Remove All Speed Cameras - What Would Happen

[AngelGrinder]

Inspired by Swindon council's plans the other week, even if they are only because they aren't making any money...

...But, if your local county was to remove ALL it's speed cameras, how do you think road safety/accidents would react...

Would people suddenly start racing through towns at 70mph and crashing at every bend and running over all the school children....

Would people continue to drive normally, except without braking heavily everytime they see a yellow box over the next hill...

Would people actually start being responsible as they no longer feel they are being targeted and people would use common sense, rather than relying on the magic numbers shown to them by the local council....

Discuss....

I think it wouldn't cause anything to change, people generally are sensible on the roads, most people caught by cameras are someone who is just unlucky, they do very little other than earn the government/council money.

You might get some people going faster....but at the same time less people will be panic braking everytime they see a camera...
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Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[thefallenange...]

I think it would work better iwth road bumps in 20/30mph zones and cameras in extreme blackspots for 40/50mph zones and policing better on motorways and bringing in more things like single car/motorcycle/bus lanes on motorways to encourage public transport/more economical use of transport and getting more lorries off the motorways and onto the railways.
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[St0rmer66]

There would be no change... because there are NONE in my county .
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:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::

[Biker101]

I have said it before and i'll say it again.

Near me there is a school (fox hill in queensbury), there are also 3 speed cams on the road, one day a kid will die because someone is concentrating on their speedo rather than the road, not a speeding boy racer but a general law abiding citizen who doesn't speed excessively but like anyone else sometimes creeps above to say 32 as its impossible to stay at 30.

When this happens, whether its here or at some other cam site, we will finally see more cameras being pulled down.

They are very dangerous imo, roads would be safer without them
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Past: 06 Runner SP50 >>> 01 Varadero XL125 >>> 08 Kwak ER-6f >>> 05 CBR600rr
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[Hetzer]

Roads would be safer, as most people would drive/ride appropriate to the conditions instead of spending most of their concentration adhering to stupid speed-limits that were set decades ago when cars were little better than shopping-trollies fitted with liquorice brakes.

Speed-cameras are a fvcking hazard.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[ms51ves3]

[Grav]

[sanchezz_182]

None in Dumfries an Galoway honestly don't think it would change a thing, the driving i see here is no better then anywhere else in the country.
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[Shaane]

People would flow at there own//better rate So hopefully... Traffic would flow better.
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[Carl Howell]

I find doing the speed limit makes me concentrate less. Just plodding along falling asleep or looking at the view. I don't mind so much through towns and past schools but I agree with the above post about looking at your speedo. I try to avoid going past schools when they close now because it hurts my brain trying to concentrate on everyone trying to get run over.

Money would be better spent or driver training.

[Stelmer]

My job would be less stressfull.

Day by Day it's:

No more constantly looking at the speedo and making sure not to have a crash from looking at speedo,

No worrying about the car tailgating me as I am abiding by the speed limit as to not ruin my license and job,

No stress wondering if I missed a camera and got a ticket...

Obviously the boy racers and chavs will have a field day and spoil it for the rest of us if all cameras were extinct.

[Shay HTFC]

[physbar monkey]

[D O G]

Speedometers should be removed from all cars and speed limits abolished. People would then have to use their judgement (perish the thought) as to what 'speed' is appropriate.

Of course this would not be a 'number', but require an assessment of the likely danger and conditions around them. I believe that this would probably result in lower average speeds, a much greater focus on roadcraft and observation, and increase safety greatly.

Coupled with appropriate signs warning of danger/risks (e.g. schools, dangerous bends etc), then I think the whole piece would be better.

Of course you would then be unable to be busted for the crime of speeding, but would be able to be busted for driving badly/in an inappropriate manner for the conditions, which may include an assessment of your speed by the police.

[iooi]

Swindons view on this is not safty based its purely monentry.... They are going to do it because THEY do not get the cash....

They have said that if speeds increase then they will bring in other measures to reduce speeds.
Many of these are more dangerous to bikes such as speed humps and stupid road calming measures. Such as narrowing of roads and more islands.... All which make filtering much more dangerous.

Checking your speedo should be a std part of your driving and should not distract you from the norm of driving, just the same as looking at a road sign won't.

As for the idea of removing speedo's and allowing pople to make judgments on what they feel are safe speeds.... You having a laugh as that boy racer is going to think that 70 is safe 100% of the time and handbrake turns are std road craft...... The person late for work..... The list goes on.
Never mind the fact on who's opinion are you going to rely on.... Oh good ol'e PC plod, look at the abuse they get now....

Such as this. iffy bend with a 40 limit 3 people killed this year all because they took it too fast.... Despite many warning signs about the bend and the fact they were all local and knew the bend.....

Its quite clear that drivers/riders are unable to make this now with speed limits.

Swindons drivers now have a chance to make their lives easier, will they do it, only time will tell.

Oh and North Yorks ain't got speed cams, but sadly they also have one of the highest road death counts in the UK.
They run with more cars on the ground and many crackdowns on drivers/riders over their roadcraft. Sadly speeding is the one that tops the list every time and is always lumped in with dangerous driving....
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[B_A_B]

I agree with iooi

I hate scameras but taking them all down isn`t gonna make the roads safer.That`s ridiculous.
"trust people to make their own educated decisions about what a safe speed is???".....fpmsl...again that`s ridiculous.
People who use the roads sensibly "now" probably wouldn`t change much at all.....but the ones who don`t would turn the roads into far more dangerous places than they are now.
Accident rates would go up very quickly imo.

I`d prefer to see some thought going into the placement of the cameras instead as they`re useful in some places (like urban/built up/residential areas),and some revision of the speed limits wouldn`t be a bad idea either.
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[Stevep]

I am sorry but I do drive a lot in my employment and have company supplied gadgets that are constantly beeping warning of cameras and also the roadside points where mobile ones are positioned. Getting rid of cameras would be a good thing even if it only gives me back my sanity from constant noises. A lot better idea are the ones that show your speed and give a smiley face if you are driving below the limit and a frown if you are above.
Blackpool have one such camera on Preston New Road and then 25 yards after a live real one to catch people who speed up after getting a smiley face.
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Harleys run Forever

[chris-red]

I don't think it is as cut nd dry as that, some speed cameras are definately beneficial. For example near me there is a school called campion which is on a main road called winkltyle (SP) lane at the bottom of this road there is a large dual carridge way called the A127. There is a speed camera before the school, coming for a high speed on the dual carridge way and being back in a 30 limit lot of people down adjust there speed appropriately, and go to fast down the road. It is definately worth it being here. I dont agree with them when they are purely about revenue. There are serveral on the A13 which for the most part is a 3 lane road with a 40 limit there is no need for it other than to make money.


I am for speed cameras as long as they are used well, in places that actully need it.
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[TomR6]

[s44678]

How about removing everything: Traffic lights, lane markings, road signs, pedestrian segregation, ALL speed limits (and therefore speed cameras). Empirically this has been shown to make the roads far safer for people.

The theory is that without lights, no one has right of way, everyone approaches with caution and had to think about where and when they are going, instead of blindly following green lights and road markings.

Think about it; When you are waiting (car or bike) at a red light and it changes to green, the subconscious message is "GREEN, FUCKING GO GO GO, EVERYONE GET OUT OF MY WAY".


More info on the guy who pioneered this https://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2008/feb/02/mainsection.obituaries

Sorry I could only find his obituary but I bet you could find more info If you have more time.

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[Feasty]

I've voted for the roads becoming even more dangerous if all speed cameras were removed.

Initially I reckon accident rates would probably rise very steeply due to the many idiots that would start using the roads as a race track with no regard for anyone else. Then when they've finally learnt or killed themselves off, things would get better and people would learn to respect speed a bit more - hopefully without the need for such close policing tactics!

It's the fault of using cameras in the first place that would cause all this though, I think it's a natural reaction to fight restrictions placed on you which you feel may be unfair. Which is why now when most people see a camera they'll slow down for it then immediately speed up again after it. If we'd never had cameras in the first place there wouldn't be anything to make us feel restricted and so want to fight it. Removing those cameras now would be like removing a weight of our shoulders, you'd want to flex your muscles and enjoy the freedom!
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[Kal]

I think what we'd gain on the swings we'd lose on the roundabouts so no change.

I do have this to say though. If you are spending all your time looking at yourspeedo, or are leaving so little disatance in front of view that you rear end shunt someone in the event they slam the anchors on then, quite frankly, you need your licence taking off of you and retraining.
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[Shaun]

Well there's no speed cameras anywhere near me and the standard of driving seems to be a lot higher generally than it was when I lived in Stoke.

It might just be because I live a few miles away from squires but drivers seem to notice me instantly when I come up behind them, a lot of them moving over or waving when it's safe to pass (trucks etc that have a better view).

I always slow down in 30's and everyone else appears to do the same, I've yet to come across any driving I consider to be dangerous. I have come across some tool on a motorbike though...

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Gumby]