$peed camera$ - only in accident hot$pot$

[fish]

Speed cameras DO NOT save lives. How can they? Most people travelling over the limit go through them without knowing and continue on their merry way, totally oblivious of the minor offence committed.

But once you receive the fine you will, or should, try to avoid another fine (by sticking to the speed limit) the next time you drive. Thus the fine has contributed to a safer road environment and a lower road toll = lives saved.

[SABRE]

Given the low Qld threshold, I've tried driving at 58-60 since Jan 1. Bloody tough given Brisbane's hills & you're spending more time looking at the speedo than the road. I reckon I'm an unsafer driver now than before.

Spot on 'Fatty' !
It only takes a split second for a child to run or ride out onto the road and if your eyes are
constantly looking down nervously at the speedo to avoid outrageous revenue raising fines .....

If you can't drive steadily at 55-60kph in a 60 zone without looking at your speedo all the time maybe you should not be driving...

Most people can 'fish', why do you think they changed all the speed zones ?

But once you receive the fine you will, or should, try to avoid another fine (by sticking to the speed limit) the next time you drive. Thus the fine has contributed to a safer road environment and a lower road toll = lives saved.

Too late. If the offence is so bloody serious why are you allowed to continue on driving?
It's blatant window dressing. Attacking real road safety issues costs money. Cameras rake it in for nothing !

[FattyLumpkin]

Given the low Qld threshold, I've tried driving at 58-60 since Jan 1. Bloody tough given Brisbane's hills & you're spending more time looking at the speedo than the road. I reckon I'm an unsafer driver now than before.

Spot on 'Fatty' !
It only takes a split second for a child to run or ride out onto the road and if your eyes are
constantly looking down nervously at the speedo to avoid outrageous revenue raising fines .....

If you can't drive steadily at 55-60kph in a 60 zone without looking at your speedo all the time maybe you should not be driving...

Yep - thats what I thought. But in reality I found myself hitting 62, 63 & even the break-neck speed of 65 on occasions. Thats going to be good enough for a ticket here.

[Psyber]

If you can't drive steadily at 55-60kph in a 60 zone without looking at your speedo all the time maybe you should not be driving...

The slightest extra pressure on the gas in my main car accelerates you by another 15 kph in no time. [It does 0-100k in about 5 secs.]
Maintaining speed within a narrow range requires concentration on your speed rather than general road conditions.
That's why I'm resorting to cruise control and the beeper until I get some points back..

[redden whites]

. I'm prepared to pay the tax for the convenience and freedom from frustration...

Frightening

[redden whites]

despite my fondness for speed on the open road.

oh dear please refer above

[mighty_tiger_79]

sounds like Sam Newman

[Psyber]

despite my fondness for speed on the open road.

oh dear please refer above

Don't worry, I learned to drive in SA before we had a nanny state, and speed limits outside the "built up areas", and we all went soft and moralistic.
I had a Bathurst model Monaro in 1969, and better cars since, so I've driven high performance cars for a long time.
The current car is electronically limited at 250 Kph, in theory, but I've never tested it, though I have driven other cars around that on a track.
And I've had one speed related accident on my life, in late 1991 or early 1992 - no one even scratched - just the car bent a bit..

[locky801]

Being a retired cop there is a lot i would like to say in here, most i wont, i left my job quite simply because i got put under pressure to issue fines for infringement notices, not cautions, where i worked each patrol had daily quotas, ( and in fact competitions between the three stations in our area were held, stats put out each week for bragging rights) and it had nothing to do with the road toll, i got questioned for issuing a 73 year old a caution Tin to a motorist going through a stop sign in a back street at about 5km/h. (Didn't matter that a few weeks before I gave one to a prominent footballer (retired) that i knew well because he went through at 60) Got asked why i was issuing caution Tins to motorists for being parked in a bike lane at 4.40pm when they didn't come into vogue till 4.30pm, (supposed to be a leeway of time) because quite simply, as i was told when i spat the dummy and walked out, it is all about bringing money in. I agree you break the law you deserve to be punished however some of the fines being issued now for exceeding the speed limit are crap. How many are legal from speed cameras, have they been calibrated correctly, are they on the right angle lined up with the kerb to the roadway, if not, they produce a wrong speed, wont be long (by mid year) from what I have heard there will be a 4 to 5km speed leeeway for fines, pity anyone coming down Taps or Grand Junction Rd Norhfield just for starters

[redden whites]

Don't worry, I learned to drive in SA before we had a nanny state, and speed limits outside the "built up areas", and we all went soft and moralistic.

Those would be the good ol days when we scraped about 200-380 arses per year off the road for 30 yrs instead of last years "shocking" 119 result, despite far far far fewer cars on the road.

[tipper]

Don't worry, I learned to drive in SA before we had a nanny state, and speed limits outside the "built up areas", and we all went soft and moralistic.

Those would be the good ol days when we scraped about 200-380 arses per year off the road for 30 yrs instead of last years "shocking" 119 result, despite far far far fewer cars on the road.

Ah but are the numbers coming down because the speed limits are lower, the roads are better or the cars are much safer now than they were back before seatbelts??? every aspect of vehicle manufacture has improved out of sight since those days, therefore making the vehicle itself much safer at higher speeds, yet we are forced to drive everywhere in second gear.

[Psyber]

Don't worry, I learned to drive in SA before we had a nanny state, and speed limits outside the "built up areas", and we all went soft and moralistic.

Those would be the good ol days when we scraped about 200-380 arses per year off the road for 30 yrs instead of last years "shocking" 119 result, despite far far far fewer cars on the road.

1. Do you have a reliable source for those figures?
2. As Tipper points out it isn't the old FJ any more, and you could add policing drink-driving to his list of changes..

[gossipgirl]

Don't worry, I learned to drive in SA before we had a nanny state, and speed limits outside the "built up areas", and we all went soft and moralistic.

Those would be the good ol days when we scraped about 200-380 arses per year off the road for 30 yrs instead of last years "shocking" 119 result, despite far far far fewer cars on the road.

1. Do you have a reliable source for those figures?
2. As Tipper points out it isn't the old FJ any more, and you could add policing drink-driving to his list of changes..

I bet you wouldnt even pass a driving test today but of course you are a good driver and those annoying speed limits only apply to other people on the road.

[Psyber]

I bet you wouldnt even pass a driving test today but of course you are a good driver and those annoying speed limits only apply to other people on the road.

You assume to much about what others think and can do, based on little actual knowledge, like many kiddies tend to...
Of course they apply to me, and I've said so, and that I've paid the fines.
As you could have read, had you had the comprehension, I raised objection only to the specific low speed limits on open country roads.
I supported the law regarding populated areas.

That they apply doesn't mean the laws make sense just because they are PC and we are stuck with them at present.
[Law, at any time in history, is a matter of current dominant opinion, not absolute right, and changes slowly - a little two slowly - with time.]
Yes, I'd want to brush up on SA traffic law, before testing, having just come back from 10 years interstate, but I'd pass a practical test.
In fact I did better on SA traffic law than most in a recent on line SA road rules test the RAA offered.

I once met an old boy who lost his driving licence at 82, when caught speeding, and the local magistrate banned him for life saying he was too old to drive a high powered car.
Two years later he got his Pilot's Licence - he had a copy of The Age showing him being congratulated on the front page.
The Magistrate was a little embarrassed by his revealed age prejudice, and the story got the old boy's car licence back for him...

I have flown a Piper Cherokee, and a glider, but never spent the money to train for my pilot's licence, but I did have a CAMS licence for a while.
Having had my first chopper ride recently I'm considering flying lessons again - I like choppers..

[gossipgirl]

oh dear oh dear so its ok to speed on country roads where most of the horrific deaths occur

unfortunately far too many people have the same attitude as you do

[dedja]

LOL, I'm trying to work out if Psyber is Sam Newman, Fangio or Geoffrey Edelsten.

Sorry Psyber ... jokes, jokes, just jokes

[Choccies]

LOL, I'm trying to work out if Psyber is Sam Newman, Fangio or Geoffrey Edelsten.

Sorry Psyber ... jokes, jokes, just jokes

Just call him Sam Fangeoffrey.... lol

[locky801]

Knew this topic would come back to bite me, snapped on Galway Avenue Broadview 2 hours ago for 55/50 zone

[dedja]

Knew this topic would come back to bite me, snapped on Galway Avenue Broadview 2 hours ago for 55/50 zone

They still out to get you then?

No mates rates with a camera, not like the good old days.

[SABRE]

Being a retired cop there is a lot i would like to say in here, most i wont, i left my job quite simply because i got put under pressure to issue fines for infringement notices, not cautions, where i worked each patrol had daily quotas, ( and in fact competitions between the three stations in our area were held, stats put out each week for bragging rights) and it had nothing to do with the road toll, i got questioned for issuing a 73 year old a caution Tin to a motorist going through a stop sign in a back street at about 5km/h. (Didn't matter that a few weeks before I gave one to a prominent footballer (retired) that i knew well because he went through at 60) Got asked why i was issuing caution Tins to motorists for being parked in a bike lane at 4.40pm when they didn't come into vogue till 4.30pm, (supposed to be a leeway of time) because quite simply, as i was told when i spat the dummy and walked out, it is all about bringing money in. I agree you break the law you deserve to be punished however some of the fines being issued now for exceeding the speed limit are crap. How many are legal from speed cameras, have they been calibrated correctly, are they on the right angle lined up with the kerb to the roadway, if not, they produce a wrong speed, wont be long (by mid year) from what I have heard there will be a 4 to 5km speed leeeway for fines, pity anyone coming down Taps or Grand Junction Rd Norhfield just for starters

Well said 'locky'.
Congratulations on your principles, it couldn't have been an easy decision.
I have a family member in the force interstate who confirms what you're saying, and more !
Sorry to hear you've just been pinged. Maybe we should all take up a collection to pay for it
as a reward for your honesty.