stang Donating Members 1,353 Member For: 21y 3m 15d Location: Melbourne Posted 26/12/06 11:10 PM Share Posted 26/12/06 11:10 PM 26 December 2006SPEED CAMERA AXED BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS By Gary Anderson A NOTORIOUS motorway speed camera which has increased the risk of accidents and caused huge tailbacks is to be scrapped. The trap on the M4 has become a hazard during rush-hour as drivers brake sharply to avoid fines. It has also triggered bunching, with motorists forced to stop and start along the 50mph stretch. The Gatso's axing is thought to be the first such move by highways officials on safety grounds. Campaigner Paul Smith, of Safe Speed, said it was a landmark admission by authorities cameras can be counterproductive. He said: "It's a scandal. The side-effects are terrible and ensure that the cure is far worse than the disease." The device was installed at Junction 41 near Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, in 2003 after a motorist died and three were seriously injured on the two-lane stretch in the three previous years. The National Assembly for Wales admitted the camera caused congestion. Tory Assembly member Alun Cairns added: "The siting of it has always been nonsensical." The only time cameras have previously been decommissioned was in March when 30 failed to meet new rules ensuring they are clearly visible and installed only at sites of fatal or serious accidents. But Philip Davies, of the Mid & South Wales Safety Camera Partnership, insisted the M4 camera had cut casualties. He said: "No one has been killed or seriously injured since it was installed." Fears over the detrimental effects of cameras deepened last year when a probe was ordered over conflicting figures about their safety. Another Government study found £5,000 flashing warning signs led to a 7mph fall in speeds and 34 per cent cut in accidents compared to 3.7mph and 14 per cent for £30,000 speed cameras. The M4 trap will be replaced in the New Year by vehicle-activated signs that flash up warnings for drivers to slow down but do not fine those that trigger them by exceeding the limit. gary.anderson@mirror.co.uk I wonder if our goverment would ever take notice. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
aniken I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it Donating Members 4,316 Member For: 22y 4m 16d Gender: Male Location: Sydney, south west Posted 26/12/06 11:25 PM Share Posted 26/12/06 11:25 PM Happens with most speed cameras - people drive at least 10k's below the limit "just to be sure". Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-481054 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil F6 Donating Members 830 Member For: 19y 3m 27d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 27/12/06 04:25 AM Share Posted 27/12/06 04:25 AM There are two chances of this happening in Australia - buckley's and none. Amanda Vanstone has got more chance of being Miss Universe and releasing a line of top selling lingerie ... Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-481108 Share on other sites More sharing options...
stang Donating Members 1,353 Member For: 21y 3m 15d Location: Melbourne Posted 27/12/06 04:31 AM Author Share Posted 27/12/06 04:31 AM mmmmmm(homer) Ammmaannder Vannnstonnne, in bikinni, quick get me a bucket. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-481112 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iconic Bionic My engine bay is Bionic Donating Members 3,726 Member For: 19y 1m 17d Gender: Male Location: Freeways Posted 27/12/06 08:17 AM Share Posted 27/12/06 08:17 AM Some years ago in Canada they removed there speed cameras for the same reason this one has been removed. They found there was an increase in rear end low speed collisions, with ppl focusing on there speedometres and not the road and cars in front of them. The number of collisions far outweighed the benefits of preventing speed related serious injury and fatal colliisons.Yeah and bucklys here in NSW having them removed, they are too much of a goldmine for the state government and they pay for themselves ten times over.And the RTA recently ordered another 5t speed cameras for NSW, which they wont be telling us about in any great hurry. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-481182 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tab Sucker Moderating Team 32,303 Member For: 21y 11d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 19/01/07 10:44 AM Share Posted 19/01/07 10:44 AM Happens with most speed cameras - people drive at least 10k's below the limit "just to be sure". ←Or if you're a typical dumb-f*ck Qld driver you slow down at least 30km/h. The poor bastard coppers would rarely get anyone on the Bruce Highway up here! Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-488131 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blonk Iconoclast Donating Members 4,330 Member For: 20y 7m 9d Gender: Male Location: CH Posted 19/01/07 11:08 AM Share Posted 19/01/07 11:08 AM Happens with most speed cameras - people drive at least 10k's below the limit "just to be sure". ←Or if you're a typical dumb-f*ck Qld driver ←You said it not me........ Typical Tab they call him Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-488152 Share on other sites More sharing options...
xr6 Member 96 Member For: 20y 4m 8d Posted 20/01/07 12:04 PM Share Posted 20/01/07 12:04 PM Yeah, it's really hard case driving around London. You're bumper to bumper in a line of cars doing 50+ in a 40 mph limit, suddenly everyone is on the brakes. Then past the speed camera, and back on the gas. It's OK for the locals 'cos they know where the cameras are, but a bit rough on the tourists. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-488457 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil F6 Donating Members 830 Member For: 19y 3m 27d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 21/01/07 09:37 AM Share Posted 21/01/07 09:37 AM Happens with most speed cameras - people drive at least 10k's below the limit "just to be sure". ←Or if you're a typical dumb-f*ck Qld driver you slow down at least 30km/h. The poor bastard coppers would rarely get anyone on the Bruce Highway up here!←Mate it's not much better here in NSW (Numerous Stupid W@nkers) where they slow down to 40. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-488638 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest newl Guests Posted 21/01/07 12:00 PM Share Posted 21/01/07 12:00 PM Down to 40? In a what zone? That'd just be wrong (and illegal) at 100 or 110. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/31419-god-bless-the-poms/#findComment-488714 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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