Your views on Motorway Speed Cameras

Lets try and keep this as serious as possible, might get some of our views in the press even!



As mentioned in a couple of other threads and in an article on the BBC Website they are turning on camera on a 40 mile stretch of the M4.



My personal is that it could cause a load more accidents by having
them, its bad enough when you've got to jump on the brakes on country
roads or in towns, but I for one think that my reactions are slower on
the motorway as you have less to do and less to look out for. You're
not expecting all the traffic to suddenly jump on their brakes when
they see a camera and panic that they could be slightly creeping over
the speed limit.



People are looking at junction exit signs, looking for longer in their
mirrors because they are changing lanes, sticky beaking to the other
side of the road etc. and all I can see is a high risk of multiple pile
ups and more accidents.



And anyone who has travelled more than a few miles on the motorway
knows that it only takes half a dozen of cars to change their speed
before there are major tailbacks. I can see the congestion being
shocking.



Anyway, thats what I think, what do you guys reckon?

 

I agree that it is a bad idea.

The M42 had a 50 limit with cameras while they spent 3 years cutting the grass or something equaly unnoticable, and everywhere the cameras weren't the traffic flowed nicely at 60 with sensible gaps between cars. Once you got to a camera, all the traffic slowed and bunched up.

However, lets be honest here. Speed cameras have absolutely f**k all to do with safety. They are there to make money, nothing more, nothing less.

Statistics bear out that the use of speed cameras actually has a detrimantal affect safety, yet they carry on putting in the cameras. Stealth tax.

 

I agree its a bad idea...there a camera right by work and there's at least a crash a week from people braking hard and the car behind going into the back of them - i know its not on a motorway but its the same principle. Lets face it its not the speed that kills it the slowing down quickly that does.

 

more of this i say

 

how many do you think you could do in a night?

but arent these cameras on the M4 mobile van units? or at least thats how it appears to be... so they would have to be dragged outa the van before torching it
Edited by: robz

 

the best thing to do with gatso's is to get a nice powerful pickup/4x4, attatch a chain to the rear and loop it round the gatso. Then drive off bending the gatso ever so slightly so that it points up a little.

this renders the camera useless as it misses the cars but doesn't draw attention to itself as it is not obviously damaged

back on topic-motorway cameras are a joke, they should put more effort/money into educating people on how to use these roads properly
Edited by: beaniegti

 

Thats a genius idea.



Or put a hammer through the lens

 

the lenses are meant to be very tough,

one near here has been used for shot gun practice, not a mark on the lense but the rest of the face is peppared with dents

 

i have to agree, there is enough stess on the motorway than having to have to look out for speed cameras on every corner

not that your speeding even doing the speed limit you sill look for them incase your doing a mph or two over

then you step on the brakes and slow to 65 or less anyway

i think they are dangerouse on motorways, and lets face it motorways are the safest roads we use, so why the hell do we need cameras on them?

 

not only that but i believe our m-ways are among the safest in europe.

The real dangers on these roads are those driving recklessly, tail gaiting and driving erratically, not to mention those that sit in their lane (usually the middle) totally oblivious to their surroundings, and should they need to change lanes (heaven forbid) they feel their indicators give them a right of passage.

 

Why doesnt someone just put a small mirror over the lens?

TOTALLY UNNOTICEABLE!

i hate the things

 

i was thinking of 2 things.. (sorry, thread isnt really sensible anymore

)

Air rifle to crack the lense, spraypaint over the lense ..

but seeing as apparently their tough..not so sure about the rifle now

 

Drive around with someone elses plates on. Never quite sure how they find out if you change them regularly.



Or even better, use french plates, they'll never bother to follow it up

 

my previous neighbour kept french plates on a peugeot import for 5 years... didnt pay road tax, or any parking/speeding fines

 

Theres been Scamera Vans on the M4 in Wales for ages, and the Wiltshire stretch is going to be Scamera vans too i think.

 

i'd be up for it if they fined you for poo driving, or for doing 70mph when the fog/rain make that too fast to be safe, but on a fine day it's just a moneymaking scheme

 

I think people need to chill out about speed cameras.

I was done by one once. You know why? because I was speeding.

No, they don't pick up other bad driving, but that's not what they're for.

so what if they don't pick up tailgaters, lane hoggers etc; one day, something will.

And you can be pretty sure the good ol' state will make sure you pay for it!

I reckon there're only three circumstances in which speed cameras are actually going to hurt you:

a) you get flashed in the eyes

b) it falls on you because some vigilante has lopped it off with a "Paddy's Motorcycle" (no offence intended)

c) you or someone around you is ALREADY driving outside the law (too close, too fast, whatever) and then when they see the camera they then make some pretty piss poor driving decisions because they're scared of getting caught.

I'm all for further driving instruction, especially MANDATORY dual carriageway/motorway lessons, and BIG incentives for people to go for proper advanced driver training.

it's as simple as this though; if there's a speed limit; stick to it. It's not always easy if you're "in the zone", I know as much as anyone, but it's really not that hard.

If the limit is STUPID, one way or another, help campaign to get it changed! If you think the 40 limit outside your kid's school bus stop is too high, then join/start a campaign to lower it. If you think a 50mph 5 mile stretch of dual carriageway on the local bypass is ridiculously slow, then join/start a campaign to raise it! or at least find out why it's so low!

Don't just whinge about it!

Phew I'm all opinioned out now.......sorry to go on, and on, and on, etc.