Critics have long maintained that "safety cameras" (a.k.a. no-armed bandits) cause crashes. Unsuspecting drivers stumble upon a camera, hit the brakes hard and BAM! Rear-end collision. This is especially likely for motorists who suddenly catch sight of camera vans (a.k.a. "Talivans"). Well duh. The whole point of these infernal machines is to catch motorists "off guard." Otherwise, well, they wouldn't make any money catch any speeders, would they? But scientific studies and common sense will only take you so far, hearts and minds-wise. What could really turn the tide is a video of a Talivan-caused crash. And the BBC had just such a video. Only they pulled it. Which has pissed off the Association of British Drivers no end. "The video was first shown on BBC News 24 on Monday 21st April when it was bizarrely used to illustrate a misleading story claiming that 'speeding' is by far the biggest cause of accidents. The video later appeared on the BBC News website at this address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7358372.stm, but by the next day it had mysteriously disappeared." ABD member Keith Jones said Auntie Beeb told him that the video is missing from their website "because of a technical problem." They don't know when it will be fixed and "do not provide feedback on progress." So much for tax-payer funding guaranteeing the BBC's editorial independence, transparency or accountability. Not that it ever did, mind.
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I don’t see what the fuss is about. Isn’t the same thing possible when a perp first spots a cop car hiding behind an overpass or break in the median?
Hmmm…the price of Guy Fawkes masks have all of a sudden skyrocketed…
So much for BBC independence…
I think one major problem with the cameras is how little leniency is afforded speeders caught on camera versus speeders eyed by state troopers behind reflective glasses.
Everywhere I’ve lived you could go 7 to 10 over without much risk. Usually the concept of “keeping with the flow of traffic” gives some level of safety. Granted it’s not 100% effective but the speed cameras show no mercy and just bag people for any little bit over the limit.
Plus the punitive level of the UK points system and fines far exceeds that of the USA.
Okay, let’s take a step back here and address the real problem(s).
1. speed
2. following at an unsafe distance
Is speed really the problem? In this instance a distraction caused the accident. I can’t even count the times I’ve hit my breaks after passing an officer even if I was only doing five over.
Speed itself does not kill. Irresponsible driving does.
It’s not so much the speed as attentiveness to driving. You see it all the time on the highway – someone see something and slams on the brakes – it could be anything – and the next thing you know you have a three or four car pileup.
The cameras are the thing they are seeing at the last minute. I’m curious about the circumstances regarding the video since it was pulled so quickly. Call me crazy, but I bet the Talivan in question was doing something shady to encourage speeding or an accident.
I see that the “we-have-to-destroy-the-village-in-order-to-save-it” mentality is alive and well. It has just been transferred to the traffic enforcement arena.
They will probably find that video right next to the one of their reporter standing near ground zero, reporting the collapse of WTC 7 with the building still standing in the background.
Ohhh Ralph you’d better watch it. Carnivore will be all over you like a cheap suit! That video was “file footage” in the background. And FEMA was at the WTC the night before for a scheduled training session. Nothing to see here, move along.