Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Speed cameras axed in overhaul
Two speed cameras have been axed in Walsall as part of a major overhaul that could see every camera in the borough removed.
The speed traps in Chester Road have been taken down as a year-long review was launched in the borough to ensure they are not simply money-making machines.
It comes after the Express & Star revealed earlier this month that more than £2.6million was collected in a single year across the region from speeding fines – up from £375,000 in 1997.
Councillor Anthony Harris, Walsall Council cabinet member for transport, said more would be taken down if he did not think they were helping to cut accidents.
“Well placed cameras can save lives and reduce accidents, there is no doubt about that,” he said.
“What worries me is that many people believe there are some cameras across Britain that are only there to make money.
“I personally will not tolerate this practice in Walsall.
“I have already sanctioned the removal of two camera housings which were no longer needed on the Chester Road,” he added.
Across Walsall there are 47 fixed cameras, and the thorough review may take up to 12 months to complete.
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Labour getting a bit worried in the marginals then.
I shouldn’t worry about the speed cameras, or their use as a stealth tax or a road toll system, your party is dead and buried already.
Put the police back on the road labour before your greed and fudged statistics gets anyone else killed.
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Hurray, common sense and fair-play triumph over greed at last! If these cameras were not only erected to save lives but to generate hard cash, why are so many of them ‘hidden’ or should I say obscured? Hidden, I believe would be illegal. In order to deter motorists from speeding full visibility of these cameras would be more effective, unless that objective is only secondary to generating cash. Incidently,I do have a clean licence.
Regards
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They make the cameras obvious. They are fixed so if you travel a route a few times you get to know where they are.
Yet people are still capable of going past them at 45 in a 30 zone then complaining about being fined!
Yes, bring back the police who didn’t advertise where they were and didn’t remain in fixed positions.
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Doesn’t all this debate about the rights and wrongs of speed cameras simply distract from the real issue, which is the rights and wrongs of speeding? Speeding motorists kill people through their selfish recklessness. Simple as that. If speed cameras don’t act as an effective deterrent to these thoughtless yobs, then sure, remove them. But then concentrate on trying to find methods that actually WILL stop people speeding.
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Pedestrians kill themselves by not paying attention. Ever seen anyone fined for dangerous road crossing or made to pay for damage they cause. Those who drive at 20 – 30mph causing a tailback are equally dangerous. Scrap the speed limits and charge drivers for dangerous driving, which is not 31mph on a deserted road, but is 29mph in a busy road by a school. Trouble is that is harder to prove!
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bring back the police cameras dont stop drink drivers drugs dangerous driving which probably are the biggest killers on the roads. stop penalty points for speeding as this only affects insurance which some people dont have instead of the points increase the fine if they cant pay impound their cars.anyone with no insurance the fine should be at least 3 times what their yearly premium would have been at fully comp
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1.
Bernie,
Walsall council is Conservative!!
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Just a thought, I don’t find that speed cameras are very effective as most local drivers know their locations and slow down to avoid detection. However, I feel that the devices that tell you your speed seem to have an immediate impact on speeding drivers and don’t wind up normally considerate drivers.
Perhaps we could have more of these (especially around schools)and what about replacing absurdly high bumps that damage vehicles suspension with rumble strips. The roads would certainly be safer.
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Number 8, the signs are Ok. But don’t always work properly.
The one at the bus station in Walsall showed the 997 doing 28mph when we were doing barely 5.
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So we have 2 spare speed cameras ‘eh….why not put them on Walsall’s very own drag racing strip ??
I’m refering to the Lichfield Road Sandhills. I have personally heard people brag about being able to reach speeds in excess of 100mph between the Shire Oak and the start fo the dual carriageway..the limit is 40mph! WMBC say that cameras are not justified due to low accident levels, what ever happened to prevention being better than cure, and what about the residents who are have to tolerate living within yards of a race track??
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Booster, obviously, or this story wouldn’t be here, a Labour Council wouldn’t say a dickie bird. The absence of comment from the MP’s (Labour) however is quite apparent, unlike Anne Snelgrove from Swindon who tried to start a campaign to stop the (conservative) council from removing theirs, only to be ridiculed heavily by the electorate, hence the comment that the Labour government are concerned about speed cameras in the marginals because they know cameras (amongst many other things) are going to get them removed from power in 2010.
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Bernie, I rather doubt cameras will have anything to do with votes in the next election. Hardly seem to have been an issue in the last couple of elections. Plenty of more important things to concern those who vote.
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At last, a politician not afraid to speak the truth.
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@Paul Vincent:
How about better driver education? For every offence, give them the opportunity to upgrade their licence further (at their own cost).. Only when they reach the top of their education and can take no further courses, if they are still driving like morons, start penalising
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