[roundel]

I got into a discussion with someone that does not believe that speed traps are as much to do with generating revenue as for the preservation of safe roadways. I figured the dorki crowd could help me make my case or convince me that the prime reason is safety.

[racer]

Political threads are to be banned.. This is not Rennlist/Pelican

A poll would have been a nice addition though...

[roundel]

Originally Posted by racer

Political threads are to be banned.. This is not Rennlist/Pelican

A poll would have been a nice addition though...

By the definition of political, "of or relating to government" you are correct. I assumed, the rule was more about left vs. right and dems vs. rebs. No harm meant, so mods shut this thread down if I am outside the rules.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by roundel

By the definition of political, "of or relating to government" you are correct. I assumed, the rule was more about left vs. right and dems vs. rebs. No harm meant, so mods shut this thread down if I am outside the rules.

It's Ok if you do it bob! It's those others we don't want pontificating

[FlatOut]

I don't like to slow down.

[FrankyV]

Simple logic says that there is more dangerous road behavior than speeding and when a cop sits at the side of the road catching speeders he is not out there patrolling for drunks and other truly dangerous drivers. Of course patrolling the roads is less lucrative than shooting radar. As for speed cameras, they don't even deter you or slow you down in real time like getting pulled over does. A photo ticket results in you slowing down at that spot in the future but that is about all for it's deterrent effect.

I find it hilarious that law enforcement, the insurance industry and the safety nazis all point to the data that says "speed kills". Consider the source: they are the ones that designate speed as a factor in or cause of a particuar accident and they have a financial interest in the establishment and enforcement of speed limits, so of course the data is going to support their case- it's not independently gathered and verified. And consider this- speed can always be designated as a factor in an accident because if you and the other guy were going zero there is no accident.

People have totally lost sight of the fact that our interstate system was designed to be travelled safely at high speed for the cars of the 50's. Cars today are obviously much more capable and safe, so speed limits should be going up not down. And the huge increase in the fatality rate that was predicted when 55 was reapealed has not materialized- less people, in absolute numbers and deaths per a number of miles driven, are killed on the roads today than before, despite a huge increase in the number of cars.

I think better driver education is the key to improved road safety, not speed limit enforcement. That's the German model.

[good hands]

I was listening to WTOP a short while back and they were interviewing some muckety muck from DC . The question was whether he thought that the cameras were working. His response was that they have generated $$$$ revenue for the city. The announcer responded with " that wasn't my question. I thought the purpose was for traffic safety " . The muckety muck responded " oh yeah that too "

[BeerBurner]

Originally Posted by good hands

I was listening to WTOP a short while back and they were interviewing some muckety muck from DC . The question was whether he thought that the cameras were working. His response was that they have generated $$$$ revenue for the city. The announcer responded with " that wasn't my question. I thought the purpose was for traffic safety " . The muckety muck responded " oh yeah that too "

This pretty much sums it up for me. Every article and news report I've seen has them touting how they're on track for beating last year's revenue generated... and "oh yeah, we're making it safer, too."

BB.

[BrianP]

There are some stats based upon the UK scameraship that show an increase of accidents in speed camera assisted bits of road, along with increased govt revenues from said bit of road. Cant be arsed to find them at the moment tho....

[John Clay]

I get irritated by the backups they cause; its a speed camera, not a stop sign.