this from speedtrap bible:

Following the scoop in December, I've been sent a column from the national press reporting the same thing: the SP30 is going up:

"Drivers are to be hit by a 50 per cent rise in speeding fines, it was revealed yesterday. Fixed penalty tickets will go up from £40 to £60. Home Office ministers need the extra cash to fund a new generation of digital road cameras - which will collar up to four times as many motorists. But the increase was condemned by Tory transport supremo John Redwood. He said 'It proves the government is out to clobber motorists.'

More than 3400 people die on Britain's roads each year, a third of them caused by speeding drivers."

Credit to Chris Longhurst of Speedtrap Bible

 

Marvellous

More great news.

 

This was also in yesterdays Telegraph.
One of the brains in the AA stated it was acceptable as there has been no rise in fines for some time now.
The police will be allowed to keep the proceeds to finance more cameras. Digital ones as the Gatso's run out of film etc ...
There was also mention of zero tolerance and reduced accident rates where the camera's are placed.
They'll be putting them up for track days soon!

 

Can't say I'm suprised, makes me sick.

The government introduce IR35 so I have to stay working abroad and they introduce a massive anti-speeding campagin so I can't enjoy my car. All I need now is for the price of beer to go up and that'l be me well and truely ****ed.


Nick

 

oops! I forgot to add this bit to the inital post:

'Yet again, then, the national press make a seemingly good report, marred at the end by completely untrue figures. Of the 3400 deaths a year, only 4% of them are attributable to speeding!'

 

So, who's up for forming a Gatso terrorist squad? It worked in other parts of Eurpoe, it might just work here! :-) :-)

Cheers,

Pat.

 

What you want is a laser attached to your car to burn out the optics of any Gatso. Or a petrol angle grinder

 

I heard that paint bombs were quite effective, or painting them all pink!

CW

 

Whilst at the Autosport show yesterday, saw a stand selling a "backflash" unit that gets clipped to the number plate & prevents an image being taken by cameras (film & digitial). Said to be completely legal due to anti-papparazi laws passed after Di's attempted escape.

Not sure how true that is or how well they work against non-flash cameras, but it did work with a digital hand held camera.
Won't quite burn out the gatso, but stops it taking yer number.

Anyone head of this before ?

John

 

Guys, any of you IT bods with a little time on your hands want to try and design a Stealth kit for the Impreza?

Or a Scooby to camera rocket launcher?

David

 

Evo magazine said the Back Flash did not work

 

Saw a program that tested the backflash, didnt work, its also highly illegal (according to the Police anyway) and the Police will be asking you all sorts of questions into the early hours of the morning. I think the word they used was perversion of justice or something like that anyway.

 

John_H -- check out December's Evo mag for a picture taken by a Gatso of a backflash-equipped WRX with a clearly visible numberplate. Bottom line is they don't work.

Hmm -- all three of us at 10:12

[This message has been edited by carl (edited 17-01-2000).]

 

I like the stealth idea, may be the way of making my millions while i am out of work

Heard that somebody was going round painting all the cameras bright flourescant (spelling ?) pink

 

I don't think stealth would work -- although that Delfinio thing looks like an Impreza with F117-style stealth plates. AIUI the biggest radar signature comes from the headlights (parabolic reflectors) so unless you cover them up, you'll still get Gatso'd. I think in the states you can get a 'Stealth Bra' which doesn't mean the same as it does here -- in fact it's something allegedly covered in RAM but more likely in matt black paint which goes over the bonnet of your car.

 

They are also going to be Digital gatso's
with average speed detection between a pair
of gatso cameras on the roads in Thames
Vally Police area as seen on meridian tv tonight

Money Grabbing B********

 

Personally I don't have a problem with speed cameras as long as they are used in the right places. However, generally, they're used in the wrong places.

For a start, the speed limits on motorways should be increased to at least 90mph. The 70mph limit was set in an era without power steering, ABS, traction control, proper seatbelt and car impact safety legislation, poor tyres, poor brakes, poor suspension, etc, etc.

However, equally, I think there should be more speed cameras in urban areas (as well as other traffic calming measures) to slow traffic down.

I live in a small village, through which an A-road passes. Through the village, the speed limit decreases to 30mph yet - almost without exception - traffic seems to be travelling at 40-50mph. I would gladly welcome speed bumps and traffic cameras to the village if it made it a safer place for my son to walk to school.

However, where does the government stick speed cameras? In areas where it knows it can make lots of money - motorways, dual carriageways, roads in the middle of nowhere that are (for some unknown reason) labelled as 30/40 mph. And that tells me that this government cares more about the money than safety.

 

oZ
Couldn't agree with your more.
But it still comes down more to driver awareness and consideration of others.
Any car in the wrong hands is a dangerous weapon regardless of its capabilities.
Which cars are doing the most tailgating and speeding on motorways?
Which cars in urban/built up areas are lane hopping/light jumping etc ...
We, as drivers, have to educate ourselves.