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@spindrift
1/
Saying speed cameras don't catch driving too fast for the conditions is not an argument against them, any more than aspirin not curing cancer is an argument against aspirin.
2/
Your own article makes it clear that driving at 40mph rather than 30mph increases the likelihood of death fourfold. The robust rule applies- higher speeds means accidents are more likely and injuries are worse.
3/
Traf pol were moved to street crime after Blair promised a reduction in muggings- mostly kids nicking each others' mobiles. It had nothing to do with speed cameras.
4/
Road deaths increasing after speed cameras being introduced is proof of nothing- mobile phones became a lot more common at the same time and you can't pick-and-choose years to "prove" a link between cameras and accidents without including traffic rates, weather, and any number of external factors. I've never heard the suggestion that speed cameras caused other crime rates to rise!
5/
There has been a concerted campaign against speed cameras in papers like then Telegraph and from strange lobbyists and nutjob green ink brigades (Not you, I hasten to add Bluequinn! Some of the anti-camera bods are very strange indeed). Their claims don't stand up to scrutiny- they are essentially extreme libertarians who view ANY potential curtailment of their insistence on picking and choosing which laws to obey as an outrageous imposition.
Speed cameras have a role to play, the new ANPR cameras will also catch tailgaters and drivers on mobiles.
Bring them on.
And more trafpol, it's not an either/or option.