Thin end of the wedge?

[pillboxman]

Hi everyone, have a look at this web page from my local paper

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/4329400.Black_cameras_to_measure_journey_times/

Is this the thin end of the wedge.
While it is nearly impossible to average 30 MPH anywhere in Taunton during the daytime, evenings are a different thing.
It is but a short step from ‘recording’ vehicle movement to sending out those little 60UKP letters!

[BigPerk]

Interesting - certainly looks a bit suspect - it must cost quite a lot of money buying/leasing and installing cameras, and presumably the software to gather the data to log the cars and work out time savings, if they are not linking to another system. Surely cheaper to have a few men/women/students standing by with a clipboard and watch checking specific makes of vehicle (to lessen the workload). And how do they know anyway where A and B are, unless they have specific road improvements scheduled?

Personally, I'm in favour of Average Speed Cameras over spot speed ones, at least on motorways, as a consistently excessive speed seems more dangerous and inexcusabl than an occasional slip, and it shouldn't distract/panic drivers so much when they suddenly go past one. But I'm NOT in favour of subterfuge - but then local authorities sometimes seem to me to be even keener on a police state then central government is (cameras in wheely bins, fines if bin lids aren't completely shut, etc,etc).

Might be interesting to check the local council's (eg road management subcommittee) minutes, see if there's any clue there.
_________________
David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

[Wazza_G]

These are the cameras I saw quite a while back and asked what they where, now I know what they are.

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=75681&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[pillboxman]

[GeoffCee]

I understand why monitoring traffic flow rates using cameras raises the hackles of motorists, cameras on our roads have had an appalling press over the years. Neither does it help when the local rag introduces the arrival of this latest camera innovation as "menacing".

According to the council they are there to monitor traffic flow rates. Isn't improved traffic flow a legitimate improvement for a local council to study? And are we really saying that a few bods with clip boards can do as good a job as a tireless, weatherproof camera?

Come on, at least wait until you are bitten before crying "wolf".

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