|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Speed Camera Support Declines
 The UK Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) have collated results from polls conducted by NOP for the AA since 1999 about attitudes to speed cameras. They report that over the last 10 years there has been a marked decline in their popularity.
Back in 1999, speed cameras had a huge overall approval rating of 92 per cent compared with just 75 per cent in 2009.
According to the data, support from men has fallen quite dramatically from 83 per cent in 2002 to 66 per cent in 2009. The research also shows that women are more supportive of speed cameras than men. The IAM speculate that because women commit fewer traffic offences than men, they may see cameras as less of a threat.
Maybe unsurprisingly, high mileage drivers, who travel over 20,000 miles a year, were found to be the least supportive of speed cameras.
The study claims that younger people have a more positive attitude to speed cameras than older drivers, with 17-24 year-olds giving the highest approval to cameras over all age groups. Drivers over 45 show the less favour to speed cameras giving the lowest overall approval ratings.
The IAM, said: "Young people don’t tend to drive as frequently or as far as the average driver, and they have also grown up in a surveillance society, which could explain why they show less objection to safety cameras – older people are more likely to resent being monitored in this way."
Maybe overall approval ratings will start to increase as younger generations grow older, or maybe the cynicism of experience (being caught once or twice!) will eventually kick in?
| Comments
|
 Posted by G1LIW on Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:55 pm |
 |
Or maybe, just maybe, we older farts have realised that the government thinks of us as a handy cashpoint machine? 
Roger, G1LIW
Google Pixel 3a XL Android Smartphone | SatNav Sygic for Android | Waze for Android | CamerAlert for Android | Blog http://rogersblant.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Posted by Gl3n on Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:15 pm |
|
The trouble with cameras is that there is no discretion used as to the road conditions and any other circumstances. More police cars or checks for people using phones, being drunk or using drugs would get people on-side.
The number of people I see driving like complete idiots (drifting between lanes, no indicators etc.) when using a mobile phone is not decreasing because they are not being caught and dealt with. Nor is the driver who hogs an outside lane for no reason. These can only be dealt with by a police officer in a car who sees their behaviour. A camera doesn’t spot or deal with those offences.
Positioning a speed camera on a dual carriageway, on the way up a hill, just after a length of single carriageway is just stupid! Why are they not outside schools or other sites where they would do some good? I suspect the number of fines wouldn’t cover the cost of installation at those locations but on a motorway they can rack up the numbers being caught and the revenue.
Until there is a fairness in the way other offences are dealt with speed cameras will always be viewed as another revenue stream for the government.
|
|
| Posted by MaFt on Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:37 am |
|
some good points Gl3n - covered recently by the fact that swindon have disabled their static cameras (ie they cost too much to run and aren't making enough money therefore clearly revenue earners and NOT safety [if they were safety then they would pay the cost regardless!]) and the fella who got a redlight ticket for moving out a police vans way (a real copper as opposed to a cameras would have been able to differentiate between a real offence and moving out a coppers way!!)
MaFt
|
|
| Posted by navver on Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:44 am |
|
I feel very sorry for the high milage business driver. Unless they pay a lot of attention to the current limit and their speed, which is difficult to do on unfamiliar roads, it is very easy to get caught. The more miles they drive the more likely they are to get caught and the more they are likely to stop concentrating for a while as they drift into auto pilot mode. The limits change so frequently, its very difficult to remember. Yet their livelihoods depend on not getting caught.
The cameras also take reponsibility for assessing a suitable speed from the driver. Drivers are turned into automated morons with one eye on the speedo and the other looking for cameras and limit signs. Makes it impossible to properly concentrate on the road and surrounding conditions. Speed is the only thing we have to watch.
With the increase in the number of average speed systems this will get even worse.
The reason why approval is falling is that more people have been mugged by these things. With the increase in the number of cameras the approval will continue to fall.
Tomtom Go520, App 8.010, Map UK&ROI 810.1870 |
|
| Posted by BrightonJohn on Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:44 am |
|
Strikes me that after all these years 75% shows a pretty solid public vote of confidence. I'm all for these devices and the sooner they can sense the use of a mobile phone in the hands of a driver the better I shall be pleased - not to mention drivers who smoke while in control of a car.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
