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To outline what is in the link above, I have copied the text below (for those too lazy to click XV’s link!). It is in the ‘Letters to the editor’ section of The Times newspaper, March 2nd 2004:
Speed cameras’ proper purpose
From Mr Kevin Shapland
Sir, I am a former Metropolitan Police officer and now work as a consultant assisting the criminal justice system in general and the Police Service in particular to identify ways of increasing public confidence.Everywhere I go in England and Wales I am acutely aware of how speed cameras (leading article, February 28) are undermining public confidence in the police and distracting from other areas of policing.
Speed cameras will not detect dangerous drivers or uninsured drivers or indeed those who still choose to drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
It is public perception as opposed to the reality that has the greatest impact on confidence and the fact remains that the majority of people still view speed cameras as a means by the police to raise revenue.
More targeted use of speed cameras accompanied by appropriate publicity will greatly assist in increasing public confidence.
Yours faithfully,
KEVIN SHAPLAND,
(Partner),
Media Outcomes,
Brook House,
Abbotts Close, Titchmarsh,
Northamptonshire NN14 3AW.
March 1.From Councillor Richard Hughes
Sir, Speeding is a major cause of death on our roads, and is an offence. It is the job of the police to prevent and detect crime as efficiently as they can and the use of speed (or safety) cameras is as efficient as you get. The fines they raise are no more a “stealth tax” than are fines imposed for theft, fraud or any other offence.
The insistence on painting the cameras fluorescent yellow was crass. I also do not follow the argument that the cameras should be sited only where there have been at least four serious accidents.
The cameras’ purpose is to catch people breaking the law. The fact that, in doing so, loss of life may be reduced is a fortunate by-product.
Yours truly,
DIXIE HUGHES,
5c South Street, Weedon Bec,
Northampton NN7 4QP.
[email protected]
March 1.Wow, that sounds so weird, “Just make sure it’s in neutral and hit the kill switch”.
If it isn’t in neutral what happens? And speaking of neutral, do you ever get false neutral as often happens on motorbikes?Well spoken XV. I think there is a greater need for warning signs than cameras in many of the areas where cameras are currently situated. The imbalance in the current approach certainly needs addressing too and many people (myself included) are not aware of to just what extent this imbalance is currently sitting at.
Welcome to the forum, DD. Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to introduce yourself in the members’ bikes section. You’ve got some great roads in Wales, interested to hear if you’ve got some favourites.
Don’t think they’ve changed since Austin A35 days. There is a need for restrictions but let’s have them a bit more sensible!
Seems to be the ideal sports size these days. Bigger capacity bikes aren’t necessarily more useable on the road.
Wow, that’s some going. Imagine overtaking a car or bike that’s doing 90MPH and telling them later you were in first gear! They wouldn’t believe you.
quote:
Originally posted by diablo1) A Trip to Leh. This is the mecca of riders. It has the highest motorable road in the world at the Khardungla pass. A few friends from the RD club went on their bikes
I remember a long trip across Europe I did with a few mates. I was on a GPZ750, and there was a VT500 Honda and a YPVS350. The YPVS really struggled to breathe as we climbed the Swiss Alps and nearly conked out a few times, despite running great at lower altitudes.
