMPAIGN COMES IN FOR CRITICISM

IAIN RAMAGE

09:00 - 31 March 2005
A Month-long anti-speeding initiative about to sweep the Highlands has been condemned as "missing the point" by a road safety campaigner.

Northern Constabulary has warned of a widespread crackdown on drivers from tomorrow - April Fools' Day - as part of national No Speeding Day to kickstart a month-long operation.

The campaign will target all classes of motorist across the north, from commercial drivers to private cars and motorcyclists, in a determined police effort to reduce the number of road accidents.

Road safety advertisements have been commissioned to coincide with the campaign, with the theme "speeding is a major factor in road accidents".

Advertisements will appear in newspapers across the Northern Constabulary force area in an attempt to reduce speeding and raise awareness of the consequences of speeding for all road users, especially children and the elderly. The Automobile Association has welcomed the crackdown, but not everyone believes such an initiative will have a positive impact. Paul Smith, locally based founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign, said: "Speeding is a worthy target, but a foolish obsession. It's very important that people don't drive too fast, but the speed limit does not provide an adequate definition of 'too fast'.

"Drivers must adjust their speed to the immediate conditions and, by and large, they are very good at it. Unfortunately, asking them to drive at standard speeds while staring at their speedometers makes them more likely to crash. That's one important part of the reason that road deaths are increasing."

Mr Smith, who has carried out extensive research into road safety, continued: "We must have police looking out for bad driving in all its forms and dealing appropriately. However, targeting speeding is a dangerous waste of resources and distracting for everyone, drivers and police alike."

Neil Greig of the AA Motoring Trust disagreed.

"Speed is a major factor in one-third of all accidents," he said. "That would suggest that it kills more than 100 people a year in Scotland because there are just over 300 total road deaths in Scotland each year."

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

Has anyone pointed out to this imbecile from the AA that even the DfT don't believe the 'one-third lie' anymore?

Yeah. I gave him a ring. Sensible chap. He says he's been mis-quoted. We arranged to meet next time he's up around Inverness.

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

OK, when you see him please apologise on my behalf for calling him an imbecile, and if you ever meet Iain Ramage the misquoting reporter please tell him he's an imbecile.