I suppose these yellow speed camera boxes are a necessary evil in built-up areas, though some people maintain they are merely a means to boost revenue (from fines) for local councils. I'm a fairly careful driver and never intentionally break the speed limit, but I find when you're concentrating on so many things on a busy road that it can be hard sometimes to maintain a steady 30 mph (and even 20 mph in Saltaire and some other residential areas). You tend to learn where the yellow boxes are and take extra care but those mobile video patrols they have are often well-hidden! This was a Saturday afternoon and the drivers heading out from the city centre through Shipley were in little danger of breaking any speed limit. Traffic is almost always queued up along this stretch, due to the many traffic light controlled junctions.
An interesting subject for a shot. If they keep speedsters from driving dangerously then they are worth having.
ReplyDeleteI was once travelling through Cambridge with my brother doing the driving. It suddenly occurred to me that there were an awful lot of signs which motorists were supposed to be aware of and so I started counting them. I also imagined being new to the area and looking for a particular street so I counted street nameplates too. In a mile I totted up around 700 signs! Luckily the traffic in Cambridge moved exceedingly slowly.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had them here. As for them them being a cash grab... no one is forcing drivers to speed.
ReplyDeleteI have been caught on camera a few times Jenny :) my bad, only a few kms over but I need to be more careful :)
ReplyDeleteWe have them here but they are tiny and hard to see. People think they are a nuisance but at least they aren't an eyesore.
ReplyDeleteWe had them here on the major highways for a short time but the politicians caved in to the complaints and they were removed.
ReplyDeleteThis is the biggest traffic camera I have ever seen! It looks like the 1960s version. Traffic cameras are very controversial around here. The municipal government rationalizes them on the grounds of safety, not revenue (HAH!), but recent studies indicate that intersections with cameras have no better safety records than intersections without them, and intersections with cameras have no better safety record now than the same intersections before cameras were installed. Some cameras are being removed.
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