Safe Speed Forums

The Camera Partnership in Cumbria operate a web based forum, much like this one. (It runs on the same software as this forum). You can visit the forum at:

http://www.cumbriasafetycameras.org/forum/index.php

The forum invites questions from the public and staff members answer some of the questions. Other questions are studiously ignored.

See these examples:

(Contributory factor data)

("Race Away" problems)

Staff messages come from:

"Steve": Steve Callaghan
"Admin": Kevin Tea
"JJ": (not known)

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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

This is getting interesting. The linked thread asks the vital question:

What percentage of road accidents in Cumbria involve normal motorists exceeding a speed limit as a cause or major contributory factor

The visitors there, having given up on getting an answer to the question (at least in the short term), have begun to vote for the topic to be made "sticky" (meaning that it stays at the top of the list). Right now the voting stands as follows:

8 for
0 against
0 abstentions

Various points have been made suggesting that without a known answer to the question we cannot know how many accidents speed cameras might be able to address. Most think the number is tiny.

It has also been mentioned that the lack of such a figure is extremely revealing about the attitude of those operating the scheme.

How do I know all this? I'm afraid I started it.

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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

Hi This is the data from http://www.cumbriasafetycameras.org Its very kind of them ! It should be noted that the Cumbria Casualty Reduction Partnership and Cumbria Safety Cameras did not begin operations until April 2003.


Deaths Serious Injuries Other Injuries
2000....56..............437...............2292
2001....49..............432...............2183
2002....49..............410...............2437
And under the Quango
2003....53..............393...............2245
2004....59..............340...............2035
2005.....4................63.................327

Is this fairly typical data for a speed camera partnership ? Certainly the Deaths column seems to be getting worse. But is there a database where we can get information over more years ? As this evidence points towards worsening fatalities. How can we hold the partnership to account for the increased fatalities ? The discussion forum is currently suspended.

Richard

Welcome Richard - and many thanks for your support

Unfortunately some of us know all too well about the suspension of the CSCP forum as many (most) of us were awaiting answers to questions from the staff there when the shutters went up. Many of those questions revolved around why casualties were going up under their influence.

It seems the heat got too much for them, but if you search here for recent posts by the user 'JJ' you will find comment from CSC staff.

However, exactly which staff at any one time is unclear as we know for a fact that at least two of them - JJ himself ie. Data Analyst Jan Sjorup and Team Manager Steve Callaghan - post using the account.