Tony Raven wrote:
> Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>
>>Cue the Pink Panther music
>>
>>Durham, durham, durham durham durham...
>>
>>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3305719.stm
>>
>>Oh dearie me. Durham's fatality rate up by more than half - the same Durham which Sm*th touts as
>>the example of safety culture, with just one fixed camera.
>>
>>Possibly a blip, maybe just a bad year, possibly they are now the victims of speed tourists.
>>Durham, the Thailand of the speedophile...
>
>
> Paul Garvin was on the Today programme this morning. His comment was that the previous year was
> anomalously low because of the big impact of foot and mouth on traffic in the County. That may or
> may not be true but it sounds plausible. As pointed out in the article and on the BBC, their
> casualty rate is 33% below the national average and they do have speed cameras - its just that
> they use mobile and not fixed ones.
>
> Tony
>
>
I saw/heard that this morning too. The F&M reason seems plausible. Regarding the fact that they only
have one fixed speed camera, I noted his comment that they go after the people who cause the
problems - ie, those driving whilst banned, those driving without insurance, joyriders, persistant
offenders, etc? That was certainly the impression I got. And to be honest, if you're someone that
*does* speed, you'll know where the fixed cameras are, and it's very unlikely they'll catch you. If
you don't know where the next mobile one will show up, it makes it more likely you'll be caught (and
eventually either stop speeding in order to retain your licence, or wind up with a ban).
Of course, something similar could be managed by removing the highvis panels on existing fixed
cameras, and replacing them with stealth models which have no markings on the roads, and which
aren't visible even up close. That way they'll do their job without being a distraction to the
motorist to an extent that the speeders slam on their brakes to try and avoid being done....
I *do* think what Mr Garvin said has some basis in sound logic. Unfortunately it'll be twisted by
the anti-enforcement bunch...
Velvet