speed cameras?

Question

why do so many complain about them , it`s there to catch you speeding not just raise money for the goverment , at the end of the day you don`t speed you don`t get fined.

Answer 1

The thing is, once people know where the cameras are they slow down and watch the speedometer (not the road) until they're through and then everyone speeds up again.

Cameras are pointless (apart from the revenue they generate) and they are an unnecessary distraction on the roads in my opinion. There are many more factors that contribute to unsafe driving than speed alone.

I don't believe they have prevented more accidents either.

Answer 2

So based on your reasoning (or lack of), the same must then apply for these cities that do not have speed cameras, but actual people called police officers who use a device called radar sitting in a car along the road. They are then a distraction too since the speeders are looking for the cops instead of the child that just darted out in the street chasing a lost ball. Driving is a privilege. If you don't want to follow the rules and drive within the speed limits where you drive, that privilege can be revoked and you can learn the public bus schedules and put the taxi number in your phone's speed dial.

Answer 3

It's simple:
The faster you drive the more likely you are to be involved in an accident,( because the time you have to recognise the hazard and take evasive action is reduced). The faster you drive the more serious that accident is likely to be. Speed limits are set by engineers whose knowledge of these matters probably outstrips that of most people on here. The speed limit is the law, break it and pay the consequences, the same as any other criminal. Fines and points on your license are not inevitable, they are your choice. A close friend has been disabled by a speeding motorist, if anyone wants to discuss this face to face i'll be happy to oblige.

Answer 4

I agree, and I don't.

This is a case where the law of unintended consequences applies. On the face of it you are right - speed, get caught, pay up, end of story. However, an unintended consequence is alienation of the public. Normally law abiding people, who don't steal, get into fights, etc. are being subjected to surveillance that makes them feel like criminals. When so many millions of people are fined each year the law ceases to be a result of common social belief (an expression of social cohesion), but becomes an imposition from above (social fragmentation) creating an us-and-them society. Add a series of experiments with CCTV, speaking cameras, and the like and you have a recipe for tension between the rulers and the ruled. Crime then becomes an expression of defiance.

It's just a theory, but...

Answer 5

You're missing the point. Speeding isn't the issue - only a small percentage of accidents occur over the speed limit.

By focussing so heavily on speed the real issues have been ignored, and the lack of proper traffic cops HAS had a detrimental effect on the safety record of UK's roads.

You can drive past a school at 9.00am in the fog and rain at 30mph and it's totally legal, yet clearly dangerous. But you can;t drive past the same school at 2am at 35mph, even though it's immeasurably safer at that time.

To quote www.safespeed.org.uk "You can't measure safe driving in miles per hour"

The 'don't speed and you won't get caught argument' is exactly what the police want, as it keeps the cash rolling in!

Answer 6

Here's my take. If you offend some one with your speed Like other drivers or police see the offense committed you get a ticket. Yes Photo Cop in a box really takes in city revenue. You cannot cross examine a photo and computers (photo shop) just about rendered photo evidence inadmissible. But I have never seen a camera get offended. I have a different take on red light cameras however. Saving lifes at intersections is a good thing. Leave you with a lighter note. Get a photo ticket, Make a photocopy of the money and send that to the city to pay the fine.

Answer 7

The speed limit is there for a reason.
speed, break the law, get caught, get fined, why complain, it is not an attempt for the government to raise money for themselves, who has to pay the cops that come out to all the accident scenes and do the followup work after an accident caused by someone speeding, It ends up comeing out of the tax payers pocket, speed cameras raise revenue so that tax payers are not hit so hard in the hip pocket!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Good point...if you aren't doing anything wrong than you have no worries! If you are speeding then you should be caught before you hurt yourself or someone else..so slow down and you won't have to fuss about the camera's you shouldn't be speeding in the fist place!..ok I am ready I just know I am going to get slammed for that answer!

Answer 9

i dont get it

why dont people just drive slow when they are going past a speed camera then speed up after thats what i do. the lines on the floor tell you if there is a speed camera there.

Speed cameras are POINTLESS.

They ONLY catch otherwise safe drivers going over an antiquated 'number'.

They DON'T catch:

Car Thieves
Drunk Drivers
Rug Drivers
No Insurance
Dangerous Driving
Un-roadworthy Cars

ONLY REAL POLICE CAN DO THIS.

And for the cost of installing & maintaining a camera - you could have 3 policemen patrolling catching REAL criminals.

try this website http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/stetlist.asp

Answer 10

Its the governments way of making a few extra bucks and helping insurance agencies make extra money on the culprits

There are ways to avoiding getting caught such as specialized license plate covers amongst other accessories