Safe Speed Forums

Hi guys, just found the site.
An interesting range of views. Myself, not a motoring enthusiast and could probably get by without my car and frequntly do for weeks on end. I detest 'speeders' and crap drivers even more! We are after all on a public road.

I feel the whole debate is just one part of an ever worsening way of life in the UK. I am convinced that the govt will never back down on this explosion of fines and points. I have none but know it is only a matter of time. Nothing will be done about this issue because we allow it to happen. Apart from taking to the streets I dont know what can be done? Maybe along with all the other issues that really piss people off it is time for a new political party based on common sense that is not run by career politicians? I dont think a go slow on the M4 will make the slightest difference to Blair & co. We need a proper Referendum party where the people decide not some gang of smarmy mealy mouthed ex-lawyers.

Good luck with the protest anyway. We should be more like the French!

... for automatic prosecution, not merely advice.

Anyone think that's a bad idea?

I suggest you visit the rest of the forums. This topic has been covered already and there are many reasons it would be a bad idea.

So let me get this straight. You guys are pissed beacuse the police are putting up cameras that catch people breaking the 70mph speed limit on motorways

I've done my fair share of motorway driving and it amazes me how the "unofficial" speed limit seems to be 80-85 with people overtaking at 90-95 and the reps in their Mercs and BMW's just sitting in the outside lane at 3 figure speeds flashing their lights at anyone doing less than 100

Could enforcing 70mph perhaps be a good idea? I don't think people would tolerate an "unofficial" speed limit of 40-45 through a 30 zone so why should it exist on motorways?

No that’s not the real issue, I can understand you thinking that, but it is wrong.

The issue is not over law breaking it is more about good and bad law. A good law benefits the people of the land it is enforced in, and if speed limits reflected true limits then the likes of Safe speed and this protest would not exist, however this is not the case.

Speed limits used to be set by road safety engineers who would measure the speed by all road users on a stretch of road and set the limit to the 85th percentile i.e. the speed at which 85% of road users would travel within. Using this method, combined with improvements in road and car engineering meant that road causalities decreased year on year.

This is no longer the case; people who "think" slower is better are reducing speeds on all our roads and erecting cameras to catch those travelling within the previously safe 85th percentile speed and fining them. Now if this reduced road casualties no one would argue, however, the trend in KSI's has gone from reducing year on year when cameras were introduced to increasing for the first time in 30 years last year.

During this time the dependency on cameras and reduction in traffic police has had a detrimental effect on road safety - this protest is about returning to the values that gave us the safest roads in the world, something we are losing under this administration.

We are protesting because we want safe roads, a good thing don't you think?

Just here to register my interest and say i'll be joining in if I can.


It's clearly not as simple a matter as "If you don't like speed cameras just don't exceed the limit", and to the people that say that:

Plenty of people didn't like being forced to pay poll tax, were they as big a group of wimps as you lot? Or did they do something about it?

However, if you firmly believe that there is no better way to save lives on our roads than keeping everyone on a motorway under 70mph, that is of course a separate matter for discussion elsewhere.


Plenty of people don't like to be forced to drive slowly, especially when they are given twisted, misconstrued information about the reasons for doing so, and this is what the protest is about. Open your minds a little please.



March

I don't condone speeding, although I would openly admit to speeding quite regularly, although only on motorways and other NSL zones.

My issue with cameras is that the policies driving them are all 'take' with no 'give'. Fine, speed cameras may reduce casualties in 'some' areas, but what happens in the areas where casualties increase? I don't see the scammers ripping down the cameras, and resiting them elsewhere! The reason for this is twofold, and frankly quite simple. The scammers don't want the general public to see that they have got things wrong, as it would twist public opinion away from their brainwashing tactics. Secondly, a badly sited camera is likely to earn even more revenue than a well-sited camera, so why remove it when it's reaping the taxes?

Likewise, why do we never see speed limits increasing, rather than decreasing? I think the answers lie somewhere in the statements above. The scammers use their brainwashing punchline 'Speed Kills'. By offering a compromise, and increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph, they are basically contradicting their core policy, which is fatally flawed anyway. We all know that speed kills, but only in a minority of circumstance. Everything from obesity to extreme sports kill, but we don't see the government targetting just one of these multiple factors do we?

No no, you are right. We shouldn't protest.

After all it is the law.

It's all gone too far all this changing laws just to keep people happy. What with giving women the vote, can't send children down the mines any more etc. etc. etc.

I don't know how many people are aware of this, but in England (can't speak for Scotland) it's still THE LAW that all males between the age of 14 and 50 MUST practice archery on the village green for at least one hour every week. This dates from the middle ages, has never been repealed so IT'S THE LAW. Don't practice your archery, and there is a statutory fine.

How many people would be in favour of enforcement of this by robot camera? Let's conduct a poll.

The point of this protest is not about the letter of the (usually stupid) law, it's about common sense, replacing camera-stupidity with really effective road safety policy, and intelligent and reasonable enforcement where appropriate.

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'The normally careful and competent actions of a reasonable person should be considered legal, regardless of the letter of statute'

Rioman, Herts

i would just like to thank the protesters on behalf of all my fellow truckers for choosing a speed which will not affect us. im sure most of my colleagues would give you full support on the protest and they will also appreciate the fact that you will affect the motorists who remain blissfully unaware of our speed limits and restricted times. well done and thanks again

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585

I stuck a M4Protest banner up with event details at Rykas, Box Hill, Surrey this afternoon. Hopefully the prospect of a rideout will spurn more bikers into taking action on the day.

Aside from that it was interesting to note the use of a police helicopter hovering above this popular bikers meeting place today.

I assume that in the unlikely event that your protest is successful and these cameras are removed you will still be happy to drive at 70mph obeying the law?

I realise this thread has moved on a bit, but I have to comment about this.

If cameras really 'stop people breaking the law by driving above 70mph' on a motorway, the consequence will almost certainly be a very negative impact on the accident figures, with more KSI.

Still, that will be OK, because the 'letter of the law' will have been enforced. And the scamerati will prosper.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum.



Its a pity you cant obey the law isnt it. How sad
Fred

Sooner or later we'll enter a new era where speed appropriate for the conditions is considered to be the most vital factor.

Do you want safety? Or do you want legality? They are not the same.

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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 want people to learn to accept that 70mph is the law and it is breaking it to go any faster. Therefore you cannot protest against the cameras.
Fred

Er no, that's the whole point. The 70mph limit was set over 30 years ago based on the braking ability of an Austin Allegro. Good laws are updated to reflect what behaviour is sensible for the time.

No I have not

Oh, you cannot now protest against a wrong law? Better put Neslon Mandela back in prison then.

Yes I would

To be honest... if that was the only outcome, it would be disappointing... really the protest is about the correct siteing and use of the cameras... and the application of credibly set speed limits...

It is plain that a lot of people on this forum believe that some speed limits should be raised, but don't think that we are not in favour of lowering limits where that may be prudent.

If people see large numbers of limits which are not based on any reasonable assesment of the danger of exceding those limits, then they are far more likley to ignore the ones which may be appropriate and necessary.... this will fuel the arguement that speed limits need to be lowered repeat ad-nausium, and soon we will see the return of the flag walker.