Are Gatso speed cameras the way to stop speeding? They only slow motorists down for a few yards!?

Question

I see most people drive normally up to a speed camera, then, when in the cameras eye they slow right down to a poxy 20mph then afterwards speed up to probably about 45mph making the stretch of road after the camera more dangerous than it would've been if the Gatso wasn't there in the first place!I'm all for stopping dangerous driving. But are these money making yellow Gatsos just making us drive worse?

Answer 1

I know exactly what you mean. I have written to the government and department of transport to ask as to why it is that traffic light cameras are not set up so that the yellow light remains lit for the amount of time it would take to stop the heaviest vehicle likely to pass at the speed limit.

For example, the time it takes to stop a vehicle at 40 mph is greater than at 30 mph, but this is not reflected in the nationwide illumination time on yellow traffic lights, so this  does not give people a fair chance.

Suprisingly, I have receieved no reply to my enquiries - which says to me that they are only interested in catching people to raise money - increase the yellow light time = decrease the amount of red-light runners. Consequently every set of lights I pass now, I expect them to change and slow down to 20 MPH through them, and if they change to yellow - I stop. If someone shunts me, then they are too close - but I am not getting a ticket!.

Gatso's are a complete waste of time, and statistics and other countries show us that they do not work. It also always amazes me that I never see the mobile speed vans where they should be - outside schools, or in resedential areas - they are always on high speed roads and motorways - what does this tell us?.

The worst one that I want outlawed is random gatso paint markings on motorways with no camera. This is a disgrace. Twice now, I have seen vehicles travelling within the speed limit slam on and lose control on a motorway and hit the barrier, and coincidentally this happens as they are passing these paint markings - there can be no argument that the gatso markings caused this accident - not excessive speed.

You cannot blame the driver for reacting like this - being prosecuted is a scary thing and it is easy to drift 5/10mph over on a motorway - and this is not dangerous.

Personally, I think that constantly staring at your speedo to make sure you are not drifiting 5mph over is more dangerous than viewing the road properly - I also think that this obsession with speed is encouraging people to drive without due care and attention for the same reasons.

The truth is that really, they do not know how to solve road safety issues - it is never as simple or black and white as "speed is dangerous", but it is easy to latch on to this one thing because it gets crime statistics up and the evidence is indesputable most of the time....it also makes money!.

Speed is not dangerous - bad judgement and lack of concentration is dangerous. If speed was dangerous then motor racing would be outlawed, as would the German motorways having no speed limit and the police would not be allowed to drive fast. Good judgement and giving the road your full attention is down to everyone to make this better.

For example, if you speed, and someone pulls out on you from a side road, the truth is that it is the person who pulled out that caused the accident - not the person speeding - speed didn't help of-course, but it is not the cause of that example accident and if they pull out when you are 5/10 yards away (as is often the case) the speed you do is irrelavent - you will not stop in time even at 15 MPH.

There are too many people who are obsessed with making everyone drive so slowly that it would be quicker to walk, instead of educating people properly in road safety. For example on a motor bike, you cannot just leap straight on to a 1200 cc bike at 17 when you pass your test - so why should you be allowed to do this with any size of car? - seems a bit strange to me!.

Posessing violent pornography was made illegal in this country two years ago because someone was murdered by some fool that was addicted to it, but they still allow pointlessly violent films like 'Saw' to be aired, and they still allow violent video games to be given to kids to play on.

The point to the above statement, is that just like violent p**n is one form of violence, speed is just one hazard to road safety - they should be looking at the bigger picture instead of just insisting that reducing speed is the only answer.

Answer 2

Gatsos from all that I have read are a complete joke.........

Answer 3

See site below. It has been 100% proven, by independent & government organisations that Gatso do NOT aid in safety. They even cause accidents, there sole purpose in life is REVENUE.

Answer 4

The intent of speed cameras is not safety. It's revenue generation. If the amount of citations drop below some predetermined number, the camera gets moved.

Answer 5

Gatso's as you have already stated are just there to make money.  

IIMHO the best way to slow people down is to put reactive signs up which show your speed, we have a couple on the main road between Newport and Machen in South Wales, if you are under the speed limit the they show your speed in Green if you are over it then it shows your speed in Red.

As recent figures have shown Speed is not the main cause of deaths and serious injuries on Britains roads, in fact in North Wales where they have very strictly controlled speed limits deaths and serious injuries have actually INCREASED over the past few years, in fact the Chief C**t Stubble of North Wales is one of the most Brazen when it comes to breaking speed camera laws.  As is well known all speed cameras must be clearly marked and visible both mobile and fixed and in North wales they are using un marked and disguised cameras in HORSE BOXES!!!!

When in the North Wales be Bloody Careful!!!!!

Answer 6

you can probably argue a case for and against all cameras  depending on location etc.

  average speed cameras seem to be effective. most people think the cameras are really a form of tax revenue collections.

  there is a case for removing the small percentage of  silly and reckless drivers form our road but sadly the current  removal rate is woefully inadequate.

often drivers will ignore Ban's etc or not even have insurance etc. a  common problem is with cloned vehicles which is an increasing issue especially with illegal immigrant drivers (sorry I'm probably not allowed to  tell you that ? ) but overall camera's near worthwhile areas such as school are considered as a good idea. on a normally say  fast (50mph?) dual lane they can be seen as  purely for monetary gain for the state.

    you will notice an increasing us of 20mph zones and  more  areas and roads being reduced in speeds. this is  to save? lives and is  increasingly used by authorities to justify their actions. like sleeping policemen  they have a place  but again are used too much but despite evidence showing they  take lives we have most  councils increasingly using them as well as cameras. sadly it is really  just part of a socialist society and will in fact get worse. hope I have covered any questions you thought of. anything else is freely available on the web . hard part i finding it!

Answer 7

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I LOVE THEM. THEY MAKE EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

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Answer 8

...which is exactly the reason they invented 'average speed cameras'.  These yellow b******s track your average speed between sets of cameras using numberplate recognition, and can be linked to monitor large stretches of road (for instance the Huntingdon - Cambridge stretch of the A14).  I must admit, they have worked: everyone now goes at 70mph.  But they're a proper pain in the ****, as there's no way to cheat them.

Bloody nanny state.

Answer 9

knock em all down i say and lets weigh them in at a scrapyard and have a good party

Answer 10

Gatso`s don`t make bad drivers,they were bad before cameras were introduced.The camera does`nt make the road dangerous either , that`s down to petrolheads like you.

Answer 11

I agree with your observations, and all I can add to them is that just before a lot of the fixed ones, they have put signs stating how many accidents/ deaths in three years etc. I reckon these are more dangerous as people are reading the bloody sign instead of watching the road ahead! By the way, what the signs don't tell you is that seven of the eight deaths in the last three years were two hedgehogs a rabbit and five pigeons!