Good idea by the Tories?

[Major_Grooves]

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3355879.stm

Basically to give you a fine and three points if you speed past in a dangerous area (outside schools etc), and just a fine if it is in a non-dangerous area (open road etc.).

Personally I think it should be the other way round. If it was the way the Tories propoes then any rich person could speed as much as they like in the right place and get away with it. The only levelling factor between those who have money and those who don't is a driving license - doesn't matter how rich you are - 12 points is a ban.

Even if it's just a vote winning stunt by the Tories I think it's good enough for me to say "right - they can have my vote" so at least the current government realise that the way they treat road users is bad enough for them to lose voters.
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[Sparks!]

That seems a better idea to be honest.

But..

Hw many speed cameras do you see outside schools?

There aren't any outside schools in Portsmouth and I've witnessed people doing silly speeds past them.

They should ditch half the speed cameras in open areas etc and relocate them outside schools.

I know in portsmouth there are some speed cameras located where they are needed, but there are some just plonked on a long open clear road (although it is a busy road) but I can name a couple of schools where there aren't (well as far as I can see) speed cameras outside of!
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[Chuck100]

Seems like a good idea (except the very valid point of it meaning that rich people can speed) because of the following:

1) Vehicles (cars and bikes) are capable of handling higher speeds today than they were 50 years ago

2) Roads are better designed for higher speeds now than 50 years ago

3) Tyre technology reduces the risk of blowouts and makes travelling at higher speeds safer

4) Humans are better equipped today than 50 years ago to travel at the speeds we do (through computer games and so forth).

The solution may be to keep the fines/penalties/bans system, but increase the speed limits where possible and make the tests harder to increase the skill of riders/drivers. The counter argument to this is that making the test harder means more people will ride/drive without licences, but there are ways to overcome this (especially with the advances in biometric technology over the past few years).

Or am I just spouting nonsense?
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[G]

unfortunately it's fairly unlikely anyone will be willing to put their head on the line to increase speed limits, even if the statistics suggest that it's likely to reduce accidents.
The first few fatal accidents that happen at the new higher speeds are likely to be blames on the higher speed limits and the person that's put their head on the line it likely to lose it after the media have had their way.

Personally I'd like to see more emphasis put on further training, maybe with more substantial insurance reductions, or even say road tax reductions (how much does even a fairly minor accident on the motorway cost the country?).

[Bendy]

Well, I'd be quite happy with that. I don't speed in town, so wouldn't worry about getting points by speeding past a school.

I'll speed down the motorway, and would be happier doing it knowing that getting caught would hurt my wallet but not my licence.

I don't think it's really saying 'rich people can speed' cos anyone who owns and runs a motor vehicle is by definition not 'poor' and could afford a £60 fine without massive hassle.

What it might do is see more people speeding (with the licence risk having gone) and if we're lucky, the accident statistics wouldn't change much, proving the folly of the current speed limit laws.

[Dusty]

[Major_Grooves]

[Bendy]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Well, if they did introduce that rule it would at least confirm that speed cameras are purely for revenue raising purposes to fund little organization committed to making life hell.

Personally I would say get rid of all the out of town speed limits.

Also an independent body to revue speed camera sites would be a good idea. To stop various anti car groups from prevaricating you would have to start from the premise that they should be removed, and unless a good reason can be found for keeping them within a certain time frame then they should be removed. Failing that any ticket issued from such a camera would be cancelled, but the points and fine would be spread among the senior management of the speed camera partnership.

All the best

Keith
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[Mr.Everready]

If its out of town maybe 2 fines would equal 3 points.

[Doddmaster]

I think it's a really good idea, and if they don't go back on their word I will probably be voting for the tories. The thing you mentioned about the rich people - I don't think it would be unlimited fines... you probably would get points when you have been fined twice or whatever

[Demonic69]

You should get fined more the posher your car
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[McJamweasel]

Make the fines means tested, as they are in Sweeden(I think). A couple of years back one of the Nokia top brass was fined £70,000ish for speeding, cos it was a means tested fine.
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[Ste]

Doubt that would work well, as the police will just then spend all thier time trying to catch the big cars on the motorways and not being bothered about people driving dangerously round town as they'll get a lot more money for it.

[MIKEY B]

Well there is definately one camera near me that is there purely for Money Making.

Its a straight road with a few junctions, and the camera is situated 15ft behind a Zebra crossing. If this was to help the safety of pedestrians or other road users surely it should be before The Zebra crossing!!

Knowing that the car was speeding after is has gone past the Zebra crossing is no help to the poor pensioner who was run down walking accross the bloody thing.

I mean lets face it people are more likely to slow down if they see a speed camera.

I personally think Guy Fawkes was the only bloke who had the right idea. Yet everyone loves Fireworks night even though it is celebrating his attempt at blowing up the government being stopped!!! Get rid of the Government as all people who run it are in it for the money.

Anyways,

Rant over,

Mike.
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[McJamweasel]