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[Bigron]

Nige, I would accept what you say if the speed limits were realistic. People exceed the posted limits because they are not realistic and are not appropriate for ALL circumstances/road conditions.
Apart from idiots/BMW drivers, most people drive at a speed which is safe and comfortable for the prevailing conditions - oftentimes lower than the posted limit if appropriate.
There is NEVER going to be universal agreement on this topic!

Ron.

[JamesV6CDX]

Sorry james, my anger wasn't directed at you; I know that you are a fine fellow , a man of integrity. I am in accord with Kevin and Andy, though, regarding the stealth tactics employed by some police: surely such tactics fly in  the face of the "prevention rather than prosecution" ethos? If they maintained a highly visible presence, the declared objective of lowering speeds at danger spots would be more readily accomplished - BEFORE the event rather than after it, as Andy said.
What can be gained by such draconian measures as penalising drivers for straying 1mph over the posted limit? That is SO blatantly a revenue-raising tactic as to leave no doubt as to its purpose.
I do appreciate that for the most part police are carrying out government policy, but please do it openly and not sneakily.

Ron.

I have never employed "stealth tactics" and don't know of any colleagues who have.
On the rare occasion I use a speed gun I will be wearing a long yellow coat with very clear markings along with hat and v clearly identifiable from a long way away. You don't NEED to be "sneaky" to detect speeders. It can be like shooting fish in a bowl even when done very overtly.

Out of interest, Would you consider driving around in an unmarked car, looking for say, mobile phone use, "sneaky"?

In the past 2 years, in the Thames Valley area, 145 people were injured as a direct result of drivers on the phone and 11 died. These are where it's proven not suspected. The true figure will be in excess of this.

Being done at 31 in a 30 is a myth. If you can find me a successful prosecution for such an event, I will upload you a YouTube video of me eating my own hat

[aaronjb]

Being done at 31 in a 30 is a myth. If you can find me a successful prosecution for such an event, I will upload you a YouTube video of me eating my own hat

Before I know if I should spend any time on this .. what kind of hat? The one with the bobble on top that looks hard, or a soft one? Y'know, just to gauge how much of a challenge it would be

[Kevin Wood]

I have never employed "stealth tactics" and don't know of any colleagues who have.
On the rare occasion I use a speed gun I will be wearing a long yellow coat with very clear markings along with hat and v clearly identifiable from a long way away. You don't NEED to be "sneaky" to detect speeders. It can be like shooting fish in a bowl even when done very overtly.

Out of interest, Would you consider driving around in an unmarked car, looking for say, mobile phone use, "sneaky"?

In the past 2 years, in the Thames Valley area, 145 people were injured as a direct result of drivers on the phone and 11 died. These are where it's proven not suspected. The true figure will be in excess of this.

Being done at 31 in a 30 is a myth. If you can find me a successful prosecution for such an event, I will upload you a YouTube video of me eating my own hat

In fairness, I've never seen a particularly stealthy speed trap (in this country ). That's fine by me, because it tends to select the drivers who are both speeding and not paying attention, who are the most dangerous.

Now, how to catch those who are not speeding and not paying attention? 

[Kevin Wood]

For what it's worth, my solution is to require all new drivers to complete 5 years driving something akin to a Series 1 Lotus 7 where if they lose concentration for seconds, they'll find themselves in a ditch, before progressing to a modern car where the driver is insulated from all the sensations and hazards generated by their motion. 

[cam.in.head]

i read once somewhere that an idea would be to put "empty " speed camera boxes up all over the place and then randomly have the actual real cameras moved from box to box

[Andy B]

........
In fairness, I've never seen a particularly stealthy speed trap (in this country ). That's fine by me, because it tends to select the drivers who are both speeding and not paying attention, who are the most dangerous.
[/quote
So youve never seen them poking through a flap in the back of a Transit?

Like the silly bint in an A5  I saw the other day. Shifting lane to lane, all over the place ..... slow down for the camera ..... back on to her phone & then turned right atva set of lights from the left hand lane ....... unfortunately not a copper to be seen

[Andy B]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-39706454

How fast was he/she going? Just f***ing stupid.

[YZ250]

Whilst updating our Farcebook profiles, having a fag, etc., as those don't seem to be enforced al all.

This sort of thing, in addition to targeting drink drivers, uninsured motorists etc, is my bread and butter, and is actively targeted and dealt with.

The reason the public have a perception that these things don't seem to be enforced, is because the government have been constantly crippling police forces with cuts to funding, and as a result, traffic officers are becoming quite few and far between, in comparison to the amount of cars on the roads. Statistically, in probably all force areas, there are just nowhere near enough roads policing officers to deal with the true scale of the problem, and as such, only manage to scratch the surface.

With my track record I'm all in favour of that.   

[Bigron]

That's worrying, Andy. Not just the driving itself, but the fact that the police use footage from uncertified recording equipment whnich may not have any credibility, having possibly been manipulated by the other driver.
Where do you stop, with vigilantes? 

Ron.

[aaronjb]

For what it's worth, my solution is to require all new drivers to complete 5 years driving something akin to a Series 1 Lotus 7 where if they lose concentration for seconds, they'll find themselves in a ditch, before progressing to a modern car where the driver is insulated from all the sensations and hazards generated by their motion. 

They just have to steer clear of Meganes, then.. 

[Entwood]

That's worrying, Andy. Not just the driving itself, but the fact that the police use footage from uncertified recording equipment whnich may not have any credibility, having possibly been manipulated by the other driver.
Where do you stop, with vigilantes? 

Ron.

I don't think driving on the wrong side of the road, approaching a junction, requires any "manipulation" of video whatsoever.

That is no more "vigilante" than a home owner using CCTV footage to catch a burglar.

Both are breaking the law, however one actually risks killing other people, I know which I consider the more serious crime.... you probably disagree ....

[Kevin Wood]

For what it's worth, my solution is to require all new drivers to complete 5 years driving something akin to a Series 1 Lotus 7 where if they lose concentration for seconds, they'll find themselves in a ditch, before progressing to a modern car where the driver is insulated from all the sensations and hazards generated by their motion. 

They just have to steer clear of Meganes, then.. 

Doesn't anybody with a modicum of sense?

[JamesV6CDX]

That's worrying, Andy. Not just the driving itself, but the fact that the police use footage from uncertified recording equipment whnich may not have any credibility, having possibly been manipulated by the other driver.
Where do you stop, with vigilantes? 

Ron.

How could that footage have possibly been manipulated?

[Lazydocker]

Being done at 31 in a 30 is a myth. If you can find me a successful prosecution for such an event, I will upload you a YouTube video of me eating my own hat

Before I know if I should spend any time on this .. what kind of hat? The one with the bobble on top that looks hard, or a soft one? Y'know, just to gauge how much of a challenge it would be

It's worth the effort. Mrs LD got a Speed Awareness course for 43 in a 40