DEFIANT Richard Brunstrom yesterday called for rules to be changed to allow more speed cameras away from accident blackspots.

In evidence to the transport committee at Westminster, North Wales' Chief Constable called for guidelines, which decide where cameras can be set up, to be "loosened".

That would allow the police to target locations where there are fewer accidents - and start to cut the stubbornly high toll of road deaths every year.

Mr Brunstrom said: "As we eliminate accident hotspots we will have to look elsewhere to reduce road deaths. We need to change our style, because they are not all dying at accident hotspots."

The Chief Constable told the committee that public support for speed cameras remained rock solid, despite a "torrent of misleading and downright inaccurate" claims.

He accepted there was "significant confusion" over whether the cameras were being used as cash cows but insisted it was impossible for police to boost their budgets that way.

And he expressed frustration at the failure to successfully squash those claims that the cameras were set up to raise money, rather than save lives.

Mr Brunstrom said: "Public support has not drifted away, but it's a big risk of course because, if it did drift away, the whole process would become untenable."

And he added: "Even if I did try to use speed cameras to raise revenue 'I can't get my hands on it', so I can't use it as a cash cow at the end of the year. It can't be done."

Mr Brunstrom was asked to give evidence to the committee's inquiry into traffic law in his position as head of road policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

His enthusiastic support for speed cameras to cut road deaths in North Wales has met with a storm of protest from critics who claim it is alienating the public.

In October, protesters warned they would stage demonstrations that would dwarf the scale of disruption during the fuel blockades, three years ago.

Mr Brunstrom criticised the Government for relegating road policing to the "second tier" of priorities in the National Policing Plan, introduced last year.

He insisted police only prosecuted motorists driving at at least 35mph in a 30mph area, although he would like to "reduce tolerance to get closer to the limit". He called for a new law of "death by careless driving" to ensure fewer motorists who kill walk away with lenient sentences.
Asked whether he saw his priority as saving lives or enjoying the confidence of the public, Mr Brunstrom replied: "Saving lives."


http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/page.cfm?objectid=13736433&method=full

well done to him. the more safety cameras the better.

Wouldn't be Dave Bennell of the Beeb, would it?

As usual, you've forgotten to include your argument in your post.

That, in case you hadn't realised, is why you can keep your posts down to a soundbite of spin, while mine actually have some content.

 

 

Calls for rules to be changed? Allow scams to be "set up away from blackpots"??

This is new? Or "Policing the NEW-NEW WAY?

Most of the current ones we see around our areas are nowhere near a blackspot - but funnily enough - bang on target for a "fleecespot!"

He's "'Avin' A LARF, Ain't He?"

Funny, the ABD has a whole photo gallery full of the the "blackpot" scams according to the laws of the Dictatorship of Brunstromia! To the "unclued" - go take a "look-see" at them! QGD5 also has some more photos which she plans to donate to the ABD et al!

"I can't use it as a cash cow!" says our intrepid hero!

So why, despite the guidelines and the yellow paint, do we see scams hidden behind trees, signs etc?

Why are targets being set? ("Mail on Sunday" SCOOP and widely debated on another site's forum)

Because it is BUSINESS! They have a large salaries bill, an enormous "CAPEX", including "consumables" such as the FILMS! They need and depend on that revenue like any other business, and so they will use whatever means they can to get it! After all - they have homes to run like all the honest hard-working guys they are currently fleecing as the "just overs".
Whatever is left goes to the Government, which stands to make a really significant MINT out of it according to most recent reports!

His priority - which as decent people, we AGREE with - is "to save lives".

Unfortunately, our "favourite" copper suffers from a real motoring NO NO! - Tunnel Vision!

He sees speed per se as the sole cause of an RTA, and not a contributory cause. He sees a camera - which has very limited use in reducing KSIs as the sole means to this end.

The talivan is another jolly revenue raiser. They claim they audit the sites first. Yes, we agree they do! But their idea of "potential" does not include the "H" or even "B" word! It does include the F" "B" and "S" words in all appropriate senses!

And there is a danger that TOs will face even more redundancy as the blind faith in scams continues!

On the "Real Story" programme some weeks ago (and each week on the "Traffic Cops" show), despite some predictable bias, it did clearly show that the truly dangerous in their defective vehicles, the OTT hard core are caught by the proper patrols, and not by a camera.

If accident prevention is the aim of the game - there is more evidence that "Smiley Sid" is more effective is alerting motorists to speed and potential hazards.
Perhaps their CAPEX should focus on this nice responsible cheery chap rather than just PC GATSO!

There should be more emphasis on continual driver training. And we do not mean the current lip-service such as the "Triffic" Lucy here experienced. And we do not mean that they should introduce a lovely scam of inviting the 31-35 onlys to the course either as appears to be the case.

The course should be compulsory for all offenders regardless, but retain the "alternative to points" for the marginals only!

Such courses should be open to all regardless, periodically, in any case!

But then again - what can you realistically expect from these Chief ConArtists.

Because despite their claims to the contrary, people are not beginning to waken up to the fact that the sums do add up to revenue raising on a wider scale! And see through the smoke screen of this so-called safety programme!

Cheers and Seasons Greetings

from

The Wacky Racers in their Turbo-Charged Gatso Blasters!