No surprise to most of us, but just the same...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3562617.stm

"Mr Hain said in particular the issue of speeding had now been addressed, although no details were given."

Hmmm ;)

No surprise to most of us, but just the same...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3562617.stm

"Mr Hain said in particular the issue of speeding had now been addressed, although no details were given."

Hmmm ;)

Beat me to it :D

FIA were just creating noise to make a point, it's daft that it got so far.

Not really daft, it was a point well worth making. The speed enforcement round the rally in 2002 took the p*ss, and the threat of removal of the rally seemed to be the only thing that'd persuade the powers that be to prevail on the Speed Camera Partnership to use a little more common sense.

I'd loved to have been a fly on the wall at this little meeting between Max, Hain and Ch. Const. Wilding, and I'd love to know what the actual outcome was. Wilding is new to the area, and it's to be hoped that her attitude is a little more realistic than her predecessor's. As for the outcome, only a few months before we find out.

Good news, I booked my accommodation today, had a nightmare getting anywhere in the centre of Cardiff for the Saturday night, but found this place:

www.riverbankcardiff.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

Which is next to the Millenium Stadium, and still has rooms.

Andy

What I meant by daft was that the rally organisers and South Wales Police should have had "an understanding" which would have prevented this whole episode in the first place.

The organisers would tell spectators and competitors alike that the police will be out in force with their speed guns. In return maybe the police might decide it's not in their own interests to put speed cameras on the shakedown route, though they obviously have the right to do so.

I think this is essentially the type of understanding that Hain, Max and Wilding now have, just a shame they had to go through to all this polava first.

What I meant by daft was that the rally organisers and South Wales Police should have had "an understanding" which would have prevented this whole episode in the first place. Oh yes, definitely. Couldn't agree more. Trouble is, apparently, that the Safety Camera Partnership are basically a law unto themselves, and an understanding of the sort you suggest was an impossibility prior to this. It took the threat of the rally's removal to give the appropriate people a kick.

In return maybe the police might decide it's not in their own interests to put speed cameras on the shakedown route, though they obviously have the right to do so. The main problem on the 2002 event was that there weren't just cameras on the shakedown route, there were cameras peppered liberally over the entire rally route (there were, at one point, four vans on the three mile stretch between parc ferme and the M4!), and a complete lack of joined-up policing.

The shakedown furore could have been avoided if the drivers concerned had been stopped and warned on the first offence that they were exceeding the speed limit.

I think this is essentially the type of understanding that Hain, Max and Wilding now have, just a shame they had to go through to all this polava first.It remains to be seen exactly what this "understanding" is. It's certainly to be hoped that greater common sense will be exercised by the safety camera partnership, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

The shakedown furore could have been avoided if the drivers concerned had been stopped and warned on the first offence that they were exceeding the speed limit.

It could also have been avoided if the professional drivers had behaved in a professional manner by not speeding. The KNOW the rules.

Chip.