Speed trapping

Did you know that there are some councils that make hundreds and thousands of pounds from speeding tickets and parking fines? Some councils are now re-evaluating some speed cameras as some have been found to be unnecessary and too expensive to set up. As the country is trying to cut back and reduce losses, some decisions made by the council regarding speeding cameras are unjust and unfair. We all know that drivers take advantage of country roads that stretch for miles and have no speed cameras and are unmanned by police officers. Not only is this dangerous for locals but it encourages everyone to break the law and sets a bad example to students who have yet to pass their practical driving test.

Since local councils have taken down a few speed cameras as they found it was no longer necessary, speed breakers have been back and continue to break the speed limit because there is no measures in place to prevent them from doing so. There have been some inconsiderate drivers doing as much as 50 mph in a 30-40 mph zone. Speed limits were introduced for a reason, for example most roads near schools will have a 20 mph limit in place to prevent any major fatalities amongst children. It is up to us drivers to ensure that speed limits are not broken and younger children do not follow speed breakers as they grow older.

How far will you go to prevent drivers from speeding?
As a result of the council’s decision, people from local communities have been forced to monitor the roads to ensure that it is safe. Many people have set up their own speed cameras and even speed measuring devices in order to deter speed breakers. One local man has gone as far as buying a second-hand van and placing speed camera stickers around it to make it look like an official speed trap; the rear window also has what looks like a camera to catch people who continue to speed. Of course it is not real and is only used to deter speeding drivers but in recent months there has been a decrease on people speeding. The decision was made by the council to take down the local speed camera as is it was found to ‘no longer meet the criteria’ even though a school is on this busy road.

It’s a shame that we pay our taxes but then the local council makes a decision like this that has no chance of reversing the decision even with an appeal. More needs to be done to crack down on speeding motorists but with the local police communities being forced to prioritise other duties, it looks like change is yet to come.