Travel

roger
i got zapped by one of those speed cameras. i was at brantham. when i looked at the picture i saw the road A137 not in a built up area. totally clear road with grass verges on both sides and no pavements or paths so why the 30mph limit and why the heavy enforcement? no pedestrians seem to be around and no reason to walk anywhere near the road or cross it near the site of the photo. i live in an area in kent where the speed limit on the a28 is 50mph, the road has a pavement and pedestrians do walk alongside and i have complained to reduce the limit to 40 with no effect.the brantham trap is a con.shame on suffolk police for a money making scam.

roger
i got zapped by one of those speed cameras. i was at brantham. when i looked at the picture i saw the road A137 not in a built up area. totally clear road with grass verges on both sides and no pavements or paths so why the 30mph limit and why the heavy enforcement? no pedestrians seem to be around and no reason to walk anywhere near the road or cross it near the site of the photo. i live in an area in kent where the speed limit on the a28 is 50mph, the road has a pavement and pedestrians do walk alongside and i have complained to reduce the limit to 40 with no effect.the brantham trap is a con.shame on suffolk police for a money making scam.

Daniel
it got me tut tut a140 earl stonham, little thing was hiding in the bush, 38/30 gutted.... well learnt my lesson today, DONT SPEED

JB
Adam Carter, I'm sure you've never exceeded the speed limit.

John
I'm with Adam on this.No speed - No money - Easy really

ChrisA
They are not Safety Cameras by any definition, They are plain dangerous, especially the mobile ones. Every driver who sees one stamps on the brakes, then looks at their speedometer to see if they where speeding. I'd love to know how many accidents this causes

bill
I use the a14 and a12 regularly and most serious accidents seem to involve lorries although it's very unlikely that they exceed the speed limits; It doesn't mean that they are not driving too fast though. Anyone ever been tailgated by an HGV on a single carriageway at 60 mph? He's 10mph more than he should be but wont trip a camera. Over the years I been caught 3 times for speeding (not greatly excessive I add) and the most usefull was being pulled over because the PC made a judgement on the weather and traffic conditions and I thought 'fair cop'. Two other occasions were mobile cameras where the roads were empty and conditions were good, surely taking the sensible 'judgment approach' out of the equation means that this is a money earner and not changing the culture of drivers?

Steve
It's not always speed that kills, it's driver's who just can't driver properly!My Son was killed on his motorcycle, when a car pulled out in front of him, as he was in a hurry to get home! The speed of my son's bike? 23 to 25 mph!The Car Driver showed no remorse whatseover, justr said it wasn't ny fault, I just didn't see him, it was just an accident!

BennyBafoon
If as in the USA everyone were allowed a gun, it would be no surprise if people occasionally got shot; if we allow cars that are capable of 165+ mph (or even 70+ mph!), it comes as no surprise that there's the occasional speedster. We have the technology, but lack the will to introduce speed-limiting electronic chips into every new vehicle ..... very cheaply, but un-attractive to vehicle manufacturers, and un-attractive to revenue-collectors.

Adam Carter
Here is a thought - don't speed, don't exceed the posted speed limit AND YOU DON'T GET BOOKED! I realise that is a hard concept to understand but whether they are money raisers or not, if YOU the responsible individual do not break the law and that is what you are doing then the govt does not make one penny! Simple, so don't complain if you get caught there isn't anyone else in your car making you speed just you and you alone.

Diana
I drive a lot throughout the area, and therefore witness every type of driver and driving 'style' imaginable. I am not a supporter of 'safety' cameras per se - they are for the most part simply another way of making yet more money out of the poor motorist. MY main gripe is with other motorists who don't seem to know what the correct speed limit is. The speed limit on the A14 is 70 - why then do so many drivers slow down to 60 or less when approaching a camera? Surely this in itself is a potential cause of some accidents.

MrBounce
In response to Joe's post about trying to keep to the enforced speed limits - it's EASY. I do it all the time, have no points on my licence in 17 years of driving and have never even been warned for exceeding a speed limit. If you have an idiot behind you, don't speed up. They will get past you if they really want to. I have one piece of advice to all drivers. Relax more : )

joe turner
i think its totally disgusting to hide up and earn £80 for firing a lazer moneymaking gun at us motorists, i thought it was to promote safety not scam us , easy pickings for cash, scameras they should be called, i had a clean licence for 26 years am disabled and hey presto 6 nice points in 3 months for being in the line of fire where the limits are specially set 60-50-40 then the magical 30! right where they no even your grandma will be slightly over the limit, im totally disgusted by the scam and it should be looked at NOW ! i have lost all faith in policing nowadays, go find the muggers and burglars not rip the public off, im very unhappy !!!

Chrism
The debate on speed camera still rages The speed camera as lost all credability as a safety device because of it indiscrimate use as a revenue earning stream. Should this Government and Police authorities really want to increase road safety we need better education a greater awareness of all road users and better driving techniques. Motoring make people very selfish it can and often does bring at the worst in people.I feel that a refresher course after 5 years should be considered after this depending on thier driving record this may be shortened or lengthend.With this goverment obsession with Databases this is possible with current technology and information stored.

Mark
All for speed cameras but unfortunately our suffolk safety camera van on my route from the A1065 to the A14 and back likes to park illegally and also hide up.Start working on prevention and not revenue making and i'll support you

Chris
Fascinating,Living in Germany, where some roads are completely delimited (i.e. absolutely no speed limit) one encounters typical motorists who really do not care - it's like a game, where people losing is unavoidable. You see really messy accidents and the police apologise when handing out speeding tickets, which is pathetic. Motorists kill and anything that slows them down is good...

Gary
I actually like the idea off the Speed camera unit's being out and about in Suffolk, It goes to show that they want to make Suffolk Safer and reduce the speed limits that some idiots dont obbey! Im not a driver, But im learner and i can see why they want people to slow down and so on.. And just reading through some these comments that some off you are getting caught im happy about it maybe you'll think twice about putting that foot down abit to much than you should have and you'll keep to the speed limit's your meant to be doing... All i can say is keep up the good work Suffolk Safe Cam!! :-)

c b
I advise you all to look at suffolk safecam collision figures for the last 10 years the highest number was for all the site was 32 casualties at 21 collisions.The revinue gained from the cameras was over £55400.00 a nice little earner. They seem to be following in the footseps of MPS.more people with very few or no morals at all.

Dave P
I am not a driver but I do wonder if speed/cash cameras could be used to spot drivers who still persist in using thier mobile phones whilst driving, which is illegal, yet I still see happening.

matt
I was caught at night in the dark doing 10 mph over the speed limit by an officer shrouded in darkness with a laser gun.OK fair cop I feel is the response -I had done a 12 hour shift and lapsed.I think it speaks volumes about the Suffolk police policy of subversive tactics. education is a powerful tool in driver education.The safecam cameras are parked at the most obvious locations and are an example of laziness.so readers/listeners beware Suffolk police ain't interested in education.

Matt
Well you can see why Jim and Brian got their names.Maybe they have not got off their pedestal recently. Speed cameras do not address the need to engender considerate driving and maintenance of driver skills -how many small villages suffer from speeding drivers and never see a policeman.

Bobbyboy
I have a clean licence and do my best to obey the speed limits but I feel that speed/safety cameras are just revenue earners for a cash strapped government. Motorists are an easy target and will be hounded even more to generate CASH!!

Charly
I have 6 points on my licence, each 3 were for getting caught doing 35 in a 30, and i admit that is not the speed limit. Last week, i got pulled over for doing 36 in a 30, luckily i didn't get a ticket but i have to say that this worried me more than getting a ticket through the post. since then i have been very cautious of my speed, only to find i get overtaken my aggrivated drivers behind me. I have never been in an accident and am always a considerate driver and i get so annoyed that i could have had 9 points on my licence when the idiots that drive much faster than me seem to never get caught. i honestly believe that it's the drivers that drive to slow through limits (ie driving 40 down a dual carriagway) that are more dangerous and cause more accidents. I dont think speed cameras work, they just anger people, being made aware of your speed my the light up signs or, in my case, being pulled over and informed but not given a ticket, are a much better way of making people more aware of their speed.

Kathryn
I think speed cameras, or should i say 'safety' cameras should be completely abolished. I dont agree with speedin at all after witnessing a very nasty accident once, but i find myself spending more time looking at my speedo than at the road and that in itself is unsafe, im just paranoid to drive anywhere!! I dont speed at all but everytime i see one my heart jumps. Its ridiculus, and may i add that slow drivers are equally as dangerous as fast ones but do you see speed cameras for slow drivers!? No i didnt think so. Absaloute waste of police time, stop monitoring traffic and you might actually catch real criminals for once in your life. Driving should be a leisurely activity but its just not fun to do anymore. Its now just a chore. :)Kat

john
I was caught by mobile camera just over the brow of a hill in my area fair enough was doing 37mph in 30mph zone but what got me was the letter sent saying the mobile camera was there as it is an accident black spot well i have been in the emergency services over ten years and never been to an accident at this place what does that tell you ?? money making machine!!!

peter
i recently got caught along the A1214 and the photo clearly shows a car following feet from my rear end,and a white van which earlier had been even closer. I got zapped by the speed camera device called REDFLEX

David Martins
I was appalled at the sneaky camera on the A1094.I have a device in the car to warn me of blackspots and another to warn me of a speed limit.I then put on cruise control so I can focus on the road and not worry about speeding.As I descended down an incline I noticed this "sneaky" van parked at the bottom of the incline & I suspect I had nudged up to around 33mph.These snap decisions are grossly unfair as I am extremely careful,I am getting paranoid about just going out now as I have had 40 years with no tickets and possibly now 2 in the last 3 years.

Joe Sadler
While you are at it, stop asking "partnerships" or the councils or for that matter, the police,where the danger spots are, ask the Fire Brigade, after all, they clear up the mess. Better justification for the metallic junk that has appeared on our roads and villages over the years.

Barry
Mobile speed cameras should be called 'cash cameras' & not 'safety cameras' They are purely a way of making money as they are normally placed in places which are not accident blackspots - mainly in 30mph areas. They are designed to catch people who just drift over the 30mph limit - say 36 or 37 mph this is not 'speeding' this is ony a temporary lapse of concentration which happens to everyone occasionally - even policemen!! The best way of preventing speeding in a 30mph zone is the 'light-up' sign which immediately draws a drivers attention to their speed. If they have just drifted over the limit then it immediately brings this to their attention.The idea of speed cameras is to reduce speed to prevent accidents. A mobile camera does not do this. You cant see it, you dont know you have been zapped & you could go on & cause an accident. A light up sign tells you immediately that you are going above the limit & brings it to the attention of the responsible driver who then slows down. The difference............yes of course.......the light up sign doesnt generate cash!!

mandy
its those mindless idiots that sit on your back bumper trying to push you to go faster , then se the speed camers and back off while you get caught because of there pigheadedness ........

Brian
I think the old addage “if the shoe fits” comes to mind. There are 2 types of speeders: those not paying due attention to their driving and those willfully speeding because they are late for work, etc. Either way it’s speeding and breaking the law, period. Those speeding know exactly who they are. If there is a posted sign indicating the MAXIMUM speed for the road or area you’re driving through, then follow it or pay the consequences for being cited for speeding if caught. I understand that the police cannot be in all places all the time and let’s face, if everyone followed the law there would be no need for them on the roads in the first place. Unfortunately, there are those few drivers who by their horrible driving habits necessitate their need to be on the roads. The one mile or so stretch of road going through my village seems to be an inconvenience for most drivers. It’s posted that way for a reason and it is not for us to judge whether it is too fast or too slow. So bottom line is that ALL drivers need to follow and obey the rules of the road or be penalised.

bmw9818
safety cameras huh? whats safe about them ... fat planks just sit there eating doughnuts uhhh yes lets put up some more speed cameras to catch out drivers that go 2mph over the limit. bunch of idiots you just cause more congestion drivers pay more attention looking at the side of the road then on the road. and the getting 3 points for going a few mph over the limit needs to be scrapped.

Class1
Iwonder how many of the anti-lorry lobby have actually driven any thing larger than a shoe box sized vehicle,started work 3/4 am to deliver a JUST IN TIME LOAD to an adress in some large city that no one seems to have heard of only to be told when actually arriving on site "park up driver we will unload you later " despite the delivery note being marked URGENT (so as not to disturb their tea break one assumes) STRESS not many car drivers could handle this pressure day after day to earn their living so when moaning about truck drivers in the futue pleas car drivers remember what the STRESSES are to get food etc on to the supermarket shelves whe getting stuck behind a trucker doing his daily work as opposed to a 4X4 CLOGGING UP THE ROAD to take children on a 2 mile trip to school in ohe despirate hurry possibly having got out of bed some 1/2 hr previously

carlos fandango
Put cameras on level crossings,where they will save lives!

sam
we all know the rules don`t we. Disregard and take a chance then get caught...tough , it`s your own fault so don`t try to place the blame elswhere

Tim
Just a few thoughts about speeding motorist. I drive a school bus and from years of experience I can tell you that the worst offenders for speeding in 30mph areas are without a doubt women! usually with children in the car. A dangerous animal indeed especially when late.

bob
driving with speed camaras about makes people more careful

Helena
I've just been caught for 36 in a 30 after 20 years of careful driving! Today stuck carefully to 30 and was wrecklessly overtaken by annoyed drivers - this put more lives at risk than when I did 30 on very wide and clear stretch road in Melton

mr bean
this is stupid i cant drive fast in my little car

Robert Gibbs
How is it that when driving in other parts of the country I find various speed limits applied as demanded by the particular location ( 30 / 40 / 50 m.p.h. ) In suffolk we only seem to have bought signs which relate to 30 m.p.h. Are we indeed "Silly Suffolk"

ginny
hi iam a new driver i went 34 in 30 so i got 3 points plus 60 pound to pay i dont think its fair a new driver has to retest if you get 6 points as if i was driving for over 2 years and was on the mobile phone i would still be ok how can that be as thats much more danger

Bert Smith
The police,,, ha ha ha "fair N Just" comes to mind..........When they recruit in the police force they purposely look for people who have had a lobotomy :) We all now there are better things they can and should be doing with tax payers money, they just do not do them,, its all about money, nothing else fact.

Joe
Has anyone tried to drive to the posted Speed Limit? Road conditions, the idiot in front of you, and the fact that in less than a second your breaking the law. The 70 MPH limit was introduced in 1965. Cars are slightly safer now than then and the simple Law of Physics means that 60 - 90 MPH in a crash, you will get hurt. Idiots cause 90% of the crashes on our roads and speed is a factor only because of the momentum, that is, you have to get from A to B somehow!

S H
Its not only the speed but the closenes of drivers. No one allows room for anyone to make a mistake or to get out of a wrong lane. Its ok driving to the limit and a I agree slow drivers can be a danger but sometimes when your tired or maybe a bit under par you may not fell like driving dead on 60 mph.I hae also had people overtake me in a 30 /40 mph why such a rush when often they only end up two cars in front or turn off at the next junction.

BB
If they are cash cameras how come I have not see one on Parkway opposite Halfords coming up the hill!

Vaughan Pryce
The previous Borough of Lowestoft had a sign depicting "Sunrise over the Sea" and the motto "Point du Jour" Break of Day. Lokk no further for a Sign.

joe
I must say that on a section of road on may way to work there is a 40 limit over a blind summit with a mobile camera point. Having the pleasure of £60 and 3 points for doing 46 early one morning I now stick rigidly to 40 - and get overtaken at least once per week (often on the blind summit) by cars doing 50+. Doing slightly over the limit I doubt I would get overtaken and the road would be safer.

john
Drivers in England, on somewhat inadequate roads, drive very fast and very aggressively compared with North America. It would be better for everyone if people slowed down a bit, took their time and showed abit of consideration for others. This is especially true of the white van drivers, truckers with foreign plates and some young men.

steve cotterell
why dont the police/goverment crack down on the real criminals instead of the poor old drivers- Answer because we live in a money state , where there is money to be had ie: parking tickets, speeding tickets , double line parking ,m.o.t dodgers you name it they will try harder to catch you than joe bloggs who just broke into your home and stole your savings.

Rachel
Speeding is not the major cause of accidents - bad driving is. Speed cameras cannot tell the conditions and therefore cannot be subjective. We need police to use their initiative not cameras stuck all over the place to catch you out. If they are truly for safety they would only be at accident blackspots but they're not - they get put on straight stretches of road with unreasonably low speed limits to catch people out. Typical of this government!

Mike
I was born & raised in Suffolk but relocated to Tasmania, Australia 27 years ago. I can tell you we have the same issue here - speed cameras (we call a spade a spade) are used as revenue raisers while very dangerous drivers are caught rarely, and if they are, it's normally only after they badly injure or kill someone. Empirical evidence suggests that the main 'clients' of the speed camera are 'inadvertent' breakers of speed limits at bottoms of hills and similar speed traps.

Sam
I am usually very careful with the speed limits and keep to them, but unfortunately I was slapped with a £60 fine and 3 points on my licence last week because I was stopped. I was distracted by something, but know I was in the wrong and admit this, so this week I have been very careful and stuck religiously to the limits (which is the norm for me anyway) only to have some idiot in a white van behind me last night as I was in a 30 zone, flashing his lights and trying to overtake me because I was sticking to the limit, making me feel as if I should increase my speed to get him away from him because he was so close to the back of my car. I'm sure I'm not the first person this has happened to.

Sam
I also feel that the most dangerous drivers are the ones driving at inappropriate speeds which includes those driving at 40mph in a 60 mph zone. Many of these drivers are drivng at this speed because that is the safe for them. They are driving at the limit in which they can stop often due to infirmaty or sight problems.Because the rest of us manage round them they do not feel they should do anything to change their behaviour. Yet these drivers should not be on any road let alone main routes like the A14, A12 etc.

sharlee
Strange that there are very few comments from women and those that are focus on the purpose of the cameras which is to deter speeding. All the men are complaining!

John
The use of speed cameras originated as an accurate tool to assist the Traffic Officer in proving excess speed. However, they have now become a tool of politics. Speed limits were set by a formula until this task was deregulated and passed to local authorities. When Suffolk got this power they immediately brought several hundred new speed limits, followed by the revenue gathering (oops sorry self financing) cameras and safety partnerships. Unfortunately they completely missed the point of speed reduction. By over use of restriction, they de-sensitised the driver and undermined the value of lower speed limits. Have you noticed the trend, they are now doing the same concerning parking restrictions and the manner of enforcement. But then, Suffolk has a new over paid chief executive to pay for now.

David Smith
Nothing to do with safety mostly if you look at the locations they use, they arenot black spots just a good spot to catch drivers doing a few miles over the limet

simon
funny how there now called safety cameras and not speed cameras. if its wholely about safety can suffolk police tell us how many people have been caught by the scameras for driving a grey car in pouring rain with no lights, fog lights left on when fog has gone, fog lights on when the slightest mist, cutting people up to exit a14 a12 etc, tailgating, parking facing you with headlights on so you are parshally blind. why are scameras in areas where they hide near signs in areas where its never a hazard.

M.T.
I was "trapped" by a speed camera just after being stuck for 5 miles behind a 6 axle lorry which pulled out in front of me to overtake at 2 mph faster than another 6 axle lorry. Once the road cleared I and all the other cars which were stuck accelerated to 80 mph to get past the road hog before he blocked me again only to pass a cam. These lorries are far more dangerous with their stupid sudden overtaking moves and should be banned from the offside lane.

A. S.
Peter V. does raise one very important point; that as an economy measure there is a great temptation to rely on 'electronic' or 'digital' methods of enforcing road traffic laws and to cut to below the bare minimum road traffic patrols of actual policemen.No reasonable person can argue against the great assistance these technologies can be in detecting such crimes, for such they are, as speeding or driving without insurance or a valid Vehicle Excise Licence. A well trained and equipped traffic patrol force is needed in every police area, to both deal promptly and efficiently with incidents that occur on our highways, and also to detect the multitude of road traffic offences, many relating directly to safety, that are not amenable to detection by these means.It would be interesting to see statistics showing the number of hours per police area spent on traffic patrol fifteen years ago with today, and also the number of traffic patrol vehicles, both cars and motor cycles, that are available. One could throw in the number of police officers employed in such duties.

Doogal.
We all know the speed limits, so speed cameras are merely harvesting a voluntary tax. If you don't speed, you won't have to pay it.As many have said, we also need police officers who aren't overburdened with red tape and paperwork visible on our streets, to deter the loons on our roads and the thugs and feral kids in our towns.

Mike C
I could not agree with Peter V more,the term "cash cameras" seems to be just what they are.

Peter V.
All this infra-structure to support the speed cameras, all the bad feeling they appear to cause and all for what? To try to address the just 4% of all accidents which involve drivers who happen to be exceeding the posted speed limit. The other 96% is now not so well-policed as these useless cameras have allowed 'proper' traffic police to be removed from traffic patrol duties.And, the cameras are not working, except to raise money, as more speeding tickets than ever before are being issued.Maybe the term "Cash Cameras" would be more true.

James FitzGerald
Are we talking about safety cameras or speed cameras?

eric
I work nights and come across a lot of selfish drivers on the A12 that think it's Sunday everyday.Please drive at the speed limit and don't drive at 30mph all the way un the A12 to Lowestoft.I already have to leave home early just because of selfish drivers like this.The other problem is these brainless teenagers on the A12 playing the fool with motorists,when I can pass they speedup and so on,watch out because oneday somebody is going to get mad.And yes I also think that the name safety camera is rubbish,it's all about robbing the motorist,as usual,more police would be better,after all we are pay them.

N Morgan - Baker
Speed Camera on A12 11.10.07 8.15 - 8.45 after Darsham was situated behind a bend on a gradient. Speed limit was 30 mph. I feel that the camera was situated in a secretive and undeclared position. If traffic is 30 - 35mph is it good traffic management to penalise safe driving?

Clifford .w.
The biggest deterent to any offence is that you are going to get caught, includes speeding,with more trained traffic officers on the road, would be offenders would think twice before committing any offence because the chance of getting caught would be greater.

michael
I am a driver. But could not agree with Jim Wilson more.

John
There's just one thing - it doesn't really tell you where the cameras are - the A134 is a very long route - therefore the cameras could be anywhere between King's Lynn and Colchester - it's hardly telling you where it is is it?

Colin
Informing people about where the speed cameras are does work, but i do believe they should be scrapped and the money spent on real police men who can check more than just speed!!

Patrick R
There are to much of them anyway.

CALLEN [The Voice]
I am torn on this. Theres not a day go by that I dont see some selfish idiot driving dangerously on our local roads and endangering others, so in that context cameras add to safety by causing them to slow down at danger spots. But cameras also contribute to the loss of enjoyable motoring with their big brother undertones. CALLEN [The Brother]

Mike C
Safety cameras No.more like portable money makers.surely flashing speed signs are just as affective

kath A
Safety cameras are proven to save lives. They are not the answer to other dangerous behaviour on the road but they do address one problem. We need traffic officers in addition to cameras.

Chris E
Calling them "Safety" Cameras is misleading. They are not there to improve road safety, but to catch speeding vehicles. They do nothing to reduce incidences of tailgating, aggressive lane changing, lack of indication or untaxed vehicles. Only police officers can do these things but they cost too much money and don't rake in fines, which is what the cameras are really about.

angela mulley
surely by telling people where the cameras are makes people slow down thus making the road a safer place. The only 'problem' being motorists are not being used as a cash cow.

Dave Corneby
A deterrent is always more effective than punishment. By publishing the location of such speed cameras, drivers take more time to think about their journeys and possibly the risks, thus working on their driving behaviours.

jim wilson
I am not a driver and have no particular axe to grind....but I am dumbfounded at the logic of informing people where speed cameras are situated. Its a bit like telling burglars which alarms are turned on and which ones are off. Its almost as if you are apologising to people for catching them breaking the law.