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Half Of Speed Cameras Are Inactive
Article by: rob brady
Date: 7 Jun 2012
According to an investigation by The Sun, almost half of all speed cameras in Britain are not currently operational.
Of the 3,189 cameras which are located on British roads, 48 per cent (1,522 cameras) were inactive. This was attributed to a reduction in government spending of £38 million and comes shortly after speed cameras celebrated their twentieth birthday.
On top of this figure, some areas, such as Avon and Somerset, were found to have switched off all of their cameras, whilst London pulled the plug on 75 per cent of their localised cameras. This means only 565 cameras out of a total of 764 were active.
Overall, more speed cameras were inactive this year than previously; with 37 per cent and 32 per cent of cameras switched off during 2010 and 2009 respectively.
However, whilst many of the speed cameras have been turned off, most of the units have not been removed from the roadside. Their continued presence is hoped to deter speeding, even if those guilty of the crime will not be captured or prosecuted as a result of the device.
In many ways, this is indicative of reports from earlier this year which saw the Nottinghamshire village of Ompton erect a fake speed camera to enforce speed restrictions.
For some, these reports will spark further speculation over whether speed cameras are an effective method of enforcing speed limits.
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 Posted by M8TJT on Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:19 pm |
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| News Team Wrote: | | whilst London pulled the plug on 75 per cent of their localised cameras. This means only 565 cameras out of a total of 764 were active. |
Errrr. Do you want to check the maths here  try 'only 192 of a total of 764....' unless they have only switched off 25%
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| Posted by DennisN on Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:54 pm |
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I think the Sun might do well to refer to your article last month noting the 20th anniversary of speed cameras, in which you included the following | Quote: | | Nowadays, the sight of speed cameras is common - although motorists may be surprised to learn than not all cameras are live at all times. In fact, Roger Reynolds, the former police officer who was responsible for switching on the first camera, contends that speed cameras were installed 20 years ago to deter motorists from speeding, not to prosecute them, saying "Only one in eight cameras were live". |
This was my own understanding when I was paying for the first installations in Avon and Somerset - there were not enough cameras to go into all the boxes we erected. And was it so recent as 20 years? I'd have sworn it was much earlier than 1992 that we put up Gatso:3217@30.
Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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| Posted by M8TJT on Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:58 pm |
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Which only goes to show that no one has the whole picture of how many are active and does it matter anyway? It's all done with smoke and mirrors, and if people slow down at a camera, provided it is located in a dangerous area rather than a cash cow area, then the camera has done it's job
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| Posted by mikealder on Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:35 pm |
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| M8TJT Wrote: | | Do you want to check the maths here try 'only 192 of a total of 764....' unless they have only switched off 25% |
565/ 764 x 100 = 74% which is close to what they claim with 75% but I agree it's not the way to work out the figure they are claiming, someone needs to go back to school me thinks (probably got a recent A** in Maths for what that means) - Mike
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| Posted by actd on Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:24 pm |
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Yep, if it slows down the driver it's done the job. However, I think average speed cameras are a more effective way of enforcement if the force is genuine about reducing accidents and not raising money.
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| Posted by M8TJT on Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:33 pm |
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| mikealder Wrote: | | M8TJT Wrote: | | Do you want to check the maths here try 'only 192 of a total of 764....' unless they have only switched off 25% |
565/ 764 x 100 = 74% which is close to what they claim with 75% but I agree it's not the way to work out the figure they are claiming, someone needs to go back to school me thinks (probably got a recent A** in Maths for what that means) - Mike |
Yes, I had no problem working out that fairly simple sum, but the article says that they 'have pulled the plug on 75% of their localised cameras.' This means to me that only 25% are working as they are still 'plugged in'. Hence my query about the maths. Not the finer point about percentage calculation, but the numbers given are just plain wrong.
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| Posted by DennisN on Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:33 pm |
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I agree average speed cameras are the proper way to go about it. BUT they need to make a HUGE publicity effort about them, so that all drivers understand what average speed check means - I'm sure I'm not the only one to be blasted by the slipstream of some fool who thinks he only has to slow down as he passes the batman pole. 
Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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| Posted by Guivre46 on Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:15 pm |
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As debated in another thread, it is the serious view insurers are now taking of speeding that is the penalty. Your wife will be hit hard in the purse.
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom |
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| Posted by Andy_P on Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:09 pm |
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For "serious view of..." I would use "another opportunity to fleece..." 
"Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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| Posted by Guivre46 on Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:51 pm |
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Yes, I'd used up my daily allowance of cynicism by then.
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom |
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) and the majority of people on that course were caught by the variable speed limit cameras on the M42/M6 near Birmingham. Only last night I saw 3 cars activate the flash bulbs on my way home.
