Safe Speed Forums

The "undue emphasis on the role of speed cameras" by police could be scrutinised by the new chief constable in charge of road policing.
On his first day in the job, Meredydd Hughes said a wider range of measures should be used to make roads safer.

Money from speeding fines could be better spent on "warning signage and better road engineering", he added.

The South Yorkshire chief constable also suggested motorists should re-take driving tests at regular intervals.

Road conditions had changed in the 30 years since he had taken his test.

But however long ago they had passed, drivers were never asked to prove their competence again, Chief Constable Hughes, from the Association of Chief Police Officers, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"Driving is a privilege - not a right.

I want drivers to be given a fairer crack of the whip in terms of knowing what they should be doing in any one location

Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes

"We have got to up-skill, improve the level of driving in the UK and change the culture."

An automatic number-plate recognition system linking "road policing directly back into mainstream policing" would also "help us deny criminals the use of the road", he added.

Chief Constable Hughes, who has been caught by speed cameras twice himself, told Today more signs, satellite navigation and mobile phone systems should be used to remind motorists of speed limits.

"I want drivers to be given a fairer crack of the whip in terms of knowing what they should be doing in any one location."

Chief Constable Hughes added 10 people were killed on Britain's roads every day.

"We have got to do something about getting those numbers down."

There are now 6,000 speed cameras in the UK - 2,500 of them are mobile.

And the number of camera fines has risen from 200,000 in 1995 to more than two million last year.

'Temporary measure'

But transport researchers have found removing white lines, or narrowing streets have just as much effect in cutting drivers' speed.

Ben Hamilton-Baillie, of European road safety and environment scheme Shared Space, told Today there were many "visual and psychological techniques" that would change driver behaviour.

Making roads look narrower by colouring their edges or planting trees on the pavement increases a driver's sense of danger, making them more conscious of oncoming traffic, he added.

Speed cameras were a "temporary measure" that "may have had their day", Mr Hamilton-Baillie said.

An automatic number-plate recognition system linking "road policing directly back into mainstream policing" would also "help us deny criminals the use of the road", he added.

It was reported in my local paper two weeks ago that 4 local residents had their front and rear numberplates stolen in one night. This will become a much bigger problem now we have ANPR. I don't think it will stop the real criminals.

Anyone ever bought numberplates on the internet? I just found this site, looked through the Ts and Cs and can't find anything about having to produce the V5 or other docs.

Hypothetically (since I wouldn't actually do this) what's stopping me transposing a couple of characters when ordering the plate since it's not being checked against anything AFAICT, and then cheerfully ignoring the speed cameras? ANPR? So I just drive around until I find another same make and model car as I have, jot down the number and order those replacement plates. Probably even better since I'd know I had a real registration number, just not mine.

Could this be happening already?

It's called "cloning" and it IS happening already. It is not known exactly how widespread the cloning problem is because of the almost total reliance of Police on cameras and other automated systems (which are completely "fooled" by the cloners) for policing the roads.

and it doesn't help that you're not required to actually carry your licence while driving. Rather bizarre that one.

Do you really think it should be an offence to pick up the wrong jacket on the way out of the house?

And what about the millions who decide that they have to leave their licence in the car to be sure of complying with the law? Very good until the car is stolen.

I assume your argument is that if the police stop a "cloned" car and ask the driver who he is there is some proof if licences must be carried. What should the penalty be for not carrying the documents? Instant trip to the clink or a "producer" the next day?

well in Oz it goes like this.. if you're asked for your licence and can't produce it you're asked who owns the car - they often ask this anyway if they've already checked your plates and you're obviously not the owner (like when driving the parents car). If your answer doesn't match who they think the car belongs to I'm guessing you're going to be in a whole lot of trouble. Clearly the current UK situation of a producer on a cloned or untraceable car is never going to work.
For the rest of society, the worst case is that you'll get a fine for not carrying your licence.

Making roads look narrower by colouring their edges or planting trees on the pavement increases a driver's sense of danger, making them more conscious of oncoming traffic, he added.

Making roads look narrower by colouring their edges or planting trees on the pavement increases a driver's sense of danger, making them more conscious of oncoming traffic, he added.

Lets be honest, the only people that would tend to get caught without ID would be honest people who've forgotten it or whatever, any self-respecting criminal will make damn sure he's got something in his wallet that passes muster., by the same mechanism which dictates that con men always appear to be convincingly honest!

that's true but if "Mr Smith" is driving around in a car with plates belonging to "Mrs Jones" then plod may think to ask a few more questions. Unless cloners are also into stealing identities now.

How will they know the difference without stopping the vehicle? If the plate displays W123XYZ and it's on the right model and colour of car how will they know if it's really W123XYZ just by looking?