why do we the motorists put up with speed cameras?

Question

there are millions of us yet very few police so why do we not just go out and destroy those damn cash machines?

Answer 1

There is an alternative to that, you could follow the law and just do the speed limit and then you can smile and enjoy your 15 minutes of fame on camera. Be sure and comb your hair and brush your teeth, smile real pretty when you go by.

Answer 2

In Holland, they destroy them. They have a website devoted to identifying where the new ones are and then they put a tyre filled with petrol round the camera and set it alight. The camera is totally ruined. So that's another £40,000 of motorist's fines they lose. With mobile cameras, they set up boards by the side of the road, warning everyone that there's a camera just down the road. The police cannot do anything about it.

Answer 3

Well you could say that about any aspect of the law that you disagree with. The UK democratic system ensures that police policy is kept broadly in line with the wishes of the people, so only a minority would wish to go out and destroy the cameras.
But some do - I have seen a web site with photos of burned out Gatsos.

Of course doing that has two effects: A small increase in the numbers of car accidents affecting only a minority group of stupid motorists, but conversely saving thousands of people minutes on their car journeys. Which is better?

Answer 4

I have wondered about that myself. The real question that I have is why do we let ourselves be bullied into having these cameras. My town started with a few cameras to "help keep people driving safely" and NOT "to generate revinue". If that was the case, then why, after a year of having them, and no decline in the amount of tickets given out, are they ordering more? Most of the cities that have these speed cameras are NOT interested in people dong the speed limit, they want the 60 dollars per ticket. My town argues that these are not to generate revinue, then why is the city counsel fighting over where to spend the money?
Also, is it LEGAL for them to issue a "civil penalty" for a moving violation? For them to issue you a ticket for breaking the law, it has to be passed from an officer of the law to you. It is then part of your record and can affect your insurance rates. These speed cam tickets are "civil penalties" that have no other reason than to dip into your wallet. They do NOT go against your permanent record at all. If the towns using these cameras were really interested in our safety, wouldn't they want to make it harder for bad drivers to get insurance, or maybe even suspend their licenses?
I guess I don't really have a problem with the cameras themselves, but if our city leaders just didn't lie to us about what they are for. Do they actually think that we can't see thngs as they are for ourselves?

Answer 5

I've got no objection to speed cameras - what I do have an objection to is police manpower being used to set up speed traps.

Then, when I ring them up on a Saturday night because the local yobs round our way are out on the lash again and trashing everybody's fences and cars, they turn up 20 minutes later when they've all gone home and then tell us they don't have the man-power to respond quickly.

Answer 6

Just don't speed and you won't have to worry about the cameras. If no one drove over the speed limit then they wouldn't be cash machines

Answer 7

definite, caution signs and indications are positioned for mounted cameras. yet a number of those are probably not switched on 24-hours. There are cellular cameras besides, that are harder to locate. those cameras are moved from position to position and utilized with the help of the site visitors police to video reveal rushing with the help of drivers. And definite, they do capture human beings for rushing ... and the fines are truly heavy.

Answer 8

Thought about this myself. Those BA**ARD money making machines. We all know it's all about revenue and nothing to do with safety. The bloody things are everywhere not just in black spots. There are thousands of motorist with convictions, that have been driving safely for years before those dam machines. So I'm with you on this.

Answer 9

Sadly there are virtually no speed cameras within miles of where I live and the lunacy of some drivers is staggering. Where testosterone and adrenaline drive a car then its God help anyone who gets in the way. What we do have are lots of roadside shrines where 'accidents' have occurred. In another area where cameras are common driver behaviour is so much more orderly. If you don't like cameras then you're a muppet and a dangerous one at that. Stay away from where I live

Answer 10

They're a deterrent. Designed to make you think about what you're doing. Personally, I think a lot of the speed limits are set too low, but I don't get angry at the cameras or the police, I get angry at the jerks who haven't got the basic common sense to slow down when they're driving past a school - you may be one of them. Why do you think they are painted bright yellow and signposted? The camera won't slow you down, the knowledge of the risk of a fine will.