Nothing average about speeds (From Thisisdorset)
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Nothing average about speeds
9:00am Thursday 9th September 2010 in Latest By Neal Butterworth
SOME people might argue there’s a bit of a let-down surrounding the state-of-the-art cameras set up along Springdale Road to nab speeding motorists.
After all, why bother going to all that trouble for six months when you’re not going to teach the culprits a lesson by fining them and docking them points from their licence?
A six-week study has already shown nearly 100 cars a day head down that particular road at excessive speed, so it’s clear that some of these drivers need teaching a lesson.
Especially when you consider that they’re tearing past a school when youngsters are arriving or leaving.
I’m all for these new “average speed” cameras.
However perfect we drivers think we are, many of us with an acute knowledge of our local fixed cameras will adapt our driving speed and style based on that knowledge.
A perfect example is the Wessex Way, where I guarantee that many drivers would have fallen foul of this kind of average speed assessment from Cooper Dean to St Paul’s roundabout rather than the current fixed cameras.
Springdale Road is a fairly straight and lengthy stretch of road that will be a worthy testing ground for the equipment.
And there will be a fair few drivers thankful the test won’t result in prosecution.
Just yet anyway...
Comments(5)
i have heard it all now
says...
7:57pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Rules are for the adherence of fools & guidence for wise men.
Idris Francis
says...
11:01pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Last time I asked the DfT they had not evidence whatever that average speed cameras reduce accidents. The Highways Agency study of 2008 showed no benefit but significant extra hazards including bunching, sudden braking etc.
Do you have any idea what these things cost? Last figure I saw was £500,000 a pair - and on a 3 lane road you need 2 pairs. And for what benefit?
Vehicle activated signs cost next to nothing (
Idris Francis
says...
11:15pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Last time I asked the DfT they had not evidence whatever that average speed cameras reduce accidents. The Highways Agency study of 2008 showed no benefit but significant extra hazards including bunching, sudden braking etc.
Do you have any idea what these things cost? Last figure I saw was £500,000 a pair - and on a 3 lane road you need 2 pairs. And for what benefit?
Vehicle activated signs cost next to nothing (
upontown
says...
3:01pm Fri 17 Sep 10
I don't mind signs flashing up when approaching a school after all Kids are our future bread and butter....and I don't think for a moment that anyone goes out with the intention of killing someone, people get killed by loads of stupid things, it's just how it is.
I do mind speed camera's in places where they pander to other drivers exiting out of side roads who have no observational skills and don't join the flow of other traffic quickly enough...keep up or keep off!
Over the last 15 years speed limits have changed so rapidly that half the time we're not sure what the limit is. I've seen roads go from 60 to 30, the road hasn't changed but the drivers have. The elite have deliberately changed the way we think and drive.
Most drivers on the road are now paranoid at the prospect of getting a speeding ticket so drive like miss daisy everywhere. Most drivers don't know what the white circle with a black line going through it means but usually it's 40mph....nice decent bit of road and miss daisy in front....you've been there.
,,,and finally, as for your assessment of the speed along this particular road as being 'excessive' perhaps you would care to use the word 'inordinate' and perhaps this word should be used in all stories where 'speeding' is reported.
rayc says...
4:44pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Can you provide the records of the study which backs up this claim. How many drivers as apercentage and what does 'tearing past' mean? How many children use the Springdale Road entrance to enter and leave the school - it was forbidden to do so when my Daughter went there in the late 1990's?