Speed Cameras - funding cuts - will the roads be less safe?
Law and Rights

Speed Cameras - funding cuts - will the roads be less safe?


Early on in the days of the coalition government a cut to funding for speed cameras was announced - see Telegraph 18th June.  The Guardian 9th August reports that the Chief Constable of Gwent has said that cutting speed cameras will put lives at risk.  Julie Spence, the outgoing Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire, has referred to speeding as "middle class anti social behaviour".  Both Chief Constables have a point: excessive speed in the circumstances is a contributory factor in many serious road traffic accidents.  Maybe, in some cases, speeding might be seen as anti-social ?  However, I fail to see what it has to do with "middle class" - whatever that term either means or is intended to imply.  As far as I can see, speeding is commonplace across the social spectrum.

In 2009, the previous government consulted about road safety - see Department for Transport.   The consultation document informed us that, in 2007, there were 2946 deaths on British roads and almost 28000 serious injuries.   The BBC website offers further data.  In June 2007, Safespeed campaigned against the speed camera - see Telegraph 23rd June 2007.  They argued that more attention needed to be paid to "risk management" aspects of driving.  That would include better observation and anticipation of what might occur as well as adjustment to speed according to situations and weather.  The organisation Brake campaigns for speed cameras - see here. Whatever the truth in this matter, the 7 year sentence imposed on this man hardly seems to deter others and will not bring his victim back to life or give much comfort to her family - see Yorkshire Evening Post 18th May 2010.




- The Best Safety Lexus Has To Offer, Isn't For Us
The new Lexus LS 460 that goes on sale this fall be able to parallel park itself without the driver touching the steering wheel. Pretty slick! Only problem is, some of the car's best high tech safety features won't be put on cars shipped to the...

- Hs2 ~ Hybrid Bill Published
There is already an Act of Parliament relating to the proposed High Speed 2 rail project -High Speed Rail (Preparation) Act 2013.   It is an Act to make provision authorising expenditure in preparation for a high speed railway transport network....

- Driving ~ Fixed Penalties
On 16th August, careless driving (Road Traffic Act 1988 s.3) became an offence for which a fixed penalty notice can be issued - Government announcement.   The fixed penalty for careless driving is now £100 with 3 points on the driver?s licence....

- Finger Pointing
Steve Coogan not guilty of speeding at Hove seafront declares the BBC 16th July. In fact, it appears that he was found not guilty of the offence of failing to supply information under section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.  This is not a speeding...

- Uninsured Drivers Beware
It is not possible to say exactly how many uninsured drivers are on the roads.  Nevertheless, the number is very substantial.  In July 2010, The Independent drew attention to the fact that premiums were rising and that this might be leading...



Law and Rights








.