Readers reply: ought to pace cameras be hidden? | Life and magnificence

[ad_1] W hat’s the purpose of getting pace limits if camera-warning indicators and apps enable drivers to decelerate prematurely – then simply proceed dashing? Perhaps the UK authorities in its new consultations on street security ought to add the query of hiding pace cameras to their checklist of issues. I’m a driver, but additionally a pedestrian and bicycle owner and get fed up with seeing automobiles zooming down native roads at far more than 20 or 30mph. There are flashing lights that inform drivers what pace they’re doing, however there’s no penalty for going over at these factors. Amy, Cornwall

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Readers reply It’s excessive time the federal government put its foot down. EddieChorepost

No. Folks decelerate after they see one. EGriff

I’ve an thought – why don’t the authorities dig numerous holes within the street to encourage drivers to decelerate (the encouragement being avoidance of extreme and costly harm to tyres, wheels and suspension). We might name them “potholes”. Oh – dangle on … DocLobster1960

Dashing is delinquent behaviour, so why not make the individuals who do it pay into the coffers for the great of society?

I don’t care whether or not cameras are hidden or not, folks ought to simply abide by the pace limits. It’s not as if pace limits are designed as a punishment. Goldgreen

I acquired a dashing ticket in Wales on my first go to there after they launched a 20mph restrict, I opted to take the pace consciousness course and located it to be invaluable. I recommend that every one learner drivers take this course as you study a lot. I’ve been driving for 35 years and among the issues I realized have caught with me at the moment. It will be good if we had been made conscious earlier than we began driving. I truly loved the course. lozbags

In fact there must be no warnings about mounted pace cameras. Thoughts you, this offers native residents a bonus. Tony Firshman, by electronic mail

The problem of whether or not pace cameras must be seen was determined by the Blair authorities (and the then transport minister John Spellar). Dashing motorists prevented them and continued dashing afterwards. This resulted in “crash migration”. Street security has all the time been the Cinderella challenge of coverage and sadly, will proceed to be, because of the ethical chapter of our legislators. Howard Bramwell, by electronic mail

No, cameras are there to gradual drivers at harmful locations. Nonetheless, the digital camera expertise have to be so low-cost now that each (30mph) signal might have a digital camera behind it. I actually wrestle to do 20, although, as a result of I've a muscle reminiscence for driving in villages at 25-30mph. James M Bartlett, by electronic mail

I don’t assume there may be clear proof of what's extra environment friendly in bringing accidents down, because the strategy varies between nations. In Germany, pace cameras are normally hidden, behind bends or street indicators. Cellular cameras are widespread. Generally, you could have street indicators warning of cameras (“Radar”), however they're normally fairly a bit earlier than the cameras. Mustbe6to20

Pace cameras don’t have to be hidden. They have to be ubiquitous. The wish to be in each cat’s-eye within the nation and spherical each bush and nook. Simply get them in, save the lives as an alternative of regretting them and drive folks to decelerate.

Actually begin the struggle on the motorist, and when you’re at it, make pedestrian crossing lights change instantly when somebody presses the button. That’ll be the actual sign for the struggle to start. Andrew Riley, by electronic mail

Seen. There’s a stretch of A street in north Norfolk which had two pace cameras. One has been eliminated – folks nonetheless brake as they strategy it. Seen nonetheless works finest, even when it’s now not seen. RosiesDad

It has all the time struck me that the usage of common pace cameras (versus so-called “security cameras”) is rather more efficient at maintaining automobile speeds right down to the pace restrict. These use automated numberplate recognition (ANPR) to test the time between cameras, so nearly all drivers keep on the pace restrict however then pace up after passing the final digital camera (presumably to make up for the time they assume they've misplaced whereas sticking to the pace restrict). As ANPR spreads extra extensively (so we will catch the unhealthy guys as much as no good), it could possibly’t be past the expertise to make use of their information to raised impact by catching speeders too. shropshirelasso

No want to cover them, they're meant to face out, so in case you are going too quick you may nonetheless decelerate, however in case you are going at a ridiculous pace that you simply don’t discover them, you then haven't any complaints. Like capturing fish in a barrel. Sure, there are some sneaky ones, however they aren't essential imho. Idiots find yourself getting caught out anyway. Damianleah

I'm all in favour of overt and covert ones. I'm additionally all in favour of the police utilizing roadside/bridge cameras to catch speeders. Additional, I might welcome a tripling or extra of the fines and factors acquired, together with all drivers having to undertake a pace consciousness course each 5 years with a purpose to maintain your licence – and don’t neglect, holding a licence is a privilege and never a proper.

I'm a driver who does far too many miles every year, and I've in all probability pushed for greater than 800,000 miles, and I've not been caught dashing. Oh, I’m not going to say I'm some kind of saint, and I do know I've exceeded the restrict on many events, but when I had been caught, I might have deserved the penalty. Sallycycles

Some folks btl are claiming that hidden cameras wouldn’t work as a deterrent. However they might when you’ve been caught, fined and collected a couple of factors. Insurance coverage goes up and the chance of shedding one’s licence ought to focus the thoughts fairly shortly. I’m sick of being tailgated when driving on the pace restrict. Dropinjim

Indicators that inform you the pace you might be doing (or a smiling face in case you are doing the pace restrict) are far simpler and for a better distance afterwards at slowing folks down than pace cameras. Having stated that, common pace cameras appear to be a superb route to go, clearly higher on lengthy singular roads than cities with numerous roads leaving and becoming a member of, though it might nonetheless work. duncandavis

Wouldn’t a visual deterrent be higher than letting folks pace or get into an accident and should cope with the aftermath? Patriiick

Sure, particularly in class zones. A 2025 examine in New York Metropolis confirmed that pace cameras diminished accidents by 16%, and collisions by 30%. Even higher, Toronto Metropolitan College discovered that pace cameras diminished “the variety of dashing automobiles by 45% in city faculty zones”. RP Orlando, by electronic mail

I've a, maybe controversial, tackle this. Cover the pace cameras, however don’t challenge any fines to those that breach the restrict. Simply factors on the licence. This is able to take away the argument from many who pace cameras are a money cow and never a security function. Niels, by electronic mail

If you wish to generate income, cover the cameras. If you need folks to decelerate, make them extremely seen. I do know only a few individuals who haven’t been caught by a pace entice. I used to be going to return to the place my so-called offence happened however determined to take a budget manner out, a £100 pace consciousness course that taught me nothing. I do comprehend it was a twin carriageway with a barrier to cease pedestrians crossing the street – and a pace restrict that dropped from 40 to 30 with no discernible cause. They've these cameras in Italy. They're the dimensions of a wheelie bin and are vivid orange. Guess what – nobody speeds previous them. The police even have radar weapons however the place it is vital that folks don’t pace, pedestrian crossings and so on, the cameras do an ideal job. iptraveller

In Surrey, the place I realized to drive, cameras had been hidden, painted gray. After I began driving farther afield, I used to be amazed that anybody within the counties which had already adopted yellow painted cameras was ever caught dashing. They had been so seen in comparison with those we had in Surrey. Now there are the warnings on GPS and satnavs. No excuses. WordChazer

Usually native authorities solely put cameras at excessive accident websites. Common pace checks are situated to cease road cruising, with restricted impact. Beforehand I used to be a transport planner and had geographic info system entry to all of the areas and police metadata on the Stats19 varieties. It's sobering to overlay all of the slight, critical and deadly accidents, for all years. There isn't any discernible sample – distribution of knowledge factors is in all places. Zero accidents must be the goal. Not troublesome to black field all new automobiles and cease dashing.

As a pedestrian, bicycle owner and driver I agree. I actually imagine drivers for his or her licence ought to stroll down a darkish nation lane, cycle down an A street, cope with stupidly vivid headlights. Driving is seen with no consideration but it surely’s not it’s a privilege. funkymentalist

Pace restrict indicators must be clearly seen, shut sufficient collectively, and never pale, nor obscured by vegetation. They shouldn't be contradictory, as they generally are when momentary indicators are reached earlier than everlasting indicators. When that has been achieved, pace cameras must be hidden. FromageBleu

Might simply make automobiles unable to exceed pace restrict. Very simple to do. Or match all of them with black bins. Seamusheaneyisbrown

From July 2024 all new automobiles bought within the EU [and Northern Ireland] are required to have pace limiters. Wantage

No. I don’t assume pace cameras must be hidden. That doesn't deter folks dashing, it simply provides them a ticket. The entire level is to gradual folks down.

One other side of street security that bugs me an awesome deal is tailgating. This can be a very critical offence in Florida. (I don’t find out about the remainder of the US.) It's up there with drink-driving, and for my part it must be as a result of it is extremely harmful, and causes among the worst accidents on motorways.

Hopefully with AI, they will invent a digital camera which picks out automobiles tailgating. And I want the police would give that challenge as a lot consideration as dashing, no less than on motorways. AndyPandy1968

If [drivers] don’t know the place pace cameras are (and there might be one wherever) they’ll decelerate. Presently they pace till they see a extremely seen digital camera. TenaroG

‘Merely placing up an indication doesn't make folks decelerate.’ {Photograph}: David Pardoe/Getty Photographs It's higher to drive for the present street situations, not the pace restrict. Pace restrict indicators encourage drivers to drive at that pace and can't react to it raining or being icy – or react to uncommon occasions, like somebody turning proper right into a seldom used street (I might argue a no-right flip signal could be higher than dropping the pace restrict to 50 or 40mph).

Most occasions while you reasonably exceed the pace restrict, nothing occurs; it's unlikely to trigger an accident, until there's a pace entice which causes sudden braking. Nonetheless, it stays true that the vitality of a crash is proportional to the sq. of the pace. There may be greater than double the vitality crashing at 30mph over 20mph (50% pace improve).

There isn't any level driving at 30mph on a housing property, a half a mile at 30mph takes 1 minute, at 20 takes 1.5 minutes. You simply get to the subsequent queue 30 seconds sooner. The typical pace in London attributable to congestion is 7 to 20mph.

On a twin carriageway, the capability (automobiles per hour) could be elevated by decreasing the pace: peak capability 20mph for automobiles and 30mph for buses and lorries. Rob333

No. I see one, I decelerate. I imply, ahem, I preserve that protected pace I used to be already doing, clearly! You would cover them and probably make extra income however that grapevine is waaaay greater than something Marvin sang about. Phrase spreads so shortly that folks, no less than locals, would know all in regards to the secret cameras faster than Shaw Taylor might say maintain ’em peeled. catchytitle

I used to be as soon as cautioned for signalling to drivers {that a} pace digital camera was developing.

I believed, what’s your drawback? Pace cameras are about enhancing street security and I’m getting all of the automobiles to decelerate. They need to have given me a medal and a gold clock, not a warning. Charismata

Eh? They're meant to make the roads safer. Which they don’t do in the event you don’t know they're there. Merely placing up an indication doesn't make folks decelerate, we all know this from repeat expertise. Virtually, it could even be daft to cover them as you would want so many indicators, eg to inform that cameras are current, then to inform that cameras aren't. I’m very suspicious of the mentality that thinks they need to be hidden to “catch folks out”. It’s the identical mentality that insists on jail for non-dangerous offences and, at its most excessive, capital punishment. Each issues confer solely brutality upon society and the resultant strain on social and well being companies whereas in all probability not decreasing crime. Believers of demonstrably ineffective punitive programs are a real menace, preferring all of us endure beneath such programs to allow them to get a way of “vengeance”. This to me is extra sociopathic than most of the criminals and definitely extra so than most dashing drivers. Wyrdsister

Pace cameras are very costly to put in, preserve and function, which is why they're solely positioned the place deaths have occurred. If seen, then most drivers decelerate at them proving that they work as supposed, whereas drivers ignoring them accurately get fined. That is why you see many different bodily strategies for limiting speeds reminiscent of humps, tables, cushions and chicanes. Any street with out cameras or bodily controls will all the time see drivers that pace. swely

With an electrical automobile there may be so little suggestions that I all the time use the pace limiter. It doesn’t require many individuals doing this to deliver everyone into line, actually! I’ve labored within the auto trade and had to take a look at total issues of safety. The statistics are as clear as they're for smoking on the subject of dashing – simply don’t do it. Forlornehope

Sure to secret cameras to scale back dashing however why cease there? Why not additionally introduce secret quantity plate recognition cameras to sort out the industrial-scale dumping of family items throughout our pavements?

Britain’s cities, particularly working-class communities, are being become public dumps the place unlawful fly-tipping by the middle-class and small companies is uncontrolled. In case your automobile is used for unlawful public dumping, you need to have your driving licence revoked for 12 months after which be pressured to resit your driving take a look at. Let’s take again management of our pavements! whitman100

In reply to whitman100: Most individuals don’t wish to stay within the surveillance society you describe. We all know it doesn’t cease crime. It merely adjustments it. Wyrdsister

They appear to catch sufficient folks anyway of their vivid yellow situation. Appears fairer with that a lot warning. unclestinky

Clearly, having indicators decreases the pace in any particular digital camera’s location. Nonetheless, it additionally offers tacit permission to hurry elsewhere.

I feel the plain answer to this paradox is to require automobile producers to start turning off automobile security options at 30mph. Begin small – passenger airbags flip off at 31mph, driver ones at 50. By the point a automobile hits 71, an ejector seat must be prepared to fireside the motive force into the ceiling. It will be attention-grabbing to study what number of drivers could be keen to threat their very own well being quite than that of others as they pace “completely safely”. Hugh B, by electronic mail

The latest street security assessment ignored the elephant within the room, ie pace. Street visitors deaths [in Great Britain] have averaged round 1,600+ for the final a number of years; if that determine utilized to air or rail journey, fleets could be grounded and networks shut down till the matter was investigated. As a result of street visitors deaths occur in small numbers per incident, they're hardly seen, typically barely making native media, marked solely by unhappy little shrines of flowers by the aspect of a stretch of street.

So … my ideas (not vote winners)

1. Overview all pace limits; 20mph the place situations are hazardous, 30 as much as 40 on the outskirts of cities/villages (30 can go on too lengthy)2. Larger use of 50mph restrict; it’s an enormous soar 40 to 60.3. Improve the restrict to 80mph on motorways.

As soon as that’s accomplished, take away the requirement for cameras to be seen and permit native councils to share unpersoned cellular digital cameras and set up much more common pace cameras.

Then, enable some leeway (say 10%) after which prosecute everybody who speeds, improve the fines and the variety of factors. There will likely be an enormous outcry which can calm down when loss of life numbers begin to fall dramatically (which they'll!) As I stated, not a vote winner however an efficient technique to cope with the present ludicrous state of affairs the place folks assume it’s OK to interrupt the regulation just a little bit. Phillip Tanswell, by electronic mail

What a few street reflector containing radio-frequency identification (RFID) set to the right (protected) pace restrict? This is able to talk with the automobile passing above. The driving force could be alerted and if pace will not be adjusted the onboard pc does it for them. Roads are a public place … not your personal racetrack. Paul Tobiason, by electronic mail