Sodding drivers
Apr. 8th, 2004 12:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
julietJust read an editorial in Shooting Times (it mentioned the League, so got passed round the office for info). Obviously, it caused me to froth at the mouth over several different issues, but the one that really got me was speed cameras. They criticised a particular police chief constable on the grounds that his force had installed too many speed cameras.
Now, this has got at me for a *long* time. Why, exactly, are speed cameras a bad thing? Why is it that a significant number of drivers - who would presumably describe themselves as 'law-abiding' & other such - get so irate when they get caught by a speed camera? In particular, what is wrong with *concealed* speed cameras? If you speed, then you are breaking the law. And if you get caught, then that's your tough shit. If you don't want to be done for speeding, *don't bloody well speed*. Concealed cameras clearly aren't the same as entrapment - no one is enticing you to speed. They are merely not telling you that here, right here, is a particularly risky place to speed. Which is fine, because, hey, *you shouldn't be speeding anyway*.
Yes, I am an occasional driver. No, I do not speed. Not even on motorways, these days. I used to be prepared to do between 70 & 80 on motorways; I've since decided that this is inconsistent with my general stance on speeding. I'm aware that there are arguments for upping the speed limits on motorways, & would certainly think that in good conditions, 80mph is safe. (But, when I did still go over 70mph, I would not have complained, other than at myself, had I been ticketed). I don't think there's *any* decent argument for going over the speed limit on non-motorway roads.
This also reminded me of a conversation I heard yesterday in the shop next door, which also incensed me greatly. Two people complaining about the congestion charge (grr to them to *start* with), and then moving on to complaining about parking, and parking tickets. The woman said, in horrified tones, that a friend of hers had (illegitimately) parked her motorbike in a residents-only bay, and the parking-ticket person (have forgotten correct word, sorry) had *lifted up the motorbike cover* to get the plate number to give her a ticket (nb they are not supposed to do this). The friend was, of course, appealing ("of *course*!" agreed the bloke in equally aggrieved tones). No mention, of course, of the fact that the friend in question shouldn't have bloody been there in the first place. Or that deliberately covering your license plate to avoid getting a ticket is clearly *wrong*, although sadly not illegal.
GRRRRRRR.
I need a 'ranty' icon. Or a pissed-off one. All my icons are cheerful, or of rats.
Now, this has got at me for a *long* time. Why, exactly, are speed cameras a bad thing? Why is it that a significant number of drivers - who would presumably describe themselves as 'law-abiding' & other such - get so irate when they get caught by a speed camera? In particular, what is wrong with *concealed* speed cameras? If you speed, then you are breaking the law. And if you get caught, then that's your tough shit. If you don't want to be done for speeding, *don't bloody well speed*. Concealed cameras clearly aren't the same as entrapment - no one is enticing you to speed. They are merely not telling you that here, right here, is a particularly risky place to speed. Which is fine, because, hey, *you shouldn't be speeding anyway*.
Yes, I am an occasional driver. No, I do not speed. Not even on motorways, these days. I used to be prepared to do between 70 & 80 on motorways; I've since decided that this is inconsistent with my general stance on speeding. I'm aware that there are arguments for upping the speed limits on motorways, & would certainly think that in good conditions, 80mph is safe. (But, when I did still go over 70mph, I would not have complained, other than at myself, had I been ticketed). I don't think there's *any* decent argument for going over the speed limit on non-motorway roads.
This also reminded me of a conversation I heard yesterday in the shop next door, which also incensed me greatly. Two people complaining about the congestion charge (grr to them to *start* with), and then moving on to complaining about parking, and parking tickets. The woman said, in horrified tones, that a friend of hers had (illegitimately) parked her motorbike in a residents-only bay, and the parking-ticket person (have forgotten correct word, sorry) had *lifted up the motorbike cover* to get the plate number to give her a ticket (nb they are not supposed to do this). The friend was, of course, appealing ("of *course*!" agreed the bloke in equally aggrieved tones). No mention, of course, of the fact that the friend in question shouldn't have bloody been there in the first place. Or that deliberately covering your license plate to avoid getting a ticket is clearly *wrong*, although sadly not illegal.
GRRRRRRR.
I need a 'ranty' icon. Or a pissed-off one. All my icons are cheerful, or of rats.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-08 02:08 pm (UTC)Well, that's an argument for *more* cameras, surely? The existence of a law in itself may well not be a deterrent, but if you suddenly start getting done significantly more often for breaking it, *that* could be a deterrent. This is an argument for lots more cameras, & people getting caught lots more often.
Interesting to see the numbers - cheers!
no subject
Date: 2004-04-08 02:19 pm (UTC)Ubiquitous speed cameras might be a good idea, if they cover their own costs like the current ones seem to. It might also prompt a serious debate about proper speed limits - I think there are good arguments to be made about safer cars, better brakes, motorways, etc to raise speed limits on certain roads.
The numbers are from memory - I think I got them right...
no subject
Date: 2004-04-08 04:35 pm (UTC)You are not authorised for that information, citizen.
While I don't really disagree with the speeding is illegal argument I do disagree with the more enforcement must be a good thing. Eventually you end up in a police state and can't even sneeze, this is not a good environment to live nor drive in.
There is a reasonable middle ground somewhere and as someone who has been driving on English roads for the last 14 years I'd say it's been passed already.