I think a reasonable safety argument in favour of hidden cameras is that having them highly visible creates heavy braking zones just in front of them, which is a safety hazard in itself. I think the best solution is to have the areas heavily signed to let drivers know the cameras are there, but not to make it obvious exactly where they are.
Justify this comment. A good place to start would be to explain firstly how speeding is safe, and secondly how knowing you might cop a fine isn’t one factor that might cause people not to speed.
I’m listening and waiting.
LOL, yojimbo, that just makes the argument easier to win 
In any case, there’s no longer ‘hidden’ cameras in the UK - the policy nowadays is to make them highly-visible, including painting them yellow. And I’ve never seen one just off a motorway - in any case, most UK slip roads either follow through to another motorway/dual carriageway, or have a roundabout junction which slows everyone down.
The reason for the cameras being so popular is that, other than speed bumps, it’s the cheapest way for local authorities to be able to claim they’re dealing with traffic problems. Remodelling roads (widening pavements, adding pedestrian crossings, generally making them into places where you will automatically slow down) is a lot more expensive.
The argument that they’re not about safety comes from a fair number being sited in stretches of road that have a good safety record, but where they’re likely to catch a large number of people slightly over the speed limit.
Lobsang, you could tell that to the Germans. They are under the false impression that it is ok to do 120mph in the middle lane, while Audis, BMWs and Mercs are overtaking you from the fast lane doing 150mph. You could show them the error of their ways
Princhester there are many many cameras on motorways here in Dublin that have come under criticism because they have been placed in such a way that they catch people coming from a 60-70kph zone into a 30kph zone before they can slow down. Road safety people and the drivers alike have raised concerns about such practises.
As I say I’m only going from 2nd hand info here as I don’t drive so am not really qualified to get into a head butting contest about driving.
The main point of this thread is about JC being a dick about speeding I say he is but that’s one of the reasons he’s popular. It’s part of what the media persona of JC is and it’s not going to change.
buit it’s not like people havent been warned that there is a 30 mile an hour zone apporaching. I would imagine that the 30 mph zones are off ramp roads from the motorway, and give drivers plenty of time to slow down.
Well from what I’ve heard on the radio by several people on both sides of the argument is that no they don’t flag it very well at all and that’s the point. That’s why people have problems with them. The 30 zone appears out of nowhere and before you know it you’ve got a ticket. The area at the SPA hotel in Lucan is the one that I hear brought up all the time.
Anyway major hijack sorry Lobsang I’ll shut up now.
The N11 as it goes past UCD too. I think they’ve actually caved in to common sense now and upped the speed limit.
Nitpick: the urban speed limit is 30mph, not 30kph.
That’s not too bad considering I plunked those numbers from my ass/memory 
I only heard about Jeremy Clarkson yesterday. I read a few articles written by him in the Sunday Times, then stumbled across Top Gear while channel surfing. Thing is, I was under the impression that he’s a funnyman first and foremost. Just as I take take his assertion that riding in the Porsche GT is less comfortable than being dragged behind it on your face, with a grain of salt, I also tend to think he’s mostly joking when he kvetches about speed limits. Same goes for him writing that leather-clad bikers are gay.
I don’t think anyone is more or less likely to break speed limits because of what M. Clarkson says; he’s an entertainer through and through.
Ah now come on Jervoise there are some cars that can snap knicker elastic from 30 feet
As much as I honestly regret deaths on the road (of which there are too many around here) I have to disagree with that statement. Yes, speed limits are for safety, but it is simply not possible to set to low enough to save everyone. This would mean that no car should be allowed faster than the speed at which it might possibly kill or injure a person. Regrettable as this is, this is not feasable.
Speed limits needs to make driving as safe as possible and reasonable for the road they are on. It’s when they are not that drivers get annoyed and start ignoring them. Expecting speed limits to make driving safe altogether is unrealistic.
**
Lobsang**, on second thought, that reply did not have much to do with your statement, did it? I stand by the point I made, but would like to withdraw the fact that it was a response to your post.
Sorry. :o
I guess we should have people walking in front with a red flag, as well, too? After all, if one life can be saved, it’s worth it!
People don’t speed because they take each road and the speed limit into account, and determine if it’s safe to speed, they do so because they think the rules don’t apply to them, and that they’re good enough drivers to be able to speed safely.
Speed is just ONE factor in Road Traffic Accidents.
Unfortunately the only times that I have been involved in a motorcycle accident has been due entirely to someone elses reckless/poor driving.
Advocates of Speed cameras seem to miss the point that a bad driver at 30mph is much more likely to kill than a good driver at 40mph. A speed camera has no ability to discern poor lane disiplne, use of mobile phones, poorly maintained vehicles etc.
Would a speed camera stopped the old guy who pulled out without looking and killed my friend on a motorcycle? (who wasn’t speeding).
The Police are the best enforcers of road law. They have the ability to be lenient where required and can do more than count up to one hundred.
Fair point, but you can’t control stupidity. You can control how fast they are allowed to go. Most drivers are loathe to admit they are below average driving ability, and seem to think that they should be allowed to break road traffic laws, and the police should be out chasing criminals.
They will soon spot tailgating, though: BBC NEWS | UK | Police target tailgating drivers
And it’s crazy to think that the police alone can enforce speed limits.
Thankyou for pointing out the naivety of my statement.
But I feel quite strongly about speeding. It bugs me how speeders don’t see that they are endangering lives (other than their own). It’s like running through a crowd waving a samurai sword. It’s just plain irresponsible.