Tim Worcester
If you don't want to get caught get a speed camera detection device before they are outlawed

Simon, Gloucester
People should drive like they're being observed by the Police ALL THE TIME, not scurrilously breaking the law when they think they'll get away with it. That means sticking to speed limits, as well as Good Lane Discipline, Always Indicating and in Good Time, Only Overtaking When Safe To Do So.... the list is long indeed. A shame there are no cameras to detect Poor Driving!

MJ - Southampton
Near schools, parks, paly areas OK. The rest are just there to make money. What possible function can one of these devices serve n the middle of a long straight piece of road, especially when hidden from view. If you really want to slow people down you would make them extremely obvious, hiding them behid oher signs and in overhead gantries can only mean stealth i.e. money collecting. The money would be better spent on the speed limit signs that light up and tell every one that you are speeding. Why not put teo or three of these together with a camera as the fourth. If you still get caught then its down to you. Hiding cameras around bends and just over the brow of a rise is not on. Drivers spend more time now looking for cameras in stead of looking where they are going. This cannot be good. Watch any area where cameras or "Calming" systems are operating and you will see most people "Floor it" as soon as they are clear to make up lost time.

peter evesham
people dont seem to have got the message yet all right you have a fast car BUT you use it for what its made for speeding and to put it mildly your a PRAT none of you speeders take any notice of push bikes for instance

hereford
just read some stats and you'll see how speed cameras are needed. These are real people dying every day.

Chris Cameron, Hereford
You are trying to give reasons against speed cameras but end up giving perfectly good reasons to get them. hundreds of people cross at aylestone hill every day and the traffic is terrible. Speed cameras are good ideas.

W, Hereford
If you think speed cameras are useless you must be joking. The number of speeding casualties is appalling - if people just kept under thelimit none of this would be needed. Just stop and think about the lives speed cameras save.

Em- Evesham
They are a good idea in areas near to schools and places where accidents are prone to happen,but in some places they are in the wrong place. I live near one and by the time you have reached it your are slow anyway. I think it's pointing in the wrong direction, or it should go up the road a bit.

steve jones - worcester
I totally agree with "speed cameras". Keep under 30mph, it's not rocket science!!!!

Tony, London
Both. The basic idea is sound but the number of cameras placed, particularly in non-blackspot locations makes you wonder if the revenues being generated would be missed.

Kelly, Redditch
Spped cameras should be in accident blackspots, schools and residential areas....Placed anywhere else they can only be there to make money.

Chris, Droitwich
Whilst I agree strongly that speed cameras can, under the right circumstances, be an effective way to reduce accidents, there are a great number of cameras that are placed simply to generate additional revenue for the state. I couldn't agree more with what Ian Wharton has said about Speed Reduction Safety Vans. They really are placed just to catch the motorist out, which is stupid. I think that speeding is fundamentally wrong, but people will still do it and placing a safety van so that it causes sudden braking when the offender sees it is going to cause even more accidents. Further to this, it angered me watching a BBC documentary, showing one of these vans in operation. The police officer using the laser gun, when asked, not only seemed to boast about the most people he had ever caught in a two hour period, he also stated that he himself had three points on his licence for speeding, 72mph in a 60mph zone. If the police officers closest to the enforcement of the scheme are breaking the exact law that this scheme attempts to clamp down on, it leaves little hope for the rest of us. The police officers should by their occupational nature be safe drivers who aren't hypocritical of their own aims. If speed cameras are visible and honestly signed, I see no problem whatsoever. What I completely object to is the way some areas put up numerous signs stating that there are speed cameras, when in fact there are none at all; this causes the speeding motorist to be constantly braking if they see a camera, most likely without checking if it is safe to do so. This is only going to cause an accident that would not have happened if the signs/ploys were not in place.

sherrie
speed cameras are a waste of time. the government should spend more on useful things and not something that will benefit them

chris hereford
I think that using speeed cameras are a money making gigimic for the police and they make to much money for doing no work what so ever. Also it verey hard to keep with in the speed limit (30mph on Aylestone hill)when you are looking at the road, and it is even harder if you are going down a hill, and there are lots of people around

Adam, Hertfordshire
i think that Phill, from "Hereford" has no idea of the word "statistically effective" because the the real statistic from the "AA" and "RAC" the people that practice the whole road system in the uk 24/7 and not a pen pushing greedy authority sitting behind his desk thinking of way producing more ghost tax out of the motorists. There real figures say that the death toll has only ever gone up since the introdution of speed cameras. Also to add is that satisticly only 6% of road accidents are due to speeding. Why not pay more attention to the real criminals. i ll tell you why, because they can t fine them.......

norman brodie
cameras should only be sited in known accident spots

Sue
Speed camaras make for a crakin sprint circuit. Floor it between each one and slam on the brakes at the last possible moment before you rerach one. All g'teed to split your attention and cause accidents. Good thinking Batman

sarah
I actually drive to get from A to B and keep to the restrictions where possible but sometimes how do you know what the speed is i think its awful how you can loose your licesne just for a couple of miles over doesnt mean to say your irrasponssible iot messy up your life work and lesiure catch the real crimnals

Phil, Hereford
If you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime. Just a way to make money? - nonsense. Even if it is true that it makes a profit, who cares? Every road where a camera is installed is visibly calmer, feels safer and most are statistically effective. True, some could be better placed - this is why they get moved. True, there is a need for MORE cameras in sensitive areas, as argued by many here. But overall - good job, well done. 3000+ people die in road accidents every year, with speed a factor in most. That is equivalent to a 9/11 every year due to illegal acts. To argue that it is somehow unfair that people might get caught for doing something they KNOW is illegal is crass. Clearly, speeding is a lesser crime than, say, GBH or murder - but then so is vandalism, and I'll bet no-one here would bleat about CCTV cameras being used against that.

Ian Wharton, Lincolnshire, Home of the Speed Camer
Hello Everyone, I agree with the use of Speeding Deterents, providing they are used as a deterent for that purpose and not money making rackets. A good example of this is a speed camera well sign posted in an accident prone location. Another good example are speed humps (sleeping Policemen), very difficult to speed when these are present. Another is the less well known "Specs Camera System" these are cameras with 2 infra red lenses (for night use also) mounted on large blue ornate lamp posts, these are intalled at various positions along a road and measure your Average Speed along that stretch, the cameras automatically log your registration number and generate a ticket if you speed. Again a very good system, providing it is well sign posted so it is used as a deterent (and not a trap). What I don't agree with and strongly disagree with is the use of Speed Reduction Safety (Bullshit) Vans. These can turn up and do turn up anywhere, the markings they use to identify themselves are normally on the sides of the vehicles (not seen until they have got you), often the 'Safety' Vans are situated round bends or places to catch you out. One could say 'well if your speeding you deserve to be caught' I share the view that deterency is the key. These vans and hidden cameras round bends etc have no deterency value at all, so the end result is that people will speed in these areas (not what we want). Surely the Police/Government should be looking at more ways at detering Speeders, such as the Specs System or even limiting vehicles top speeds (130 MPH on my vehicle is a little high for the 70 MPH limit). Thanks for reading!

graham worcester
Its 30mph in most built up areas even less past schools. I cant beleive some drivers only slow down if a camera is installed. These people who compain about speed cameras are on the same planet as 4x4 drivers,

Don Lunken- Hereford
I agree on R Millerin article that speed cameras are good and do save lives and are worth having around but half the places in which there are speed cameras have had very little history of collisions and a lot of hotspot collision areas never have any speed cameras. Instead of wasting there money on stupid places like Aylestone Hill where first of all it's a hill and it's hard for people to brake and there is a pelican crossing which is safe enough but what about all the accident hotspots like Hampton Park Road, that serious collision on 15th December 04 and there has been a lot of concern for speeding in that area, also the Abergavenny Road near Newton Coppice there's a lot of speeding around there and always getting the feeling theres going to be an accident. That's where they should have a speed camera and a crossing from the layby to the Newton Coppice. It's just hopeless

Mr Good Worcester
I think Brad of Worcester and some others should seriosly cosider if their fit to drive. Most of us cant glance at our speedometer without crashing or hitting anything.

John Worcester
I get fed up with these bleeting minority of drivers. If they cant control the speed of their car they should consider whether they should be driving. I suppose they think a few points over the drink drive limit is ok also. Would they still feel the same if their child or spouse were killed by a speeding driver. If a speed camera only saved one life a year they are worth having. Its about time everyone was tested to see if they were sane enough to drive, judging by comments made by some drivers on this site.

john richardson sunderland
speed kills the more speed cameras the better

julie/malvern
just another go at the motorist.

Philip, Bromsgrove
How much longer are these people who seem to think it's perfectly OK to break the law going to go bleating on about speed cameras? They might as well accept that they are here to stay and stop exceeding the speed limit. That way, it'll cost them less and they'll keep their licence. Oh, yes and our roads will be a lot safer too with a good chance of saving some of those 3000 lives that are lost every year.

m.everton,worcester
Amazing speed camera results in worcester city in the last 2 years.GOOD work all,just plase extend it all of worcestershire now that cameras must be far cheaper to install.Thanks.

martin guest
bromsgrove, worcestershire If speed cameras were truly about road safety there would be more installed near schools and on residential roads and less behind blind bends (ie Old Bham Road Bromsgrove)this location illustrating the point perfectly, the camera being situated AFTER the potential danger spot, if road safety were the issue the camera would be situated in plain view BEFORE the hazard. Mobile units are often parked on grass verges facing oncoming traffic which in itself is A. dangerous and B- I would have thought illegal. Cash not safety is the motivator- this resident is not fooled.

Des Adams. Redditch, Worcs
I have asked many authorities how the money collected is distributed. How much to keep the cameras working, how much to upkeep roads, how much to police but to date I have not received one proper answer from those that do reply. This only confirms the real need of cameras which is to make money with an excuse that it stops accidents. The way to stop them would be for everyone to drive at twenty miles per hour!

m.everton/worcester
Great news,i used to live on city walls road and late night it was like a motorway but in a 30 mph city area,i just have to say good work because it felt strange living there at night with the cars passing and i know quite a few pedestrians used to die and i was not surprised.Thanks.

WR4 9EL
JUST A WAY OF RAISING MONEY!

Christopher, Worcester
IF they were there for safety, they would be outside the Royal Grammar School, both front and back which are both dangerous rat runs and also outside Christopher Whitehead School, another speeders' rat run ... City Walls Road and outside the Cricket Ground are areas where traffic should go as fast as possible to keep delays to a minimum - neither are in areas where pedestrians are common.

Arby, Gloucester
Safety cameras: typical government induced spin. The attitude of the government and police is "if you cannot catch real criminals or prosecute them successfully then try and criminalise honest folk; they at least will pay the fines". It is all a nice Brownian stealth tax which just destroys the ordinary citizen's trust in attitudes and objvectives of the polizei.

Chris Worcs
Speed cameras have been installed in my home town on all major routes, (except for the road where a school child was killed by a motorist a few years ago). Most motorists tend to hit the brakes to avoid being caught and then speed up shortly afterwards. Maybe creating situations where drivers are braking sharply is actually more dangerous than having a driver doing (say) 33 or 34MPH in a 30MPH zone.

John Birmingham
Just another way to earn money from the public

Joe Atiyah, Beckford
he appropriate speed at any time varies with a large number of factors - driver condition, car condition, traffic, weather, lighting, geography. A good driver takes all these into account when adjusting his speed. Speed limits are only a very crude approximation, and often quite inappropriate. For example, a speed limit near a school is certainly appropriate when the school is being used, but not when it isnt - which is the majority of the hours in the year. I have been driving for 40 years, I have often exceeded speed limits, I have never had an accident. I drive at appopriate speeds, which can easily vary at one location from say 15 mph to 40 mph, or from 30 mph to 60 mph. One day maybe we will have 'smart' speed limits - probably imposed by a smart car. Meanwhile I believe that the excessive use of speed cameras is not the best way of progressing -as has been demonstrated in other countries.

Brad / Worcestershire
Most cameras appear to be on downhill stretches where it is easy to catch people. Like in Romsley where there is also a school, parked cars, many pedestrians. How can you watch the speedometer and the people, car doors etc etc.

P - Hereford
It is truely amazing to read some of the incredible excuses some drivers are prepared to give for speeding. There are 103 child casualties on UK roads DAILY, Stefan of London, How much pleasure does that give you ? And Phil who are you to say what is or isn't the correct location for a camera, don't you know how much monitoring takes place prior to installation.And Mark the wonderful thing abut cameras is they don't earn anybody any money if you learn how to control your speed.Andy, why do you want someone to be injured or have to die before you learn to slow down: hit a pedestrian at 35mph and you are twice as likely to kill them compared with a driver travelling at 30mph - just 5mph makes a massive difference to the outcome.J of Hereford if drivers can't multitask then they shouldn't be on the road, if drivers are so determined to travel so close to the limit that they have to scrutinze their speedo for so long then they will end up contributing to the grief of the 16 families a month who have their child killed by speeding car drivers- what does it take you guys? What do you want - an invitation to the funerals ? The UK has the fourth worst recorded rate of child pedestrian deaths in Western Europe. Careless arrogant speeding drivers are killers they just don't carry guns they drive them.Just slow down. Really, whats your rush for ?

Chris Amor- Hereford
I reckon that half the speed cameras around the countrie are in the wrong place. What about the schools, and colleges? There's often a lot of traffic on Aylestone Hill in Hereford anyway and there's rarely many people crossing Aylestone Hill. Speeding isn't a serious offence and yet it's costs more than charges for Drunk and Disorder (£40) and yet £60 just for speeding!! Sometimes I think the goverment and the Councils around Britain are just completly off their minds!!! And complete fradusters!!

Jan Cumbria
Cameras save lives here in cumbria we have seen a reduction in the number of serious injuries since there introduction. Its about time people started to realise that the days of speeding are over. settle back concentrate on the road and get to your destination alive

Phil, Redditch
I was clocked at 71 in a 60 by a van in the middle of nowhere with no houses, pedestrians or traffic on a Sunday afternoon. I was overtaking a car up a steep hill, as the road split into a further lane specifically for overtaking, for about 20 seconds and went back to 60mph. 'Easy target' comes to mind in this instance. I appealed on the grounds that the camera was inappropriately placed, it wasn't an accident blackspot, I made a brief, safely executed manouvre. I was basically told we don't care - go to court if you want. It is clear that there can be no reasoning with these 'criminals' who are only out to defraud the public. And yes, 2 points instead of 3 would mean they could fine you more times before you lose your licence, not the rubbish spouted about safety.

Mike/Pershore
Why in Gloucestershire is there a tolerance of 10mph, but in Worcestershire there is no margin over 10%?

Mark, Worcester
Please tell me why the south bound camera, on the A38 Bath Rd, Worcester, has been placed after the junction of Timberdine Avenue, a well known bottle neck, and accident black spot. Surely it should be placed before it. The siting has nothing to do with the fact that they would raise more money with people escapinig the bottle neck, than entering,....... would it.

Bill. Hereford
Interesting to note the photograph at the top of the page. The camera van is facing the traffic so that the fluorescent markings can not be seen. One of the arguments the camera partnership use for justifying their approach is that the vehicle is clearly visible by reason of the stripes. Does this mean the camera is set up in the front for the benefit of the operator rather than to give the motoring public the correct service?

John
how does a speed camera work

Harry. Kidderminster
I recently set-up a dash-board unit (GPS) for a friend - which included the positions of all known 'safety' cameras and sub-surface measuring strips. Taking it for a "test drive" really surprised me. I 'discovered' so many more devices on my local roads than ever I suspected. "Big Brother is both watching and waiting ..." As for safety ... stick to "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" for the best results; effective whatever your speed.

Gareth Barnes, Bracknell
I got back from my honeymoon to find a letter stating I had been caught 'speeding' two days before my wedding on the A417 at Parkway doing 48 in a 40. I had a look next time I went through this area and the lines on the road are on the side of a steep hill. If you don't break hard you will automatically exceed the 40 limit. That is ridiculous and a great earner for the police. I thing this camera epitomises the farce that modern Britain has become...it's all a game.

Dave, Kidderminster
I got done for 60mph on the A449 at Hartlebury. The road was totally clear. My pockets are £60 lighter. On the same day my girlfriend's house was burgled. Unbelievable, the police caught the person who'd done it, and that person was let off with a caution despite having previous form. Doesn't really make you feel terribly fond of the police farce in this country.

J. Hatch. Kidderminster
The motorways in the UK only account for 5% of all road traffic accidents. If speed were a factor then surely the greatest number of accidents would be on our fastest roads. Unfortunately this is not the case. The greatest number of road traffic accidents usually involve either young people as drivers, cyclists or pedestrians. Every driver should do his or her best to behave as responsibly as possible so as to ensure they avoid having an accident. Don't drive erraticaly, avoid colliding with pedestrians and other road users. Its fairly simple really. Drive to the conditions of the road, the area you are driving in and your own abilities as a driver to react. Not everyone can drive as well as you, so respect the ones who can't. Speed doesn't kill. Its collision that does.