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Cambridgeshire Speed Campaign Benefits From New Database
Article by: rob brady
Date: 4 Jan 2012
Residents of Cambridgeshire are hoping to benefit from safer roads as a new database is launched to assist with the current Speedwatch campaign.
The scheme allows local residents to erect temporary speed cameras to help catch offending motorists.
The information collected by the cameras is then used to send the drivers letters which warn them about their driving, helping them to adjust this whilst avoiding formal prosecution through a speeding ticket.
David McCandless, one of the scheme's co-ordinators, told the Cambridge News and Crier that the warning letter was designed to give drivers the "jolt" they needed, highlighting the need for them to adjust their speed.
Since records began, as many as 10,000 drivers out of 12,243 vehicles checked have been caught speeding by the community cameras in the St Ives area alone. This huge percentage of speeders raises many questions in itself!
The cameras used in the scheme were placed over twelve different areas within St Ives and are said to have completed over four hundred speed check sessions.
Statistics for other areas showed similar results with Ramsey finding more than three thousand people guilty of speeding since June 2010. These speed checks were held over more than one hundred sessions, covering twelve villages and towns in the area.
To help residents improve the scheme further, a new database is being launched for the campaign. McCandless explained that this would see a combined records database for the community used, making it quicker to check vehicle details such as whether there is insurance or a valid MOT.
Is this type of verification just one more step towards communities helping to diminish the need for more police officers?
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| Comments
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 Posted by Andy_P on Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:54 pm |
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| News Team Wrote: |
To help residents improve the scheme further, a new database is being launched for the campaign. McCandless explained that this would see a combined records database for the community used, making it quicker to check vehicle details such as whether there is insurance or a valid MOT. |
Does this mean these volunteers get access to driver's insurance and MOT records?
Surely that would break every data protection rule in the book?
"Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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| Posted by DennisN on Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:55 pm |
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| News Team Wrote: | Since records began, as many as 10,000 drivers out of 12,243 vehicles checked have been caught speeding by the community cameras in the St Ives area alone. This huge percentage of speeders raises many questions in itself!
Statistics for other areas showed similar results with Ramsey finding more than three thousand people guilty of speeding since June 2010. These speed checks were held over more than one hundred sessions, covering twelve villages and towns in the area. |
Whilst I thoroughly disapprove of speeding, this report makes outrageously horrifying reading.
First, it gives the impression of cowboy speed checkers operating unsupervised. | Quote: | | allows local residents to erect temporary speed cameras |
Just where and how are they erecting cameras - tripods or some dodgy bit of balancing on the boot of somebody's car?
Second, the differences between the two sets of figures offered are extremely odd - St Ives gets 10,000 speeders out of 12,243 vehicles checked. But Ramsey checks 22,588 vehicles and reports only 3,063 for speeding. It won't happen to me, but in the case of St Ives letters, I'd be wanting to know just what sort of operation is running, by whom and exactly what training they'd had and if the cameras are calibrated sufficiently frequently.
Third, there is an implication that these cowboy camera operators have access to ANPR technology. So all I need is a pal in Cambridgeshire to be able to find out where lives the nuisance who parks outside my house during the school run! 
Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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| Posted by RobBrady on Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:26 pm |
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| Andy_P Wrote: | | News Team Wrote: |
To help residents improve the scheme further, a new database is being launched for the campaign. McCandless explained that this would see a combined records database for the community used, making it quicker to check vehicle details such as whether there is insurance or a valid MOT. |
Does this mean these volunteers get access to driver's insurance and MOT records?
Surely that would break every data protection rule in the book? |
Indeed it would break every rule in the book. Only the authorities would have access to the data collected by the volunteers. At least I assume so!
Robert Brady |
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| Posted by RobBrady on Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:27 pm |
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| DennisN Wrote: | | Just where and how are they erecting cameras - tripods or some dodgy bit of balancing on the boot of somebody's car? |
Tripods I believe.
Robert Brady |
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| Posted by 253 on Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:36 pm |
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| RobBrady Wrote: | | Andy_P Wrote: | | News Team Wrote: |
To help residents improve the scheme further, a new database is being launched for the campaign. McCandless explained that this would see a combined records database for the community used, making it quicker to check vehicle details such as whether there is insurance or a valid MOT. |
Does this mean these volunteers get access to driver's insurance and MOT records?
Surely that would break every data protection rule in the book? |
Indeed it would break every rule in the book. Only the authorities would have access to the data collected by the volunteers. At least I assume so! |
Not so sure, if the information just said "Insurance - Yes' or 'MOT - No'. without giving any persoanl details e.g. people details on the insurance policy, then that would be OK.
It's 'personal' details that are subject to the DPA.
So I am assuming that there is probably a way around it, otherwise the RAC/AA and others would be over it like a rash.
edit by me.
Just remembered that the AIB (or whatever they are called) the Insurers Association only allow full access to their insurance database for certain reasons, and speeding is not one of them.
Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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| Posted by technik on Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:23 pm |
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Anyone with a PC and internet connection can check the MIB database to check if a vehicle is insured.
Somehow I think this is just a scare mongering tactic that in reality will not be in the hands of the OAP volunteers.
Most of the Community Speed Watch signs here were ripped down afew days after they appeared.
GO 620, Tomtom Android EU,
Garmin 2548LMT-D; 2599LMT-D |
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| Posted by MaFt on Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:57 am |
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| technik Wrote: | Anyone with a PC and internet connection can check the MIB database to check if a vehicle is insured.
Somehow I think this is just a scare mongering tactic that in reality will not be in the hands of the OAP volunteers.
Most of the Community Speed Watch signs here were ripped down afew days after they appeared. |
If you mean this: http://ownvehicle.askmid.com/ then it is only meant for YOUR OWN vehicle:
| Quote: | Data Protection Declaration and Vehicle Ownership Statement
I am entitled to the insurance information about the vehicle detailed above for one or more of the following reasons: It is either registered/ owned/ insured by me or my employer; I am permitted to drive it; I am an Insurance Broker or agent and acting on behalf of my client.
I understand it is an offence to wrongfully obtain information of this nature without any of the above reasonable causes. If I fail to provide true reasons for acquiring this information I may be committing an offence of unlawfully obtaining data contrary to section 55 of the Data protection Act 1998. I declare that the information provided will not be used for any purposes unrelated to this enquiry.
I confirm that: I have read and understood the data protection declaration, one of the options stated above applies to me and I agree to the terms of use as stated on this website. |
Otherwise you need to pay for each request and still need a valid reason for it. I can't see the police getting the OAPs to pay for the information to send to the police...!
MaFt
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| Posted by MaFt on Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:05 am |
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But at the end of the day they have no legal standing. I could phone the police every 10 minutes and whine at them saying "a car just drove too fast" or "there's a car parked on double yellow lines". That's basically what these people are doing albeit with a pointless news report about it.
The police can do nothing unless they witness it with their own eyes. Until then it's just hearsay.
MaFt
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| Posted by M8TJT on Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:23 pm |
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Buity apparantly they can send you a letter 
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| Posted by MaFt on Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:42 pm |
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| M8TJT Wrote: | | Buity apparantly they can send you a letter |
If you want, I can send you a letter too?
Dear Mr T,
Someone told me you were being naughty the other day. I have no proof of this so I cannot do anything about it, but I just wanted to let you know.
Love & Kisses
MaFt
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