Speed Camera May Have Caused Fatal Crash

[Darren]

A fatal accident involving a 45 year old man may have been caused by a speed camera Police say.

Tayside Police say the driver, Graham Davies lost control of his car for no apparent reason and hit a lamp post on the A9 near Auchterarder, Perthshire. Mr Davies was not thought to have been speeding but Police believe he may have braked suddenly when he sighted the speed camera and lost control as a result.

Traffic Police Officer George Fergus said; "We find many drivers, when approaching a camera, see the camera or road markings and it is a natural reaction to brake hard then check their speed and accelerate again. I believe that is what happened here."

The camera was sighted at a known accident black-spot.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[Privateer]

Sympathies to the driver’s family

Do we know which camera it was, as there are three fixed cameras on the A9 near Auchterarder, Perthshire. The camera Ids are:

GATSO:843@70
GATSO:33@70
GATSO:1989@70

There are also a couple of mobile sites in the same area.

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[Darren]

I think it is GATSO:33 as one report states it was near to the Gleneagles Railway Station junction.

But take a look at this YouTube video, a BBC News Item of a speed camera van triggering crashes.

Yes I agree that the innatention of drivers is to blame but the speed camera traps are the trigger, were they not there then those accidents would not have occurred. Frightening.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[SpikeyMikey]

If he wasn't speeding, am I right in assuming that the icy weather played a part in the accident?
_________________
Mike
TT GO6000 (Europe); iPhone and iPad Pro with iOS TT GO & MyDrive + CamerAlert

[Darren]

[JimmyTheHand]

- sad, but there seems to be no consideration to the drivers natural reaction to seeing cameras in the offical's world - instead they want hide them which will cause more sudden braking

I have often used the counter arguments about speed camera warnings being to aid speeding -

1) warnings removes a level of uncertainty about the limit (I believe those who claim never to be unsure about the limit they are in are either deluded, lying, super human or not drivers) and thus desire to brake suddenly

2) Warning of erratic driving ahead as others brake with no reason

_________________
J.

[M8TJT]

[G1LIW]

Nasty. I'll add my condolences to the family of the deceased.

Can't remember where I saw it, but wasn't there a study recently (in the last couple of years?) that showed that so-called "friendly" speed info signs (the ones that flash up your speed, and a smiley face if you're on or under the limit) were miles better at controlling speeds?
_________________
Roger, G1LIW
Google Pixel 3a XL Android Smartphone | SatNav Sygic for Android | Waze for Android | CamerAlert for Android | Blog http://rogersblant.blogspot.com/

[pjr]

[santafekid]

To blame a speed camera for a fatal accident is ludicrous. If it were true then the same principal would apply to all speed restriction signs when changing from one speed restriction to a lesser one. If the braking was the cause for loss of control as is suggested you have to ask what speed was the car doing to have to brake so heavily, and if conditions were icy as has also been suggested it shouldnt have been travelling that fast in the first place. I have been driving for forty years and as yet have never lost control of my car and if one day I do then it will be MY FAULT- FULL STOP.
Pete Washburn

[Darren]

The driver was NOT believed to be speeding and ice was not a factor. Whilst the camera may not be to blame, if it did (as the police believe) cause the driver to panic and brake as many drivers do regardless of speed then it was a contributory factor.

In which case if it hadn't been there then the accident would not have occurred and the driver would not be dead.

Speed restriction signs do not cause drivers to panic. Speed cameras do. If they don't cause you to quickly check your speed then I'm very pleased to hear you're such an attentive driver but you are a rare commodity!
_________________
Darren Griffin

[santafekid]

The comment by Darren Griffin that I am a rare commodity is both sarcastic and very silly. I am just the average driver (though advanced) which makes me better than some and not as good as others. Where in my text did I state that I dont check my speed when sighting a camera or that I spot every camera?
We have to accept responsibilty for our own actions and stop blaming other people or inanimate objects. If in the future I am involved in an accident the chances are I will be a contributary factor. Whatever we think of them the speed camera is here to stay and we the morotrist are entirely responsible for that, if we didnt speed they wouldnt exist.
P Washburn

[M8TJT]

[Darren]

[Tim Buxton]

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!