Speed Cameras

I really struggle to understand how people can complain about speed cameras. Firstly, and most importantly they reduce death and injury. That should be all that needs to be said on the matter.

However, people do complain about them, and some people intentionally damage them. So perhaps we should say more about them...

The way I see it, complaining about speed cameras is tantamount to admitting that you drive too fast. Everybody thinks they are driving safely and don't like to be told otherwise. (The only people who don't think they are driving safely are involved in some sort of high speed chase and no amount of cameras or speed limits will change the way they are driving.) But of course, they are wrong, which is why there are so many accidents and deaths and injuries.

The second argument against speed cameras is that councils are using them to make money. Like that is a bad thing? I really don't have any problem at all with councils making money from speed cameras, if they didn't get money that way they would have to do it some other way. Do you think these people would happily accept an increase in their council tax if it meant no speeding fines? Do you think it would change how they drive? I think it is a good idea to make money from people who speed - it is like a tax on stupid people (people that aren't me).

Here is a little story about road safety that makes me a little angry, and doesn't involve a speed camera. I'm going to make up the details because I don't know them, in fact the story may not be true at all...
A guy made a bet with his friends that he could drive from Penistone to Barnsley in 10 minutes. It goes without saying that this is a stupid and dangerous thing to do. So he set off and was bombing along the A628 at 80 or 90 mph. He lost control of his car and killed himself and probably some other people. The speed limit on that road was 60 mph at the time. The council or the police or whoever investigated and the speed limit on that stretch of road was reduced to 50 mph.

Like, as if that is going to make any difference at all? I think it stands to reason that this man would have given as much notice to a 50mph speed limit sign as a 60mph sign as he took part in his driving challenge. But consequently everybody has to drive that little bit slower on that road these days...

Final Thoughts
Speed cameras reduce deaths and injuries. Even death and injury to stupid people.