UK and Europe · Public discussion

Words fail me..

Started by Dirtylitterboxo · · Last activity · 33 posts · 1,944 views

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section
UK and Europe
Published
16 October 2003
Last activity
19 October 2003
Original author
Dirtylitterboxo
Posts
33
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
1,944
Views / 30 days
0

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Showing posts 1–20 of 33
Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Text size
  1. .. and it's not often that happens :-(

    See

    tinyurl.comr4h0

    "Norfolk firm insures against speed cams

    STEVE COX

    October 16, 2003 07:35

    Flash drivers, who lose their licences after getting snapped by speed cameras, will get their taxi,
    bus and train fares paid under a policy launched by a Norfolk insurance firm.

    The Flashguard policy pays up to £6000 for alternative transport costs, but has prompted words of
    caution from Norfolk Police and the Automobile Association.

    Adrian Flux Insurance, of East Winch Hall, near King's Lynn, which employs 230 people, has created
    the policy in response to the increasing number of automatic speed cameras which mean even careful
    drivers can get caught out.

    But a word of caution was sounded by Ian Crowder, of AA personal finance, who said: "Policies
    of this sort could encourage people owning such a policy to be less careful than they
    otherwise would be.

    "It has been introduced as a response to the growing plethora of speed cameras – these cameras are
    in place to help control excessive speed and reduce the likelihood of accidents."

    That view was echoed by a Norfolk Police spokesman, who said: "Norfolk Constabulary would take the
    opportunity to remind drivers that speed limits are in place to make our roads safer and must be
    complied with at all times."

    Gerry Bucke, of Adrian Flux Insurance, said: "Flashguard does not condone stupidity or dangerous
    driving, but we can all make mistakes. This policy means careful drivers who are convicted of
    speeding can carry on with their lives, albeit more slowly."

    The premium for the policy is £50 a year, or £40 if taken out before Christmas.

    In order to qualify for the scheme, drivers must have no more than six points current or pending and
    they must not have been disqualified for any offence during the previous 12 months. Drink and
    drugs-related convictions are not covered, nor are those directly associated with dangerous or
    reckless driving convictions.

    The firm's quoteline is on 08700 777888."

    Apparently all those poor drivers who break the law speeding and are caught out by those nasty speed
    cameras are really careful, law-abing citizens, and if it wasn't for those nasty cameras...

    AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

    Cheers, helen s This is an invalid email adress to thwart spammers To get my correct email remove
    the dependency on fame & fortune from
    h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

    Any speeling mistakes are as a result of cats on the keybrrrdd

  2. "dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    .. and it's not often that happens :-(

    See

    tinyurl.comr4h0

    "Norfolk firm insures against speed cams

    Not a new idea. I think I remember the main dealer in this sort of thing a few years ago introducing
    the exclusion clause for drunk driving bans - which they previously used to cover.

    cheers, clive

  3. dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

    Gerry Bucke, of Adrian Flux Insurance, said: "Flashguard does not condone stupidity or dangerous
    driving, but we can all make mistakes. This policy means careful drivers who are convicted of
    speeding can carry on with their lives, albeit more slowly."

    I like the careful drivers bit here - surely if they are careful drivers then they won't be speeding
    and hence won't get caught by the camera? And four mistakes in a three year period to get them
    banned doesn't sound like careful either.
    --
    Regards Tony Hogarty (take out garbage to reply, any mail to this account over 3k in size is deleted
    at the server)

  4. Re Speeding ban insurance.

    Look on the bright side Helen. It means persistant speeders will be less bothered about a ban and
    therefore may get banned all the sooner and will be effectively removed from the roads. I bet they
    can only do this a few times before being refused cover and their normal insurance premiums may rise
    astronomically.

    Pete

  5. dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

    Apparently all those poor drivers who break the law speeding and are caught out by those nasty
    speed cameras are really careful, law-abing citizens, and if it wasn't for those nasty cameras...

    AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

    Don't get too upset about it. Surely the insurance company doesn't intend to make a loss on this, so
    gullible drivers will end up paying even more.

    🙂 Andy

  6. "Andy Koppe" <a n d y @ d c s . e d . a c . u k> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

    Apparently all those poor drivers who break the law speeding and are caught out by those nasty
    speed cameras are really careful, law-abing citizens, and if it wasn't for those nasty
    cameras...

    AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

    Don't get too upset about it. Surely the insurance company doesn't intend


    to

    Quoted message said:

    make a loss on this, so gullible drivers will end up paying even more.

    🙂 Andy

    If my memory serves me correctly this policy is rather like the St Christopher and Chaufeurplan
    policies that were around in the 1970s - the cover was for a driver to be provided for you in the
    event of a drink driving ban ..... pretty clever, eh? BUT I think that they were outlawed by the
    government and/or the insurance regulatory bodies, i.e. made illegal to sell.

    Perhaps this latest aberration will go the same way - it certainly seems a bit rich to insure
    oneself against committing a crime....

    ..... so watch your mailboxes for the "Murder your wife and get away with it policy" - at a dodgy
    broker near you, real soon!

    Rob

  7. dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

    ..... even careful drivers can get caught out.

    This is making me seeth, I usually try to avoid commenting on things not relating to cycling but
    this is nagging me. Warning signs must be provided when speed cameras are in use, there have been
    two cases around here where convictions by camera have been quoshed because 1) the signs were the
    wrong design/colour or 2) Mobile equipement was bening used and no signs were in place. Drivers who
    do not see signs, for speed limits, for speed cameras, then fail to look at their speedos and fail
    to drive in a manner appropriate to the conditions are not careful drivers.

    --
    The Reply & From email addresses are checked rarely.

  8. Quoted message said:

    "dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    .. and it's not often that happens :-(

    See

    tinyurl.comr4h0

    "Norfolk firm insures against speed cams

    Quoted message said:

    Not a new idea. I think I remember the main dealer in this sort of thing a few years ago
    introducing the exclusion clause for drunk driving bans - which they previously used to cover.

    Quoted message said:

    cheers, clive

    St Christopher's, wasn't it? ISTR such schemes were eventually outlawed.

    --
    Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

  9. MSeries said:


    This is making me seeth, I usually try to avoid commenting on things not relating to cycling but
    this is nagging me. Warning signs must be provided when speed cameras are in use, there have been
    two cases around here where convictions by camera have been quoshed because 1) the signs were the
    wrong design/colour or 2) Mobile equipement was bening used and no signs were in place. Drivers
    who do not see signs, for speed limits, for speed cameras, then fail to look at their speedos and
    fail to drive in a manner appropriate to the conditions are not careful drivers.

    If I can put the other side these days there is a plethora of speed limits and I often find myself
    trying to remember what the actual speed limit is. One stretch of road that I travel on frequently
    goes from 50 down to 30 then back up to 40 then down to 30 again then back up to 50 before a 40 and
    then derestricted! Since I'm reaching that age where, as a friend describes it, you find yourself
    standing in the loo wondering what you went in there for, I also find myself wondering which the
    current speed limit is on that stretch of road. I always try to respect the speed limit but
    sometimes I do make a mistake with this confusion over what the current speed limit is.

    On the warning signs I have twice recently passed mobile speed cameras where no signs were up and we
    have a sign near here which is hidden by the branches of a tree in summer. I have no problem with
    any of them because I'm within the speed limit but it would be wrong to assume that not seeing signs
    for speed cameras is always a driver problem.

    Tony

  10. Tony Raven said:
    MSeries said:


    This is making me seeth, I usually try to avoid commenting on things not relating to cycling but
    this is nagging me. Warning signs must be provided when speed cameras are in use, there have been
    two cases around here where convictions by camera have been quoshed because 1) the signs were the
    wrong design/colour or 2) Mobile equipement was bening used and no signs were in place. Drivers
    who do not see signs, for speed limits, for speed cameras, then fail to look at their speedos and
    fail to drive in a manner appropriate to the conditions are not careful drivers.

    If I can put the other side these days there is a plethora of speed limits and I often find myself
    trying to remember what the actual speed limit is. One stretch of road that I travel on frequently
    goes from 50 down to 30 then back up to 40 then down to 30 again then back up to 50 before a 40
    and then derestricted! Since I'm reaching that age where, as a friend describes it, you find
    yourself standing in the loo wondering what you went in there for,

    LOL. If you're actually *in* the loo, you've something to worry about, because most of us stand in
    *front* of it!

    Quoted message said:

    I also find myself wondering which the current speed limit is on that stretch of road. I always
    try to respect the speed limit but sometimes I do make a mistake with this confusion over what the
    current speed limit is.

    On the warning signs I have twice recently passed mobile speed cameras where no signs were up and
    we have a sign near here which is hidden by the branches of a tree in summer. I have no problem
    with any of them because I'm within the speed limit but it would be wrong to assume that not
    seeing signs for speed cameras is always a driver problem.

    But having said that, a sign advertising that there is a speed camera does not neccessarily tell you
    what speed you're supposed to be doing.

    There are also rules that are supposed to be followed in the absence of signs (IIRC 30mph where
    there's street lighting and unrestricted otherwise), and there are always the small repeater signs
    where that rule is altered. I principle, you don't have to have seen a speed sign to know the
    maximum speed limit you are able to assume you are able to travel at, and the actual limit is either
    that limit or higher.

    Having said that, I agree that it's not always easy to figure out what speed you are allowed to
    travel at. However, travelling at that speed is primarilly *your* responsibility. If you can
    reasonably argue that the speed limit on a piece of road was *not* clear (because, for example there
    was no street lights and the signs were obscured) then you are entitled to argue your case (in court
    I guess) and may get away with it, which is also fair.

    However, that is not an argument for advertising speed cameras. Doing that is like saying "We want
    you to travel at 30mph here. But *here* we *really* want you to travel at 30mph. So in that other
    place, do what you like."

    --
    Trevor Barton

  11. Quoted message said:

    I like the careful drivers bit here - surely if they are careful drivers then they won't be
    speeding and hence won't get caught by the camera? And four mistakes in a three year period to get
    them banned doesn't sound like careful either.

    Quite. I distinctly remember that when being taught to drive, the intructor pointed out this thing
    on the dashboard called a speedometer. He told me that the the number the needle was pointing to
    told me how fast I was driving. He also stressed the importance of speed limits and how it was
    (perhaps it really is past tense...) important not to break the speed limit on any given road. This
    also formed part of the driving test which I managed to pass, so it can't be that difficult. The
    way I look at it, if one of those new-fangled speed camera thinggies catches me speeding then I
    have no-one to blame but myself as I won't have been driving carefully or paying attention as I
    break the law!

    Cheers, helen s

    This is an invalid email adress to thwart spammers To get my correct email remove the dependency on
    fame & fortune from h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

    Any speeling mistakes are as a result of cats on the keybrrrdd

  12. Tony Raven said:

    On the warning signs I have twice recently passed mobile speed cameras where no signs were up and
    we have a sign near here which is hidden by the branches of a tree in summer. I have no problem
    with any of them because I'm within the speed limit but it would be wrong to assume that not
    seeing signs for speed cameras is always a driver problem.

    There shouldn't be signs for cameras IMHO. As a driver, you _should_ be obeying the speed limit and
    you _know_ you should be. If you aren't and you get caught that's a fair cop.

    Simon, has been caught speeding twice in twenty five years driving.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simon

    ;; Life would be much easier if I had the source code.

  13. Simon Brooke said:
    Tony Raven said:

    On the warning signs I have twice recently passed mobile speed cameras where no signs were up and
    we have a sign near here which is hidden by the branches of a tree in summer. I have no problem
    with any of them because I'm within the speed limit but it would be wrong to assume that not
    seeing signs for speed cameras is always a driver problem.

    There shouldn't be signs for cameras IMHO. As a driver, you _should_ be obeying the speed limit
    and you _know_ you should be. If you aren't and you get caught that's a fair cop.

    According to my personal moral compass, I agree and the lack of such signs certainly shouldn't be
    a defense when someone is snapped. However, if signs saying "We are watching you!" can be proven
    to slow people down better than enforcement alone, then as many as possible should be erected.
    Also, speed limit signs should be made more prominent, if only to ensure that speeders don't have
    an excuse.

    Duty vs. utilitarianism yet again 🙂

    Regards,

    -david

  14. Simon Brooke said:


    There shouldn't be signs for cameras IMHO. As a driver, you _should_ be obeying the speed limit
    and you _know_ you should be. If you aren't and you get caught that's a fair cop.

    I would rather have regular reminder signs of the speed limit. They have them some places but not
    others. In the old days it was easy to remember because it was either 30 or unlimited so you just
    needed to remember you were in a speed limit. These days you have to remember what speed limit you
    are in and repeaters would help

    Quoted message said:

    Simon, has been caught speeding twice in twenty five years driving.

    Never caught speeding in 30 years driving. Must get some string back driving gloves and a
    tweed cap ;-)

    Tony

  15. "Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    There shouldn't be signs for cameras IMHO. As a driver, you _should_ be obeying the speed limit
    and you _know_ you should be. If you aren't and you get caught that's a fair cop.

    I always wonder why people want warning signs when most cameras are either painted dayglo yellow, or
    are big ugly grey gatso boxes, which are pretty obvious to anyone who is half awake.

  16. dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

    Flash drivers, who lose their licences after getting snapped by speed cameras, will get their
    taxi, bus and train fares paid under a policy launched by a Norfolk insurance firm.

    I thought that was actually illegal.

  17. In article <[email hidden]>, one of infinite monkeys at the keyboard

    of (dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers) said:

    Flash drivers, who lose their licences after getting snapped by speed cameras, will get their
    taxi, bus and train fares paid under a policy launched by a Norfolk insurance firm.

    Yo!

    Time to get banned, and get free transport. Yes please!!! Almost makes me think I could benefit by
    having a car.

    I wonder if they could get done for something like corporate manslaughter when one of their careful,
    law-abiding customers kills someone?

    --
    Axis of Evil: Whose economy needs ever more wars? Arms Exports $bn: USA 14.2, UK 5.1, vs France 1.5,
    Germany 0.8 (The Economist, July 2002)

  18. "dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    .. and it's not often that happens :-(

    See

    tinyurl.comr4h0

    "Norfolk firm insures against speed cams

    STEVE COX

    October 16, 2003 07:35

    Flash drivers, who lose their licences after getting snapped by speed


    cameras,

    Quoted message said:

    will get their taxi, bus and train fares paid under a policy launched by a Norfolk insurance firm.

    The Flashguard policy pays up to £6000 for alternative transport costs,


    but

    Quoted message said:

    has prompted words of caution from Norfolk Police and the Automobile Association.

    Adrian Flux Insurance, of East Winch Hall, near King's Lynn, which employs


    230

    Quoted message said:

    people, has created the policy in response to the increasing number of automatic speed cameras
    which mean even careful drivers can get caught


    out.

    Quoted message said:


    But a word of caution was sounded by Ian Crowder, of AA personal finance,


    who

    Quoted message said:

    said: "Policies of this sort could encourage people owning such a policy


    to be

    Quoted message said:

    less careful than they otherwise would be.

    "It has been introduced as a response to the growing plethora of speed


    cameras

    Quoted message said:

    - these cameras are in place to help control excessive speed and reduce


    the

    Quoted message said:

    likelihood of accidents."

    That view was echoed by a Norfolk Police spokesman, who said: "Norfolk Constabulary would take the
    opportunity to remind drivers that speed


    limits are

    Quoted message said:

    in place to make our roads safer and must be complied with at all times."

    Gerry Bucke, of Adrian Flux Insurance, said: "Flashguard does not condone stupidity or dangerous
    driving, but we can all make mistakes. This policy


    means

    Quoted message said:

    careful drivers who are convicted of speeding can carry on with their


    lives,

    Quoted message said:

    albeit more slowly."

    The premium for the policy is £50 a year, or £40 if taken out before Christmas.

    In order to qualify for the scheme, drivers must have no more than six


    points

    Quoted message said:

    current or pending and they must not have been disqualified for any


    offence

    Quoted message said:

    during the previous 12 months. Drink and drugs-related convictions are not covered, nor are those
    directly associated with dangerous or reckless


    driving

    Quoted message said:

    convictions.

    The firm's quoteline is on 08700 777888."

    Apparently all those poor drivers who break the law speeding and are


    caught out

    Quoted message said:

    by those nasty speed cameras are really careful, law-abing citizens, and


    if it

    Quoted message said:

    wasn't for those nasty cameras...

    AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

    Cheers, helen s This is an invalid email adress to thwart spammers To get my correct email remove
    the dependency on fame & fortune from
    h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

    Any speeling mistakes are as a result of cats on the keybrrrdd

    "which mean even careful drivers can get caught out." Is this not a contradiction ?

    Graham

  19. Nathaniel Porter said:


    I agree - regardless of if you're speeding or not, if you don't/can't react to a speed camera (and
    it's not like the camera and calibration lines aren't rather visible) by slowing down to the limit
    gradually and in good time then you were going to fast.

    Still depends on knowing what the speed limit is at that point

    Tony

  20. Trevor Barton <[email hidden]>typed

    Quoted message said:
    Tony Raven said:
    MSeries said:


    This is making me seeth, I usually try to avoid commenting on things not relating to cycling
    but this is nagging me. Warning signs must be provided when speed cameras are in use, there
    have been two cases around here where convictions by camera have been quoshed because 1) the
    signs were the wrong design/colour or 2) Mobile equipement was bening used and no signs were in
    place. Drivers who do not see signs, for speed limits, for speed cameras, then fail to look at
    their speedos and fail to drive in a manner appropriate to the conditions are not careful
    drivers.

    If I can put the other side these days there is a plethora of speed limits and I often find
    myself trying to remember what the actual speed limit is. One stretch of road that I travel on
    frequently goes from 50 down to 30 then back up to 40 then down to 30 again then back up to 50
    before a 40 and then derestricted! Since I'm reaching that age where, as a friend describes it,
    you find yourself standing in the loo wondering what you went in there for,

    Quoted message said:

    LOL. If you're actually *in* the loo, you've something to worry about, because most of us stand in
    *front* of it!

    Actually, most of us sit *on* loos 🙂 and us gals are the majority...

    --
    Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.