Why do people moan about speed cameras - if they were concentrating when driving they'd notice a yellow box

Question

After all Jerermy Clarkson hasn't got a speeding ticket and I'm sure he is not always below the limit.

I think you deserve a ticket for driving without due care and attention.

Don't get me on fog lights!

Yes, like most people I do speed occasionally, but I keep an eye on everythign around me, including looking out for yellow boxes (and yes you should be looking wide angle, not just focused on a little bit of tarmac in front of you). I think most people who get tcikets have lost concentration - witness their failure to notice a speee camera - which is a fair enough reason for a speed ticket.

Or they are probably talking on their phones.

What annoys me is the "they are out to get me attitude" - they won't get you if you (a) don't speed or (b) if you do, keep your eyes open, or get a sat nav that tells where cameras are! It really is quite easy NOT to get a ticket!

Answer 1

the only people who complain about speed cams are the prats that get caught

Answer 2

"I think you deserve a ticket for driving without due care and attention"

Including if you kill someone due to your lack of care and attention?

It's already a criminal offence, but there aren't any traffic officers to enforce it. The thing is, speed cameras aren''t designed to stop that. One summer I happened to be on the M5. I've never seen such an empty road during daytime before or since. A policeman clocked me at 128mph, and stopped me. We had a short conversation, discussing traffic (two vehicles, me and him, even the opposite lanes were empty) light and vision (100% it was a summer afternoon). He agreed the speed was no danger and asked to make sure my speed was always relevant to conditions in future. Off he goes, and off I went. Try pleading logic and common sense to a speed camera.

Perhaps if we didn't have to look out for yellow boxes we could concentrate on our driving more.

Answer 3

Hmm, something of a blanket opinion methinks.

I'm all for speed camera's in good locations, towns schools, etc and to be honest, ALL of the motoring press are in agreement that to use them in such applications is excellent.

What the motoring lobby hate are the cameras that are perched in the middle of five mile straight roads, where there is no danger, or at best, marginal danger.

Whilst you are entirely correct, I don't believe for a second that you've never speeded, nor driven with a broken headlight bulb or indeed, driven round with your foglights on by mistake.

All of which are illegal, and i bet youd be one of the first to moan if PC plod pulled you over and gave you a £20 fine for having your foglights on.

The speed laws in this country are daft and need revising, motorway limits have been the same for 40 years, yet cars have more than halved the stopping distances quoted by the DVLA. In the same light, i think speeds around schools etc should be dropped to 20mph.

Answer 4

I don't ever intentionally speed , I don't think a lot of people do I think those signs that light up and warn you if you are over the limit are a good idea,sometimes when on a new road it is not always clear what the speed limit is not every where is clearly sign posted

Answer 5

Most people who moan about speed cameras are speeders who have no consideration for any other motorist on the road. They are usually younger drivers who like to show off or race their pals. We have had hundreds of fatalities over the country mainly concerning drivers aged 17-25 and those who don't die usually end up in court for causing death to their passengers or people in another vehicle, by dangerous driving. I know that we should all be responsible for our own actions but unfortunately we aren't and so I think there should be more speed cameras on more roads, if they can't get their speed up and are constantly having to be aware of the cameras it may make them slow down.

Answer 6

They are not always that easy to see,and sometimes policemen hide in lay-bys with a hand held camera.The speed limits in this country are too low,they have stayed the same since the 1960s.
Clarkson asked a question last night..it made sense.
What is the stopping distance at 70mph?
When told the answer he said "An Aston Martin can stop in half that time..should n't it be allowed to go 140mph?"

You see his point..maybe 140mph is rather excessive but 80-90 in today's safer cars should be OK.

Answer 7

Going a bit off the original answerers' question but, in regards to the greater braking capabilities - at 30mph about 40% of the time spent braking is spent actually thinking about braking.

Unless we upgrade to Human Brain 2.0 this constant isn't going to change.

(incidentally it is pleasantly surprising to note that I can brake from 70 to 0 in 95m, it's easier to visualise now the HC is in metres :-))

Answer 8

Drive within limits and drivers have nothing to worry about. A few over will go unnoticed, drive 20 over and you're going to get caught, camera or no camera.

Answer 9

If people didn't speed they wouldn't even need to see the speed camera!

Answer 10

If people stuck to the speed limit and concentrated on their driving then we'd all be safer.

Answer 11

Someone who thinks the same way I do!, if you don't speed, you won't get caught, simple as that. If you break the law, and are aware of what the law is, don't come crying to me about it! I wouldn't go out and murder someone and then whinge about going to prison.....