Cops on rural roads this weekend

[RDH]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7109341.stm

[ed]

Cheers for the heads-up.

[elise82]

Thanks for the heads up.

I've attached a link to the location of "safety" camera vans in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as some national ones. I guess that the traffic cops will choose other locations to sit and wait.

http://www.dumfriesandgalloway.police.u ... eedcam.htm

Saw them already this morning. Marked Police Volvo sitting at junction less than 20m after 30mph signs on way into work. Thankfully all the cars coming the other way were flashing lights vigorously.

[Shug]

/pats weekend spent trying to get the elise back on the road....

[campbell]

Fair points on this mainly, however one question. Will the Rozzers also step out from the bushes and have a stern word to all the doddery old fools who hold up the queues of traffic at 40mph and / or have no overtaking skill or manners to allow same? I doubt it.

I'd rewrite the last section:

IAM director for Scotland Neil Greig said: "Rural roads give no margin for error and inexperienced drivers must treat them with respect.

"Young men, in particular, are most at risk and must realise that speeding, racing or showing off with their mates on a country road could lead to consequences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

...thus...

IAM director for Scotland Neil Greig said: "Rural roads give the Elise driver far greater enjoyment and experienced drivers can treat them with the respect and gratitude they offer in this increasingly videotaped, photographed, nanny state world of ours".

"Old men like Tut, in particular, are most at risk of nodding off and must realise that blowing away the cobwebs with the roof down on a country road could lead to consequences and memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives long after the viagra has worn off."

[robin]

Of the 55,000 deaths in Scotland in 2006, 15,000 were caused by various cancers and 9,500 were caused by heart disease.

Although many of these deaths are in no way "lifestyle" related, a huge percentage of them will have been caused by "lifestyle choices" (diet, drinking, smoking).

While the trends for these are improving, Scotland continues to have the worst record compared to England, Wales & Northern Ireland.

It is true that accidental death is disproportionately high in young males, but it's still only 20% of all young male deaths (in earlier years, road deaths accounted for 50% of accidental deaths in this age group, so assume 10% of deaths happened on the road). This is less than suicide and comparable to mental health related deaths, for example. Obviously you would expect fewer health related deaths in younger people, so the fact that 10% of deaths at this young age is caused by road accidents is not really that surprising.

It's not clear to me what significant change the authorities hope to achieve with this, or any, speed trap enforced campaign.

The same money and resources poured into education (on lifestyle) and the health services is more likely to achieve a reduction in deaths across the board. The same money spent on better counseling and health care services is likely to achieve a bigger reduction in young male deaths.

Peer pressure is just about the only way to influence young males anyway - they don't respond to the stick - so spend money on teaching them to drive safely (at whatever speed) rather than worrying about absolute speed.

Finally it's worth noting that in earlier years death due to violent causes (murder, assault, etc.) was on a par with road deaths (no detailed data available for 2006); typically violent deaths are inflicted upon innocent victims - they made no choice to be stabbed or beaten to death.

Cheers,
Robin

[BiggestNizzy]

It's an easy political target, the "young people" they will catch etc probably don't vote so no harm done plus they get there names in the paper for targeting those hoodies etc as dealing with real problems isn't so press friendly. also if you arrest a junkie/theif etc they won't turn up to court your generally law abiding citizen will and if a ned does turn up he will et let off with a lenient sentence as I have said earlier in another post somewhere if your a generally law abiding person the court and justice system works if your not it is a joke, and nothing to worry about.

[smee]

Still though how do you differentiate fast safe from the idiots, too many crashes up here recently, on calls this week I drove past 2 separate crashes where the drivers were being cut out of the cars and 2 deaths as well.

[smee]

They were also hiding on someones driveway on the Inverurie to Rothienorman road, I see them there a lot, If I lived there I'd tell them to get to... Was on the way to a calving at the time so a bit of a hurry, fortunately the Astra doesn't do fast.

[steve_weegie]

A cash machine van was hanging about on the m876 on the way to knockers this morning too.... I owe a debt of thanks to the bmw driver coming the other way for the warning...

[bertieduff]

.... I owe a debt of thanks to the bmw driver coming the other way for the warning...

That's something you don't see much nowadays.....oncoming cars used to flash quite commonly, but hardly ever see it now...

[BiggestNizzy]

I always flash just to warn people to keep a closer eye on their speed after ll it is easy to creep up an extra 5mph when you are busy watching the road and your surroundings and not staring at the speedo.

isn't it illeage to warn other drivers though ?