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Quote:
| Originally Posted by [b Quote[/b] (Dominic @ Jan. 28 2004,09:59)]But that's not what the article says - it points out that the places where it would be most dangerous to break a 30 limit are also the places where it's against the rules to place them. |
That's what the article says, but the evidence it puts forward to make the argument simply does not support it. To make that statement the article relies on the idea that where it is genuinely dangerous people slow down to the speed limit anyway. Bollocks.
It says that cameras can only be placed in areas where:
1) There have been
at least 4 deaths,
2) One of those deaths must be
directly attributable to speeding,
3) The 85 percentile must be exceeded.
Now regarding the third point, the article conveniently says "well this is complicated but what it comes down to is...". In other words, they provide no explanation of why this supports their case. It doesn't.
The third rule means that cameras are put in places where people are predominantly driving significantly faster than the speed limit. That's all.
Where the article fails in it's understanding is by equating the blue curve with "safe speed". The curve indicates what people
think is safe - not what
is safe. That's the crux of the problem. The simple fact is that the standard of driving in the UK is poor. The vast majority of drivers have very little concept of what is safe and what isn't and generally choose to drive too quickly.
This whole campaign is based on the idea that people should be left to choose what is a safe speed for the conditions and should only be prosecuted when it's proven otherwise. Well, there simply are not the resources to catch everyone driving at dangerous speeds and, quite frankly, the motorist cannot be trusted to make that judgement - they don't have the necessary skill to do it. Studies indicate that around 80% of motorists think their driving skills are above average. Well, that says it all; over-confidence. Until someone shows you how to drive properly you just don't realise how bad (and how dangerous) you are.