Safe Speed Forums

Hi all,

See this message at Cumbria S Cameras Forum:

http://www.cumbriasafetycameras.org/for ... #entry6676

I have challenged them to conduct a proper public opinion survey. I don't really expect them to take up my challenge, but at some point in the not too distant future, we WILL need a worthy set of survey questions regarding speed camera acceptability. I've started this topic as a collection point for honest survey questions. Here are a few "get started" suggestions:

* Have speed cameras overall improved road safety?

* Do you think that the majority of speed cameras are in the right places for safety?

* What's more important for safety? Choosing a speed appropriate for the conditions or driving at the speed limit?

* Is it dangerous to exceed the speed limit?

more later...

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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

Loaded questions really defeat the purpose of such surveys. I think this type of approach is much better:

Speed cameras were introduced in 1992. Police Traffic Officers at that time were approximately <whatever>. Non-speeding traffic convictions were approximately <whatever>. Speeding traffic offences were <whatever>. Fatalities on our roads were <whatever>.

Last year, Police Traffic Officers are <whatever>. Non speeding traffic convictions were <whatever>. Speeding traffic offences were <whatever>. Fatalities on our roads were <whatever>.

Evidence suggests that speed cameras are replacing trained, experienced police traffic officers. Traffic officers are able to deal with offences like careless driving, dangerous driving, uninsured/untaxed/unlicensed drivers, whereas a speed camera can only deal with a single speeding offence.

Would you like to see our roads patrolled by more:

1 Traffic Police
2 Speed Cameras

Answers on a postcard...............................

If this question is relating to speed cameras, then I would suggest it ought to read "always dangerous".

Also

* Do you feel the presence of speed cameras makes you a better driver?

or

* Do you feel safer when travelling on roads with many speed cameras?

And the final killer question...

* Do you want to see more cameras?

Honest survey questions !! Heaven forbid we do something like that - we might not get the answer we want to justify fleecing the public (sorry, contributing to UK road safety in a meaningfull and PC manner) !!!



I have a friend who is in market research, and showed her the questions used by Essex camera partnership in thier survey, she commented that they were heavily biased towards 'Yes' to cameras.

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cra wrote:



Can I add:

3 Both.

One point to bear in mind is that even if a balanced and fair set of opinion questions are formulated, the results will still be heavily biased in favour of "speed kills" and speed cameras.

This is the inevitable result of the Government spending 10 years publishing this message. In effect, any opinion survey is really just a measure of how effective the propaganda campaign has been!

If we really want to measure true public opinion we need to deliver the true facts to the public first, so that they can make a balanced judgement.

Imagine if the Government had spent years and years running massive campaigns telling us that cigarettes were good for us? Showing distorted statistics to demonstrate that you lived longer if you smoked, and getting respected bodies like the BMA to publish whitewashed reports backing up completely false statistics.

What would it then prove if an unbiased public opinion survey revealed that 80% of the population thought that fags were great? Would it make the statement true?

I am beginning to think that the whole "public opinion" should be avoided!

Perhaps the first few questions should be

Are you aware that after several decades of imrpovement the UK's accident rate has failed to improve significantly in the last 10 years?
Are you aware that the first cameras were installed about the same time the rate of improvement slowed?
Do you think that there might be a causal relationship between the two events, or do you believe it's a coincidence?
If you think that they are linked, which of the following do you think might explain it (followed by a list including SafeSpeed favourites such as increased speedo checking, fewer trafplods about to nick drunk drivers, avoiding roads with cameras etc

Well, if they can ask leading questions why can't we?
Where has it got us so far? Local public opinioin has got Gatsos installed in villages to "do something about all the speeders" and ended up ticketing half the locals. Informed public opinion is one thing, uninformed/propaganda induced public opinion is another.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

Ahh , John, you're just not devious enough. We can use that to our advantage:

"How many accidents are caused by speeding?"

"What's a driver's most important duty to road safety?"

Then start moaning about distorted public perception.

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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

Strangely, that's the first time that particular criticism has been levelled against me...

I am afraid I agree. Quite apart from the propaganda issue, 'speed kills' appeals to Joe Public's 'common sense'. I am surrounded by engineers and research scientists and even they are no different in this respect. My background allows me to understand that the behaviour of complex systems is rarely 'obvious' or 'common sense' but I still used to vaguely agree that speed cameras must be there for a good reason. That is, until I got flashed and took a closer interest in the subject.

I think by far the strongest message that can be directed at the public is that to be relying on 'common sense' on this occasion could be costing lives rather than saving them and that a proper scientific approach is needed. Seriously, relying on public opinion when potentially thousands of lives are at stake seems perverse.

Regards
arthurdent

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