speed cameras

[rja211077]

debate: should speed cameras be bright and visible, grey/hidden or done away with completely?

[mikewall01]

They should be hidden all over the place. We use stealth to catch other law breakers, so why not speeding motorists. If we follow the example of warning about speed traps we'll soon be doing the same for all other possible offences. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I have been fined for speeding and jumping a red traffic light. My own stupid fault I know. If we had a way of trapping every motorist who broke the law then the roads would become much safer places.

[ralph1953]

Speaking as someone who got nicked for doing 56 in a 50 limit I think they should be hidden... I can elaborate if anyone's interested.

[Gef]

I agree that they should be "hidden". At the moment there are major roadworks on a dual-carriageway near where I live and the 70mph limit has been lowered to 40 mph. Most drivers seem to observe this but because the speed cameras are painted yellow and red the usual nutters do their usual 80mph and just slow down for the cameras!!

[Mintox]

hidden - shoudent be speeding in the first place.

[gazzawazza]

Definitely hidden. I think that it's a case of "The powers that be" having no backbone to stand up to the complainants.

In my local paper there was a spate of people writing in to say "I was only doing 37mph in a 30mph zone etc..."

People need to realise that these speed limits are the maximum that driving experts feel that the average driver can safely travel on that road in good conditions.

If you drive too fast you should face the consequences and not be warned of the possibility of being caught.

I can just imagine, soon the police will be publishing notices in the press... "Don't even think about dealing drugs in Smiths Precinct on Sunday between 11am and 2pm coz we will be watching."

[DavidUK]

How encouraging to see so many responses in favour of catching the speed criminals. I would like the speed cameras to be on every road and to be hidden.

[lisaj]

The proposed network of digital cameras has the potential to make this debate obsolete. The idea is to have the whole country littered with digital cameras. The road distance between them is known, so if you get from one to another in less than a certain time you must have been speeding at some point... great idea! It also has the ability to track stolen vehicles, uninsured vehicles and those without tax. Add to this the fact that it could correlate vehicle size and colour with number plate and forging number plates would be harder too. As someone who has never sped since a close family member was killed by a drunk BMW driver at 120mph I can only say the sooner this kind of stuff is rolled out the better.

[DBusby]

They should not be hidden.

[Miss Zippy]

Speed cameras should be hidden - it's a complete farce otherwise. I go past one highly-visible and well sign posted camera on my way to work each day and the usual thing happens; the racer types slam on their brakes to slow down to the 50mph and as soon as they're out of the reach of the camera, zoom off at 80+mph down a narrow country lane, where pedestrians have to walk at the side of the road. I'm sure most people would rather learn their lesson by way of being fined and points on their lesson rather than be responsible for killing or disabling someone.

[GeordieSteve]

Hidden. Speed cameras are supposed to stop you from speeding and NOT to line the pockets of the police.