Safer Roads

[robert]

FYI

http://www.cobraclub.com/safer_roads/petition.pdf

http://www.cobraclub.com/safer_roads/policeletter.pdf

http://www.cobraclub.com/safer_roads/safer_roads.zip

I do not object to speed cameras whatsoever, what I object to is the inappropriate use of speed cameras in locations where there is no specific benefit to the general public and for the purposes of revenue collection. :tu :tu :tu

This is NOT the view of the UK Cobra Club, however it is a personal view of mine.

[Nirmal]

I agree entirely with you. Lock up the drunks, and the roads become safer. The petition idea is good, but sadly, I dont think it will have any effect on the politicians and police, with all the cash that is rolling in. More drastic measures are needed; perhaps something like this -
http://www.anglegrinderman.com/

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Cheers
Nirmal.

[graham]

MMMM! Robert Are you going to fill that form in??

An additional way to protect oneself is to install a gPs based detector (i have an OriginB2 and is future proof - done by gps not radar) and I have Laser diffuser (Target LRC100) both in my view super bits of kit and a small price to pay to protect my licence.

Any one want to know more details?

Graham (6 points.....and staying that way!)

[Chris Jones]

Just read that FIA has threatened to no longer support the Welsh leg of the World Rally Chamionship. This had until recently brought in £15m p.a. to the Welsh economy

This was as a result of the recent nicking of several top drivers driving over the speed limit between stages. Now, while there was no way the FIA (or anyone else) could condone the excess speed demonstrated by these drivers (54 and 51mph in a 30mph limit and 83mph in a 70mph limit) they did state that the 11 extra mobile cameras and reduction in tolerance throughout the period of the Rally this year demonstrated the fact that:

'this did seem to indicate that this is an exceptionally dangerous venue for a rally'

Either the roads are dangerous and justify the extra cameras and the rally should be moved or they are not and the cameras shouldn't have been there in the first place ...

Looks like it is just about the numbers ...

[spoonies]

I agree entirely with you Rob and will be at yet another meeting with my local Raod Safety Partnership in Lincolnshire tommorrow night.
Did you know that these "partnerships" would not exist were it not for cameras and that their sole purpose is to find more sites for the wretched things.
We are campaigning in our area for these partnerships to open their eyes and look at more constructive and effective ways of improving road safety rather than just responding to a request to look at the safety of a particular stretch of road with "not enough people have died there yet to justify a camera"!!!
Speed cameras are simply devices to create revenue to spend on employing over the hill police officers who are at the end of, or nearing the end of their careers!

Colin

[TonyD]

For 11 consecutive years three mates and myself would follow the RAC then Network Q Rally around the UK in a hired 4x4 spending cash locally on rooms, food, drink and fuel as only four guys let off the leash for a few days can. We could do three to four stages in a day, with no entrance or car park fees, and get really close to the action. We would then repair to our hotel/ pub to eat, drink and be merry.

Then the WRC decreed that they would run the event in South Wales. The first year wasnt too bad and we saw three stages per day although the police were very obvious with their presence and through scanners and CB we were able to listen in on the rally teams giving their cars the locations of the speed traps ( and CBers were also broadcasting the info).

The second year we found it extremely difficult to get to decent viewing locations as the police cordons up to 15 miles away from the rally stages were forcing everyone to go to authorised car parks where it would have been £50 for the car and four of us to see one stage per day as the traffic congestion in and out of the official parking was ridiculous. Thankfully lots of detailed map reading, green tracking and a forestry commission key meant we could get two stages per day with free access and parking.

The final year we went we got to see one stage per day and the police had closed absolutely everywhere off. We also got a speeding ticket which we managed to avoid being prosecuted for....hire car, multiple drivers "it wasn't me driving it was him.......it wasnt me" etc

We haven't been for the last two years and won't go again until the rally moves from Wales, is spread out arond the country and is less heavily policed.

The FIA, the WRC and the police have combined to ruin the whole "atmosphere" of the UK leg of the WRC and we are not the only rally afficianados who feel this way.

Sorry about the rant chaps but I miss all the fun that stupid officialdom intent on " professionalising" everything ( or wringing every last penny out of us enthusiasts)has stopped others such as my mates and myself having ( such as keeping up with the likes of Macrea, Burns and Sainz on the rally route, only for them to take the wrong turning, realise it and then turn round and follow us down the the correct route flashing us in thanks as we had waited for them....)

Cheers,

Tony

[plod]

>
>I do not object to speed cameras whatsoever, what I object to
>is the inappropriate use of speed cameras in locations where
>there is no specific benefit to the general public and for the
>purposes of revenue collection. :tu :tu :tu
>
>This is NOT the view of the UK Cobra Club, however it is a
>personal view of mine.


Rob, I think I agree in principle, that they shouldn't be used solely as revenue. However, I dont believe for what it's worth, and in answer to the other replies, that Police get all the revenue, if any of it in fact.

I also think that apart from city centres, if we are talking from a speeding point of view, that it's not easy to come up with an area that hasn't had some accident where speed hasn't been an issue.

Now I dont wonder not if its not impossible that I might not be unable not to get another negative and that last sentence.. not..

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Paul

[plod]

OOOOOOOOPs,

i pay mostly for cops near the end of service with my contributions. However, most of them only appear to live 3 or 4 yrs after retirement anyway.

That means I have less than 30 yrs to live!
:tu :tu , I mean :v

Paul

[dave jenkins]

Tony, you wonder why? You, as are the rest of us, soft targets.
Easy to set up a speed camera isn't it?
Catching burglars and the like, hmmm, may have to think about that one.
Real issues go un-addressed because of the lack of manpower.
I wonder what they are all out doing?:v :f :f :f

[plod]

oooooooh, ouch!;(

I cant condone or defend what happened in the rally, I'd be just as gutted.

Onto burglars, if nothing was seen, that presents a problem as to whodunnit... I dont know how they did it but apparently statistics show I would have to walk an area for 8 years before I could catch a burglar in the act!
We might then go to forensics and if they didn't touch, weren't caught on a camera, didn't cut themselves etc etc, then it really gets hard
The if a series comes in, then normally it's off to intelligence to identify patterns, and even see who has been stopped in the area on foot or in a vehicle at a relevent time. We take in excess of 2000 call per day to the Police, a lot of which are unnecessary and tek a lot of weeding out.
If we can get a pattern, it might go to surveillance. Fortunately when it does, they are excellent. unfortunately it doesn't get that far.
Driving offences are by far and away one of the easiest ways of collaring the ne'dowells of society...
And above all it comes down to resources. If and when you see a copper, ask them how many are around to answer a 999 call. If you're answer is more than 8, then you're living in a very big town or they're lying..