The new MegaGatso...

[flashpig]

If you've done nothing wrong you've got nothing to fear, right? The sooner they're introduced, the better, I say.

So what do you all say?

[Dizzieblonde]

Is the 'mega' thing about it that it covers several lanes at once, rather than just one as most of them do now? Having only recently passed my test and started driving, I've got to admit I find speed cameras a bit of a distraction :o\ Even though I've yet to willfully speed, I find I spend more time looking at my speedometer than I do at the road every time I pass over those markers!

[Grunty]

You've hit the nail on the head there. Although most of us see the need for speed limits, there are many people who are distracted from their driving as you describe. Since speed cameras were introduced in one county, accidents went up 28 per cent in one year and then stayed at that level the following year.

[Supernick]

To be honest - if you're caught then you can't really have many complaints. You are doing something illegal.

What I object to are sneaky tactics, such as those highlighted on Top Gear last week where motorway traffic is slowed down so that the speed cameras can be set to a more money spinning setting. (I cannot back this up - just mentioning what was reported). I also question whether it actually does slow anyone down. How many of you just slow down for the cameras and speed up again? Other measure such as speed bumps actually force people to slow in residential areas. And there is the added bonus that you might see a boy racer ground his chavved up, lowered Nova on them.

[Yorkie580]

The average speed cameras seem a lot fairer - at least you know that you have to stay at the speed limit over a distance rather than slamming on brakes before speeding up again.

I get the impression that they might not actually make as much money as the fixed ones that catch people out so I'll be interested to see how many get rolled out.

Can't escape from the argument that if you don't speed you don't need to worry. (Not being sanctimonious... I got caught last month and I deserved it... I knew the speed limit and wasn't sticking to it.)

[Catso]

And the sooner we get 100% surveillance coverage of everybody, all the time, the better. This would eliminate crime, as everyone would know they were being videoed 24x7. As flashpig says, the law-abiding have nothing to fear from this.

Bring on the cameras.

[cyclone]

The average citizen in the UK is caught on CCTV cameras 300 times a day. (from BBC)

How much more do you want to be caught on camera?