New 'average-speed' cameras proposed for Lancashire roads (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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New 'average-speed' cameras proposed for Lancashire roads
6:47pm Tuesday 29th November 2011 in Blackpool
'Average speed' cameras, which monitor cars over a certain distance, may be introduced in Lancashire.
Accident blackspots on straight roads in the county could be covered by the cameras, according to highways bosses.
The proposals are part of an ongoing review of the way Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Police employ speed cameras in the region.
The Association of British Drivers (ABD) said a pair of cameras did cost £50,000, but County Coun Tim Ashton said prices have come down ‘considerably’.
Coun Ashton, highways chief at County Hall, says the cameras, which measure a car’s average speed on a particular stretch of road, may be erected on straight stretches where there are concerns over accident figures as a tool to cut serious and fatal incidents.
He is due to draw up a report on their implementation at the start of 2012.
He said: “On long stretches of road you have people speeding up and slowing down for the speed cameras which is not ideal because there are people who know the road and it is not very good for road safety.
“It works well on the motorway and there is no reason we can’t use it on long stretches of road.
“The whole philosophy is about reducing high accident figures – not making the most tickets and revenue.”
Coun Ashton has insisted that fixed and mobile sites used through new scheme Road-Watch will only be kept if they can be shown to improve road safety.
Roger Lawson from the Association of British Drivers said: “They are very expensive to install and operate and I think there are far simpler ways of improving accidents figures on most roads.
“Schemes have been abandoned in other areas because of cost.”
Comments(42)
johndarwen
says...
6:57pm Tue 29 Nov 11
Your ferret stinks
says...
7:22pm Tue 29 Nov 11
MrMungus
says...
7:35pm Tue 29 Nov 11
As ferret says it's all about monitoring our every move not just making money. The computer has to read your number plate and time and date you.
When other counties have finally admitted they don't work and removed them Lancashire is going to war on the motorist.
A very sinister and cynical move. Keep repeating the lie and eventually people will start to believe it.
1984
bounce63
says...
7:38pm Tue 29 Nov 11
Lifeinthemix
says...
7:48pm Tue 29 Nov 11
wheres the Englishmen?
frank
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7:49pm Tue 29 Nov 11
why do motorists only think of themselves and mostly think themselves above the law?
soup123
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7:50pm Tue 29 Nov 11
You find you eyes glued to your speedo. And if you just drive slower to be on the safe side you almost guarantee'd to get someone up your backside tailgating the whole way.
burner
says...
8:00pm Tue 29 Nov 11
johndarwen wrote:They DO keep speed down. I cite recent roadworks on the link between M4 and M40 near Henley- A404M , as an example during protracted roadworks. This is a VERY busy, and potentially fast dual-carriageway. During the lengthy road-works there were few accidents when law of averages might have predicted quite a few.
Here we go, Big brother will make more money from drivers, no lives will be saved like this.
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Only speeders and crims who don't want their movements monitored object. Stick to the limit, john, and nowt will happen to you ( in fact you are safer ).
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If cost allowed I would love this to happen on the Grane Road ( they work at night, too). Accident figures would drop right away.
BuckoTheMoose
says...
8:20pm Tue 29 Nov 11
I'm also tired of these sheep who comment that these big brother tactics only harm criminals, the nothing to hide, nothing to fear brigade. It's folk like that who allow these illiberal laws and penalties to be brought in.
Who are the government to decide an arbitary speed limit? The driver can decide on the best speed for the conditions, not some bell end in county hall.
If you slip over the 'limit' for a while when the conditions are fine and you do no harm, whats the problem? There isn't one.
'Kean on getting out..!
says...
8:30pm Tue 29 Nov 11
bounce63
says...
9:41pm Tue 29 Nov 11
frank wrote:Frank you just don't get it do you.Everything you need to live is delivered.three points x 4 in three years =ban . no job no money. In the factory they find you something else to do . In the workplace there are alternatives jobs , professional drivers get banned no money. yes it happened to me , tot up three months ban , cannot sign on , self employed use savings to pay bills. My crime was 33mph , 35 mph 37 mph on a redesignated dual carrigeway and 36mph.There are worse crimes Frank and those offenders go to work the next day. Ask the taxi lads who get banned for six months how hard it can be.Happy now Frank.
if 'hardworking drivers doing 50 thousand plus miles' had the ability to keep to a speed limit then they wouldn't get banned or lose their jobs.
why do motorists only think of themselves and mostly think themselves above the law?
No C Parker
says...
9:51pm Tue 29 Nov 11
Let's have these on every road, and get the law breakers off, then the roads will be quieter for me.
I have no sympathy for speeders.
"More dangerous concentrating on your speedo", Hmm, would you use that excuse on a driving test. Obviously you are an incompetant driver, if you can't do this. What next, mirrors and other motorists are a distraction too ....
Pratt !
burner
says...
9:56pm Tue 29 Nov 11
.
So, bucko, if I carry a knife or nick a tele from Comet, you think the sheep should carry on grazing? We don't live out Lord of the Flies, mate, this is real life where real people get hurt and real people do their best to protect the majority from the I-do-what-I-feel-lik
e brigade ( such as you? )
Mako V12V
says...
9:59pm Tue 29 Nov 11
Average speed cameras do not fine drivers on mobile phones, drink drivers, drivers under the influence of drugs, uninsured drivers, drivers of stolen cars etc
It's time people realise it's not speed that kills but INAPPROPRIATE SPEED for the CURRENT DRIVING CONDITIONS!
Btw, I've been driving for 20 years and have a clean licence!
s_smith
says...
10:36pm Tue 29 Nov 11
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Even worse is that many of the limits are not in fact appropriate for the vast majority of traffic using the road. lets look at the A585 from Preston to Blackpool - 50mph all the way, with little frontage development and 4 lanes wide in many places. It doesnt give the average driver the "feeling" of needing to drive slower.
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The science of driver psychology seems to be missed on many of the people who work in traffic engineering, particularly at Lancs. The best way of influencing driver behaviour - and hence choice of speed - is about changing the "look" of the road to the driver. You could put in 10mph limits or 100mph limits and all things being equal (i.e. no threat of enforcement for instance) in the main, most drivers would choose the same speed which is appropriate for what the road is telling them.
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Its a sad state of affairs when those in charge dont actually understand this.
Excluded again
says...
10:53pm Tue 29 Nov 11
I stick roughly to the speed limit and look at roadsigns. If there is an 8 foot high yellow speed camera next to road, I would expect to notice it.
In nearly 30 years of driving, I have yet to pay a penny piece to speed cameras. So I would recommend this approach to other motorists.
Mako V12V
says...
11:20pm Tue 29 Nov 11
It's these contraptions that hide over the brow or round a corner so in a moment of driving you are criminalised!
embeee
says...
12:05am Wed 30 Nov 11
bounce63 wrote:If your livelihood depends on your driving licence (even one with 9 points) then don't speed. And if you do, and you clearly did - repeatedly and regularly if you've had 4 tickets in less than 3 years - don't whinge when you're caught.
frank wrote:Frank you just don't get it do you.Everything you need to live is delivered.three points x 4 in three years =ban . no job no money. In the factory they find you something else to do . In the workplace there are alternatives jobs , professional drivers get banned no money. yes it happened to me , tot up three months ban , cannot sign on , self employed use savings to pay bills. My crime was 33mph , 35 mph 37 mph on a redesignated dual carrigeway and 36mph.There are worse crimes Frank and those offenders go to work the next day. Ask the taxi lads who get banned for six months how hard it can be.Happy now Frank.
if 'hardworking drivers doing 50 thousand plus miles' had the ability to keep to a speed limit then they wouldn't get banned or lose their jobs.
why do motorists only think of themselves and mostly think themselves above the law?
ffaust-fficken
says...
12:40am Wed 30 Nov 11
No C Parker wrote:I've been stuck behind you many times No C Parker. You just nudge 30 on your speedo, which in reality is 25-27 mph. When its safe to overtake you flash your lights as if I've just done a hit and run.
Brilliant.
Let's have these on every road, and get the law breakers off, then the roads will be quieter for me.
I have no sympathy for speeders.
"More dangerous concentrating on your speedo", Hmm, would you use that excuse on a driving test. Obviously you are an incompetant driver, if you can't do this. What next, mirrors and other motorists are a distraction too ....
Pratt !
No doubt you'll be at the front of a looong queue tomorrow.
Meanderthal.
Graham Hartley
says...
12:53am Wed 30 Nov 11
Dave_P
says...
2:21am Wed 30 Nov 11
HarwoodBiker
says...
5:58am Wed 30 Nov 11
Erm... What?
Doesn't this just highlight the fact that if these people who know the road have been driving on it for years without incident at a much higher speed than the cameras are set for, then in actual fact they are not the dangerous ones?
I'd say it's people who don't know the roads who are dangerous.
shaggybpc
says...
6:37am Wed 30 Nov 11
MJA
says...
7:21am Wed 30 Nov 11
BuckoTheMoose
says...
7:43am Wed 30 Nov 11
burner wrote:Well done. You've just compared driving a few miles above an arbitary speed limit and harming no one, to violence and robbery. Are you serious?
"I'm also tired of these sheep who comment that these big brother tactics only harm criminals, the nothing to hide, nothing to fear brigade. It's folk like that who allow these illiberal laws and penalties to be brought in."
.
So, bucko, if I carry a knife or nick a tele from Comet, you think the sheep should carry on grazing? We don't live out Lord of the Flies, mate, this is real life where real people get hurt and real people do their best to protect the majority from the I-do-what-I-feel-lik
e brigade ( such as you? )
happycyclist
says...
8:26am Wed 30 Nov 11
BuckoTheMoose wrote:There are no "arbitary" speed limits. The people who decide are qualified to make those decisions based on a range of factors, including the safety of ALL road users and the road conditions.
I'm so sick of that idiot Ashton and his war on the motorist.
I'm also tired of these sheep who comment that these big brother tactics only harm criminals, the nothing to hide, nothing to fear brigade. It's folk like that who allow these illiberal laws and penalties to be brought in.
Who are the government to decide an arbitary speed limit? The driver can decide on the best speed for the conditions, not some bell end in county hall.
If you slip over the 'limit' for a while when the conditions are fine and you do no harm, whats the problem? There isn't one.
Unfortunately, many drivers are incapable of deciding on the "best speed" for conditions and that's why there are so many accidents.
I doubt you'd be spouting this **** if you'd ever lost someone close to you due to some **** who thought he didn't need to take any notice of road signs.
burner
says...
8:50am Wed 30 Nov 11
Bredrin
says...
9:36am Wed 30 Nov 11
so surely its time to get rid of these accident causing and ineffective cameras?
Surely its not about revenue and actually about safety? Or is it?
tu ru ru ru tu ru ru ru ...
everywhere is sh1t
says...
9:42am Wed 30 Nov 11
bounce63 wrote:tough if you speed and get caught don't cry about it at the end of the day you will only be done if you speed i just set the cruise control and away i go,no need to even look at the speedo,all the people **** about money making gets on my nerves you speed you pay simples
frank wrote:Frank you just don't get it do you.Everything you need to live is delivered.three points x 4 in three years =ban . no job no money. In the factory they find you something else to do . In the workplace there are alternatives jobs , professional drivers get banned no money. yes it happened to me , tot up three months ban , cannot sign on , self employed use savings to pay bills. My crime was 33mph , 35 mph 37 mph on a redesignated dual carrigeway and 36mph.There are worse crimes Frank and those offenders go to work the next day. Ask the taxi lads who get banned for six months how hard it can be.Happy now Frank.
if 'hardworking drivers doing 50 thousand plus miles' had the ability to keep to a speed limit then they wouldn't get banned or lose their jobs.
why do motorists only think of themselves and mostly think themselves above the law?
Cha'mone MF
says...
10:28am Wed 30 Nov 11
Cha'mone MF
says...
10:31am Wed 30 Nov 11
Lifeinthemix wrote:Well done, incite people to commit acts of criminal damage that's really responsible. People like you were arrested for doing this back in August.........moron
lets hope this new adventure called burning speed cameras takes off...
wheres the Englishmen?
BuckoTheMoose
says...
10:40am Wed 30 Nov 11
I would definately still be spouting all this, even if a speeding driver killed someone I love. I always think about that situation before I form an opinion so saying what if, isn't going to change my mind.
Burner - Look again at my comment. "You've just compared driving a few miles above an arbitary speed limit and harming no one, to violence and robbery" I didn't say speeding harms no one. I said you have compared the speeders who do harm no one to violent criminals.
999 times in a thousand, driving over the arbitary limit results in no harm what so ever. If nobody is harmed there is no need for punishment.
If someone drives at an inappropriate speed for the conditions and causes an accident then yes they should be punished.
Punishing people for driving in a manner which they deem safe for the conditions is just revenue generating.
Happycyclist - All limits are arbitary. Council bods don't have any better judgement than drivers. A road may have a thirty limit, but in heavy rain you may do twenty and in clear conditions with no traffic you may do thirty five. Speed depends on the traffic volume, the weather conditions and the type of road. Speed limits can't take any of this into account and neither can some bloke behind a desk at county hall.
happycyclist
says...
11:24am Wed 30 Nov 11
There's also the danger that those who can drive fast safely will put pressure on those who cannot to up their speed and become a danger. The herd mentality will kick in with everyone going faster.
Higher speed limits also make it more difficult for pedestrians to cross roads and more difficult for traffic to enter a traffic flow from side roads/driveways, or cross a lane of traffic to turn right -all a cause of accidents.
No C Parker
says...
12:18pm Wed 30 Nov 11
ffaust-fficken wrote:Oh dear.
No C Parker wrote: Brilliant. Let's have these on every road, and get the law breakers off, then the roads will be quieter for me. I have no sympathy for speeders. "More dangerous concentrating on your speedo", Hmm, would you use that excuse on a driving test. Obviously you are an incompetant driver, if you can't do this. What next, mirrors and other motorists are a distraction too .... Pratt !I've been stuck behind you many times No C Parker. You just nudge 30 on your speedo, which in reality is 25-27 mph. When its safe to overtake you flash your lights as if I've just done a hit and run. No doubt you'll be at the front of a looong queue tomorrow. Meanderthal.
Firstly as you say 30 on the speedo is actually 25-27, so those who get done for speeding at 35, their spedo must have said about 40, thank-you for just confirming that people speeding excessively.
Secondly it's a speed limit, that means maximum, look it up in the dictionary it't not rocket science.
Lastly yes it may be me nudging 30mph, laughing at you getting so wound up behind me because you think rules don't apply to you (aren't you the great rebel !), and if you look in my window you'll see me laughing, and next time I pass you in a ditch because you know how to drive the roads far better than anyone who makes decisions about speed limits, I'll be sure to wave, still laughing, if you hit a person, I'll be sure to stop and report to the police that you were infact driving irratically and that it was your fault (I will out of respect for the injured supress my laughing at this point).
And it's "Neanderthal"
BuckoTheMoose
says...
12:45pm Wed 30 Nov 11
You may be right. I just wish there were some compromise available on the speeding issue. I don't like to see people penalised when they have done no harm.
bikerjohn_uk
says...
12:54pm Wed 30 Nov 11
No C Parker wrote:Couldn't agree more. A competent driver should be able to monitor speed AND pay attention to the road AND keep full control of the vehicle at the same time. If you can't, you shouldn't be driving. And in any case if you're driving properly and obeying the rules of the road (including speed limits) then the presence of speed cameras should cause you no concern whatsoever.
Brilliant.
Let's have these on every road, and get the law breakers off, then the roads will be quieter for me.
I have no sympathy for speeders.
"More dangerous concentrating on your speedo", Hmm, would you use that excuse on a driving test. Obviously you are an incompetant driver, if you can't do this. What next, mirrors and other motorists are a distraction too ....
Pratt !
mysay.com
says...
2:02pm Wed 30 Nov 11
1 it IS about revenue not safety
2 the first concern for most people IS to instruct others on hwo they should behave
3 the issue of speed verses safety isnt actually as simple as it has been claimed.
I just wonder when the TRUE statistics are going to be revealed, how many of these accidents are caused by people not looking before they pull out into oncoming traffic with no warning, how many are caused by people crossing the road without looking or any warning and how many are ACTUALLY CAUSED by someone driving above the speed limit AND losing control of their vehicle.
in other words for those who cant work it out, how many accidents are actually caused by excessive speed?
I would guess as a taxi driver of 20 years travelling in excess of 1000 miles per week, WITH a clean license that the results would show a very small percentage which would be affected in any way (other than paying the fines) by reducing or monitoring speed.
whatever happenned to the green cross code, lets introduce a fine for parents who allow there kids to cross and cause dangerously and cause accidents, that WOULD actually improve road safety
Lifeinthemix
says...
2:38pm Wed 30 Nov 11
take out your birth certificate and look for the copyright.
let me know what you find and the lesson will continue....
brossen99
says...
3:13pm Wed 30 Nov 11
maxcollie
says...
5:09pm Wed 30 Nov 11
DON'T SPEED AND DON'T PAY A FINE
It's not rocket science
bankhall
says...
1:25pm Fri 2 Dec 11
ste.g says...
6:53pm Tue 29 Nov 11
come on tim we all know its about making money.