New Year's Resolution Call To Minister
Published: 6th January 2005
Ideas submitted by motorists for Share Ideas Day and presented to the Minster for consideration included:
- Clearly signed speed limits actually on the cameras
- Review road speed limits when suggested by motorists
- Promote defensive driving courses and a speed awareness courses among drivers.
- Offer speed awareness courses instead of issuing penalty points.
- The answer to improving accident blackspots might be junction design or engineering measures and not necessarily a speed solution related.
- Each camera should be preceded by an interactive sign advising people to slow down or paint the speed on the road, put up flashing reminders (solar powered)
- Move speed limit signs away from junctions where drivers tend to concentrate on the traffic.
- Introduce 20 mph limits around schools in peak periods.
- Increase budgets for traffic police and target tailgaters.
- Put the number of people killed at the camera spot.
Reflecting on the ideas generated through Share Ideas Day, Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation observed: "The system should be much more flexible with a review of limits, clear signing of speed limits on the camera and road surface, and more emphasis on speed awareness courses. These are views that the RAC Foundation tends to support."
Commenting on their New Year call Mark Wardell of Euro Car Parts said: "Speed cameras have their place and can be effective in the right place. Yet the biggest losers are absent minded drivers who use roads clogged with cameras while serial speed maniacs, who look out for cameras are unlikely to be snapped. We hope the Minster takes heed of the positive and constructive suggestions made by motorists when thinking about his plans for 2005."
Share Ideas Day is non-for-profit initiative organised each year on September 12th with the aim of encouraging everyone in the community to generate and share ideas and has created a series of Ideas Banks at its web site www.share-ideas-day.com.
