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RobBrady
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Joined: Jul 21, 2004
Posts: 2718
Location: Chelmsford, UK
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 Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:25 pm Post subject: Speed Cameras Reprieved, Reconsidered, Axed and Anticipated |
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 This week sees more speed cameras being put out to pasture, but we also "welcome" back many cameras into the fold after their short break.
Fixed speed cameras on the Isle of Wight have now been switched off as a result of the recent government budget cuts, but as Darren reported in this weeks newsletter (see our latest newsletter here and to receive future newsletters use the "Free Email Updates" box in the left panel), the big news of the week is Oxford's decision to switch their 72 fixed cameras back on. The u-turn follows protests from road safety groups and residents and it's believed that the cameras will be reactivated in a number of weeks.
Additionally, subsequent to Buckinghamshire County Council's announcement in August that the county's speed cameras faced cutbacks, this decision is now under review and awaiting completion of a speed monitoring check.
But This is Somerset has reported that although some cameras in their area are being mothballed, residents will soon see the mother of all cameras on their roads in the not to distant future. Following the news that Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership has shut their camera network down and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset have scaled back, west England police forces anticipate delivery of new "super speed cameras" called "ASSETs" (Advance Safety and Driver Support for Essential Road Transport) within the next two years.
The new mobile cameras will be mounted on trailers and, aside from issuing speed tickets, they can record and automatically fine...
* Drivers not wearing a seatbelt
* Vehicles driving too close to the car in front
* Vehicles with out-of-date tax discs
* Vehicles with no insurance
Of course it's just as likely that these cameras will be rolled out nationwide. But what about the budget cuts I hear you shout? Apparently, the "ASSET is being funded with over £7 million of European Commission money.
It may just pay for itself though. It won't have escaped many people's attention that this super speed camera will also do a "super" job of earning far more revenue than the present, humble cameras could only dream about. Tax by the back door has often been the argument against speed cameras - is a big-brother prosecution machine going to stop that argument?
Will the additional deterrents that aim to reduce potential accidents and prosecute several motoring offences in one go win more of the public over?
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AliOnHols
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Joined: Oct 15, 2008
Posts: 1942
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| Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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If anybody with any government money to spare is reading this, I'll sit by the road-side with a digital camera, a lap-top and and a speed gun for £6million for the next 10 years. I'll happily travel all over the country choosing different locations too. So, save yourselves a £million and give me a call.
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spook51
Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 26, 2004
Posts: 548
Location: East Midlands
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| Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Perhaps Somerset County Council reducing its roads budget by 72% has something to do with the introduction of these cameras there. |
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Larok
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Joined: Dec 08, 2006
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| The ASSETT cameras sound great! Tailgaters do my nut in. Those with financial objections can rest assured that the amount of money spent on treating cancer provides about a fifth of the return on life years saved than the spend on traffic cams. |
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Skippy
Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12
Posts: 2946
Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:57 am Post subject: |
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| Larok wrote: | | The ASSETT cameras sound great! Tailgaters do my nut in. Those with financial objections can rest assured that the amount of money spent on treating cancer provides about a fifth of the return on life years saved than the spend on traffic cams. |
Ahh, there's no financial objection to the cost of running speed cameras, they don't cost anything to run - they make a fortune in fines.
But what if I tailgate so close that the camera can't see my number plate though. What then? 
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AliOnHols
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:15 am Post subject: |
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I do have financial objections. I think that £7m is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on speed cameras. I'd rather have £7m worth of more police officers out on the streets doing police officer stuff including traffic duties.
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M8TJT
The Other Tired Old Man
Joined: Apr 04, 2006
Posts: 10118
Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| Skippy wrote: | | Ahh, there's no financial objection to the cost of running speed cameras, they don't cost anything to run - they make a fortune in fines. |
If this were the case, then surely the government would not let councils switch them off and miss this obvious trick to extract cash from the motorist? Is it not that the running costs are, for some unexplained reason, high, and now more than the grant thatncouncils receive from the government from the fines that they raise? |
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spook51
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Joined: Mar 26, 2004
Posts: 548
Location: East Midlands
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:12 am Post subject: |
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| AliOnHols wrote: | | I do have financial objections. I think that £7m is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on speed cameras. I'd rather have £7m worth of more police officers out on the streets doing police officer stuff including traffic duties. |
ASSET is not a speed camera, it is an integrated traffic monitoring system capable of identifying a number of infringements including, in its advanced configuration, over-weight lorries and also technical problems: over-heating wheel bearings and brakes for example.
I suspect many drivers would welcome its ability to identify uninsured vehicles or overloaded trucks. To consider and dismiss it as a speed camera is wrong.
Lots more info here: http://www.project-asset.com/index1.php?lan=en |
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Graculus
Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 07, 2006
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| spook51 wrote: | | To consider and dismiss it as a speed camera is wrong. |
So why does the press article consider it as a speed camera? Lazy journalism once again, methinks.
Ah, so it's a "concept", not actually a fully working system yet. I would suspect that the first generation talked about will not do all the wonderful things advertised. Also, looking at the link, I see that it depends on a lot more than just a few cameras, but all sorts of other sensors, and having RFID chips on your number plate, and the ability to track your movements - that'll go down like a lead balloon. |
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Skippy
Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12
Posts: 2946
Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| M8TJT wrote: | | Skippy wrote: | | Ahh, there's no financial objection to the cost of running speed cameras, they don't cost anything to run - they make a fortune in fines. |
If this were the case, then surely the government would not let councils switch them off and miss this obvious trick to extract cash from the motorist? |
The Labour government treated the motorist as a cash cow, extracting large amounts of money from them. Fuel duty and road tax increases dressed up with green-wash, speed cameras to make our roads "safer", more bus lane cameras and decriminalised parking fines to cut congestion etc.
People were getting fed up with it all and stopped believing the spin, eventually the Tory government manifesto declared an end to the war on the motorists.
| M8TJT wrote: | | Is it not that the running costs are, for some unexplained reason, high, and now more than the grant thatncouncils receive from the government from the fines that they raise? |
Interesting theory, but my understanding is that Gatsos make a lot of money, certainly an amount far in excess of the cost of installing and running them. An added saving is the number of police taken off traffic duties to do other work.
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Andy_P
Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005
Posts: 19991
Location: West and Southwest London
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| Skippy wrote: |
People were getting fed up with it all and stopped believing the spin, eventually the Tory government manifesto declared an end to the war on the motorists. |
And you SERIOUSLY believe this bunch will actually change anything ???  |
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spook51
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Joined: Mar 26, 2004
Posts: 548
Location: East Midlands
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| Andy_P wrote: | | Skippy wrote: |
People were getting fed up with it all and stopped believing the spin, eventually the Tory government manifesto declared an end to the war on the motorists. |
And you SERIOUSLY believe this bunch will actually change anything ??? |
They're damned good at ignoring their manifestos and changing their policies after the election!  |
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Skippy
Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12
Posts: 2946
Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:52 am Post subject: |
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| Andy_P wrote: | | And you SERIOUSLY believe this bunch will actually change anything ??? |
Of course I didn't believe it! I saw the politicians talking about it on the telly and their lips were moving so they were definitely telling lies. 
Seriously though, the motorist has had enough and the fightback has started. Check the list so far:
Speed camera funding - withdrawn
M4 bus lane - closing
Cowboy clampers - being outlawed
However, it will be years before we know if this is just some cheap headline grabbing or if it's part of a wider move to stop the highway robbery.
And for the record, I didn't note for either of the main political parties. I support the Raving Loony party (does it show?) 
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DennisN
Tired Old Man
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 14902
Location: Keynsham
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| Skippy wrote: | | And for the record, I didn't vote for either of the main political parties. I support the Raving Loony party (does it show?) |
Is there any chance of them putting up a candidate for Keynsham next time? Or do I have to put myself forward? 
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Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
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Skippy
Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12
Posts: 2946
Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| DennisN wrote: | | Is there any chance of them putting up a candidate for Keynsham next time? Or do I have to put myself forward? |
I wouldn't have a chance against you, sir. 
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