Speed cameras don't save lives

**p.dath** · 22nd January 2011, 10:42

The AA recently sent me the below interview. Basically it is Victoria's top road safety researcher coming out saying that speed cameras do not save lives.

Victoria now has 10 times as many speed cameras as the UK per head of population, but not 1/10 of the fatalities.

They do say that the Victorian government now collects $500m in speed camera fines - more than any other state in Australia.

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/investigat...camera-insider

There may be a case for speed cameras in a few limited places, but I think the time has come for them to be phased out. Spend the money on other areas instead.

**Scuba_Steve** · 22nd January 2011, 10:54

Just reaffirming what we all know, $$$ Money NOT Safety.
Speed cams just rode the already downward trend in fatalities, and the only affect they had on it was slowing the drop in fatalities.

**rwh** · 22nd January 2011, 12:49

The police spokesman seemed rather out of his depth.

Richard

**baptist** · 22nd January 2011, 13:05

Good Post mate, at last a guy who has credibility is saying they are nothing but a cash cow

rwh, man you are so right that cop could not even accept the difference between speed and speeding...

Messrs English, Smith and Collins take note will you... oops sorry of course you won't as you will have less money to waste on stupid commitees if you ditch them

**kinger** · 22nd January 2011, 17:15

Must disagree. not a good post, just the same shit we already know.
Excuse my abruptness, but no one is fuckin surprised. Also, UK statistics don't relate to driving/riding in NZ, so why even bring them into the conversation?
There's many reasons I left UK, and cameras aren't one of 'em.

**Ocean1** · 22nd January 2011, 18:20

Originally Posted by kinger

There's many reasons I left UK, and cameras aren't one of 'em.

Just a bonus reason?

You're right, though, the bullshit's been obvious since day one.

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/sideeffects.pdf

**miSTa** · 22nd January 2011, 18:25

Originally Posted by rwh

The police spokesman seemed rather out of his depth

Agreed. His answer of "...that's your interpretation..." is a load of BS. A very weak answer at best.

**bogan** · 22nd January 2011, 18:38

Originally Posted by miSTa

Agreed. His answer of "...that's your interpretation..." is a load of BS. A very weak answer at best.

indeed, that graph was also pretty good. I have to wonder why there are no distraction/reaction time for stopping dist ads in the same style as the speed/stopping dist ones.

**slofox** · 22nd January 2011, 18:46

Originally Posted by rwh

The police spokesman seemed rather out of his depth.

Richard

And thick to boot.

**Spearfish** · 22nd January 2011, 18:47

Speed cameras have never--
caught a vehicle on the wrong side of the road
Caught someone with a warrant to arrest
A stolen vehicle
A drunk or drugged driver
on and on and on

But at least the few yards either side of the camera is relatively safe?

**JMemonic** · 22nd January 2011, 19:41

Originally Posted by kinger

Must disagree. not a good post, just the same shit we already know.
Excuse my abruptness, but no one is fuckin surprised. Also, UK statistics don't relate to driving/riding in NZ, so why even bring them into the conversation?
There's many reasons I left UK, and cameras aren't one of 'em.

Neither for that matter do any other countries yet the powers that be often use them as justification all the time for their pointless initiatives that are often little more than revenue gathering.

Much easier to put a camera in a van on the side of the road that actually do something intelligent like offer free, or nearly free training, active policing of sensible policies, effective sentencing of offenders, all too easy really.

**Coldrider** · 22nd January 2011, 20:00

Originally Posted by baptist

Good Post mate, at last a guy who has credibility is saying they are nothing but a cash cow

rwh, man you are so right that cop could not even accept the difference between speed and speeding...

Messrs English, Smith and Collins take note will you..

Speed cameras are perfect Police employees, they do as they are told, don't cost much, and won't ever be charged with rape.

**baptist** · 22nd January 2011, 22:05

Originally Posted by kinger

Must disagree. not a good post, just the same shit we already know.
Excuse my abruptness, but no one is fuckin surprised.

We may "know it" but it is still nice to hear someone as high up in Aussie Road Safety as him bagging them rather than just another aggrieved rider/driver who can be made out to be "another moaner with an axe to grind because he got a ticket".

Originally Posted by Spearfish

Speed cameras have never--
caught a vehicle on the wrong side of the road
Caught someone with a warrant to arrest
A stolen vehicle
A drunk or drugged driver
on and on and on

That is one of my main concerns as well, to much emphasis on speeding infringements and not on getting real cops to tackle serious driving offences (dangerous speeds, boozy drivers etc.)

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Just a bonus reason?

You're right, though, the bullshit's been obvious since day one.

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/sideeffects.pdf

Interesting article...

**Grantman_** · 23rd January 2011, 08:00

Originally Posted by kinger

Must disagree. not a good post, just the same shit we already know.
Excuse my abruptness, but no one is fuckin surprised.

Uh no... In actual fact it is an excellent post. Having the information from someone in Ian Johnston's position is gold regardless of what you may already know. You can't make ammunition of your opinion, but can make ammunition from stories like this one.

**BoristheBiter** · 23rd January 2011, 08:12

Originally Posted by Grantman_

Uh no... In actual fact it is an excellent post. Having the information from someone in Ian Johnston's position is gold regardless of what you may already know. You can't make ammunition of your opinion, but can make ammunition from stories like this one.

No its just another whining argument from people that get tickets for speeding.
Been done to death on god knows how many threads.

Nothing new.