camera operator wrote:
ernest marsh
you must really look into what can or cannot be purchased under the SCP guidelines, replacing of armco does not, roadside signs, sorry cannot read the blue sign, the camera va hidden in thetress at Ings has been covered before
I am aware of what the SCP's can and cannot pay for.
I said a partnership MEMBER. In this instance, the Highways Authority. They plainly have no regard for proper road safety measures, and yet put their name to a scheme to persecute motorists for no good reason.
The speed limit at Ings was not determined by any sort of road safety expert, or criteria, other than the council agreed to conceed to a demand by a handful of local residents for a speed limit "...to show that they listened to public concerns"
So seven men who meet in a pub call for a limit, based on accidents - most of which did not happen in their village and certainly did not involve speeding; and out of the goodness of their hearts, the council AT GREAT EXPENSE re-engineer the road (three lane to protected lanes and solid median) AND impose a pointless 40 mph limit at one of the most lucrative sites, used by thousands of tourist in season.
Forgive me for being cynical, but they have NEVER shown local concern so much attention anywhere else in Cumbria.
The tissue of falsehoods and misinformation and misrepresentation of statistics at this site is so widespread, that the SCP refuse to reveal in an FOI request from the local paper, the
causes of accidents used to trigger the siting of cameras!
The cameras are derided by local police officers - please dont think this is a case of misplaced angst and a desire to career along the road at breakneck speeds on my part!
Police officers have revealed snippets to me such as the camera van operator who collided with a police vehicle in the car park at Police HQ in Penrith, because they despise the camera operators methods, in spite of their superior's supposed support! Some feel they would be penalised for revealing their concerns - others are quite open in their criticism! But none of us employ the services of a publicity officer whose sole job is to jump on any public display of hostility, with a bunch of pseudo statistics produced by his fellow statistician, producing contradictory crap like the following, lifted from the Cumbria Safety Camera Partnership's website:
Quote:
In Penrith town, there are four distinct time periods for fatal and serious injury accidents – 9-10am, 12noon and 2pm, 4-6pm and 7-9pm
The A686 between Penrith and Alston had more accidents over the past three years than any other road in the area
Almost all accidents occur while vehicles were travelling straight ahead although turning right and overtaking also featured in the causation records
Most fatal and serious injury accidents in the Kendal rural area occur between 12 noon and 5pm
In common with other areas, most fatal and serious injury accidents occurred in fine, dry weather and on 30mph roads
Virtually all fatal and serious injury accidents in the South Lakes area occurred in fine, dry weather and in daylight
The majority of fatal and serious injury accidents occur in fine, dry weather without high winds and on 60mph national speed limit roads
In town almost all fatal and serious injury accidents occurred on 30mph roads
Most accidents occur on A class and unclassified roads and in fine, dry weather and day light
In Kendal town, there are three distinct time peaks for accidents – between 7am and 9am, between 12 noon and 1pm and between 3pm and 5pm.
Most fatal and serious injury accidents in the Penrith rural area occur between 12noon and 5pm
In 2004 there was a 67 per cent reduction in people killed and seriously injured at the hotspots monitored by CSC
The BLUE sign in my picture is just one of 17 installed at a cost of £36,000 by the Cumbria Casualty Reduction Partnership, which states how many collisions have occured on the following stretch of road. This one was out of date within days of it being erected, following a fatality on the A591 at Bannerigg in February. Another fatality occured last month - maybe they didn't read the sign... but I am puzzled as to how such signs are supposed to make a difference?
Perhaps you could explain Cam.Op, is it supposed to inspire a flash of common sense, and trigger a consious decision NOT to have the accident one was planning on having today or tomorrow, because it makes the SCP's figures look bad?
At least the public might feel reassured that at £36,000 their interests ARE being looked after? Not me!! I have yet to discover ANYONE who thinks they will do any good, and
ALL are incredulous at the waste of £36,000 !!