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Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:57 am Post subject:
Privateer wrote:
One way is to have markers (normally a white square roughly 3' x 3') painted at regular fixed intervals on the road say every mile or half-mile or if you want to be metric every 500 metres or every kilometre.
We use MILES and MILES per hour in UK. It's the law. So road and direction signs HAVE to be in Imperial units. It makes no sense whatsoever for people to talk in kilometers / meters KPH etc. when referring to roads in the UK. It annoys me, that when it's the law that roadsigns must be in Imperial, local authorities etc. refer to road distances in km or M.
It's creeping Europeanism that people do so.
Joined: Sep 06, 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: East Hertfordshire
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:
Presumably, unless the helicopter maintained its position over the speeding vehicle, allowance would have to be made for the 'extra' distance between markers as the car moved further away?
As for 'pigs', I think I can sypathise with martinwinlow, although I do agree that the public's perception of the police doesn't seem to be too brilliant, partly because of the reasons for attracting their attention when you don't want them (and often the accompanying attitude), and shortage of resources causing lack of assistance when you do. And it must be difficult to resist a Sun-type headline pun like this!
I would like to know how the receipts are distributed though, and how much of a vested financial interest police forces really have in the fines revenue - if it's as little as I think the LAs get, I can't see them being overly fussed about the cameras. But they are nonetheless SUPPOSED to stop people breaking laws! It seems to be mainly the good old central government's cash cow - it's a shame we can't think up an insulting term for them!
I'd like to know who/how actually decides on the precise positioning and actual visibility of cameras and warning signs - that is REALLY what everyone gets agitated about.
I would like to think that these helicopters will ACTUALLY be more interested in really dangerous motorway driving than in booking a 72mph driver (and so should we all be), and making some people a little more responsible in their driving than they are at present with the rare sights of police road vehicles to encourage safe behaviour.
We all seem to bemoan the lack of police presence, and then we moan about the costs involved when they DO find a way of making their presence felt - the use of a helicopter should really be compared with the cost of running a big fleet of cars to monitor motorway traffic, and the difficulty of them getting through heavy traffic when needed, effectively. _________________ David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Pigs really do fly!!! At least they do on the A13 in Es
The point you guys seem to be missing is that these helicopters are not going to be targeting those driving at 80mph...if they did that they would have to ticket 90% of drivers on the M4! They are targeting those driving 90+ - and if you drive that speed you deserve to be caught...
Instead of complaining about how much the police are making from speed cameras...here is a thought...don't speed and you won't get caught, and therefore they will not get any of your money! Simple!! :-)
One gripe I do have is motorbikes...of the 30 or so motorbikes I see on the M4 every time I drive down there, 80% of them are going well over 100mph! Of course, the new average speed cameras and the forward facing ones won't catch them as of course motorbikes do not have number plates on the front, so they think they can do whatever speed they want and they undercut cars and weave all the time! So if these helicopters can catch these idiots, then great, I am 100% behind them! I've lost count the amount of times I have been passing someone, only to have a motorbike undercut me at 100mph+!! And they are the first to blame car drivers when they crash...
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against bikers in general, just those who seem to think they are above the law just because they have two wheels instead of four...!
Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 88 Location: Leeds, UK
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:25 am Post subject:
I, too, regret the use of 'pigs' at the top of the article. It's just not necessary.
As for checking speed from the air, a few years ago we were travelling from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on a very straight road and I was about to give in to temptation when I spotted a fixed wing aeroplane doing a tight turn above the road and a police car flagging down a car on the opposite carriageway. I managed to resist temptation... _________________ Frank
Joined: Nov 28, 2005 Posts: 226 Location: Cheltenham
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Unsubscribe Me
martinwinlow wrote:
Dear 'MikeB',
To spend my working life, not trying to earn a fortune by stepping on the small guy, or ripping people off or whatever other means of feathering ones nest at the expense of others you can think of, but instead trying my level best to make this country a better place to live and work for all and then to be referred to as a 'pig' in a main-stream publication such as this one, is too much. I have noticed of late a distinct authority-bashing stance by PGPSW and have tolerated it so I can continue to take advantage of the updates it provides in this interesting and fast moving technical arena.
I do not deny that some traffic enforcement policies may appear ill-conceived or that some local authorities appear to milk speed enforcement for purposes far removed from cutting speed and therefore saving lives. However, if instead of this regrettable attitude of appearing to support individuals who want to speed whenever they want and get away with it, you supported more national consistency in speed enforcement foe example, or using proven, available and cheap technology to achieve a variable system of speed limits based on environmental conditions such as locality, weather, traffic volume etc you might achieve something worthwhile.
Unfortunately, your at best silly and childish comments and at worst downright insulting ones force me to request that I be 'unsubscribed'. Please remove all my details from your systems.
MW
To MW
I think MikeB and others are right to feel exasperated at the amount of time, money and effort that goes into the pursecution of motorists today and if the title "Pigs really do fly" is to much for you then let me tell you, its not to much for the vast majority of drivers who simply feel persecuted by the likes of you and you road safety colleagues who spend the majority of the day targeting motorists instead of Crimminal. Do you even remember what a crimminal is?
Today we have Community Beat Officers posing as police (what for) whilst you guy fly around or drive around looking for badly behaved motorists, hiding in the sky, in bushes and in unmarked vans even. You bet the majority of decent people are losing respect for law enforcement when law enforcement has become about targeting all motorists. Cat and Mouse springs to mind. In your persecution of the motorist your not distinguishing the true villiams of the road who drive recklessly under the influence or anything else, anyone will do as long as you have the technology to prove it on camera and theres money to be made from it. That old catch phrase "Points makes Prizes" is no doubt an incentive.
The real offenders on the road, those who dont give a **** as can be seen on "Traffic Cops" and the likes, simply go back out and repeat the offence again and again. If you want the public's respect back, get out there and earn it back. Be seen in the open doing the job of making the public feel safe, back on the BEAT in our communities.
More accident blackspots have been created since the revenue earning potential of speed cameras came into force. And now of course the speed limit on every road is being reduced to increase the your chances of catching us speeding. If our roads are considered dangerous it largely because none of the revenues raised from taxes and fines go to maintaining them or improving them. God forbid that would cost money not make it!!!
Pity your not so quick to resign from the police force in disgust at the way the innocent victims of today's legislation are being targetted. Or at the way police officers are tied up form filling whilst the pseudo force drive around in the pandas and strut around under there peaked caps pretending to be you.
If you feel that PGPSW is "Authority Bashing" perhaps you should consider why this is the case (not that I am infering this is the case) Make the crimminals your target and not the public and perhaps our police force will again one day earn their respect.
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:41 am Post subject: Re: Unsubscribe Me
Because I have been caught once before for thinking I was in a 40 zone when I was actually in a 30 zone...the one time I didn't have my satnav with me - I saw the camera van but assumed it was a 40 zone and as I was going 37 at the time thought I was safe...till I looked in the rear view mirror as I went past the van and saw a large 30!! I did one of those courses to avoid the points and learnt how to recognise the speed limit by looking at various indicators - very useful! I had obviously missed the initial 30 sign and there were no repeater to inform me...if I had had the satnav with me it would have notified me of the camera (which I saw anyway), but more importantly told me what the speed should be...so I was not speeding on purpose...it was an error on my part for incorrectly assuming it was a 40 zone! :-)
M8TJT wrote:
I did notice the 'if', but why would you need to know where they are if you don't speed?
@martinwinlow, for the record, I also find the reference to the Police in the title of this post offensive. I have no connection with the police and my only brushes with "The Law" have been mixed - some good and some bad.
However, I notice that you have been a member of this community for 4 years and have made three posts, only two until today. I feel that it is a pity that you have chosen to remain silent whilst noticing, as you put it, "a distinct authority-bashing stance by PGPSW and have tolerated it so I can continue to take advantage of the updates it provides in this interesting and fast moving technical arena."
If only you had contributed to the forum sooner and not let it get this far. I'm sure people would rather have read your informed comments as opposed to your resignation.
I myself have not noticed the "authority-bashing stance" of this site just the occasional frustrations of everyday law-abiding drivers, some made to feel persecuted or paranoid or both, whilst going about their normal, everyday business, being regarded as easy targets for raising revenue and who have the opportunity to publicly "get things off of their chests" in this forum. _________________ Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.
Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Unsubscribe Me
nuttynurse wrote:
..... vast majority of drivers who simply feel persecuted by the likes of you and you road safety colleagues who spend the majority of the day targeting motorists instead of Crimminal. Do you even remember what a crimminal is? .
A criminal is one that breaks the law. Speeding is breaking the law.
nuttynurse wrote:
.....
Pity your not so quick to resign from the police force in disgust at the way the innocent victims of today's legislation are being targetted.
And asking for details to be removed from the system. Try getting your DNA remove from theirs , even if you are not guilty of anything.
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:45 am Post subject: Re: Unsubscribe Me
nuttynurse wrote:
I think MikeB and others are right to feel exasperated at the amount of time, money and effort that goes into the pursecution of motorists today and if the title "Pigs really do fly" is to much for you then let me tell you, its not to much for the vast majority of drivers who simply feel persecuted by the likes of you and you road safety colleagues who spend the majority of the day targeting motorists instead of Crimminal. Do you even remember what a crimminal is?
I honestly don't care if the police hide in order to catch people...only people who break the law will be caught...therefore simple solution - don't break the law! It seems the people who complain about income from cameras and police hiding are the very ones who get caught because they break the law...!
If you don't break the speed limit and don't drive like an idiot you won't get caught...simple! Therefore there would be no need to complain! Just like those people who complain about all the CCTV cameras "invading their privacy"...yet they are the ones who shout the loudest when they are victims, complaining that the police weren't there to prevent it!
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Unsubscribe Me
M8TJT wrote:
Try getting your DNA remove from theirs , even if you are not guilty of anything.
Again...what is wrong with having your DNA on the system? If everyone in this country had their DNA in the system, criminals would be easily caught...! There have been numerous times when a criminal has been caught because his DNA has already been in the system for another crime...!
If you have nothing to hide, then why be so against having your DNA in the system...? I can understand a guilty person not wanting their DNA there, but an innocent person?
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Unsubscribe Me
M8TJT wrote:
paliz wrote:
I saw the camera van but assumed it was a 40 zone and as I was going 37 at the time thought I was safe...
So even knowing where the camera was likely to be would have been no advantage then
Um...yes, it would have been an advantage as my satnav would have told me what speed the camera was set at, so I would have been able to slow down - I saw the camera far enough in advance...! :-) I just assumed the wrong speed limit! :-)
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So road and direction signs HAVE to be in Imperial units. 
