Manned Speed Camera - A Lazy Excuse

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JBenci

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I have just received 5 fines in the post for going 71-80 in a 60 zone.
The fines are from Manned Traffic Camera - ie. Cops watched me break the law and took my picture.

I am at fault and I should not speed- This I know,

What grates my cheese is, 5 times in a row I have done wrong and 5 times the traffic police did nothing prevent me from doing it again. They would rather watch a crime and wait for the money to roll in rather than do some work and correct my mistake. I have no problem accepting that I did wrong but, do you let a naughty child do wrong five times before punishing him?

Prevention is better than cure. If I had been reprimanded once I would have learned my lesson on the spot and then not have sped again.
Of course the traffic police would have 4 less fines from me to pay for Mangwashi Phiyega lavish lifestyle.

The next question is why do they hide? If they were visible, it would obviously calm traffic. If speed cameras were painted in neon colours (as they are in the UK) this is would clearly make the roads safer.

Thanks for reading my vent.

Feel free to comment more.
 
Local speed traps are viewed primarily as a revenue stream, and not as a deterrent as in the UK. That this revenue stream can be maintained whilst some fat **** lives out the laziness that pervades South African law enforcement by parking his or her arse on a camping chair for 5 hours is a huge bonus.
 
HapticSimian said:
Local speed traps are viewed primarily as a revenue stream, and not as a deterrent as in the UK. That this revenue stream can be maintained whilst some fat **** lives out the laziness that pervades South African law enforcement by parking his or her arse on a camping chair for 5 hours is a huge bonus.
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Pretty much this.

OP- given the apathy towards adequate governance espoused by the ruling party, don't expect this to change anytime soon...

On another note- my understanding is that trapping from an unknown vicinity is illegal. By law, they are required to be seen at all times whilst trapping- it is supposed to form part of the deterrent approach that trapping really is designed for. Could someone confirm this?
 
Manned traps where they pull you over works on the N1 between Pretoria and Polokwane (people actually mostly stick to the speed limit compared to a few years back), since there is space to pull you over. Manually taking you off the road wont work on the N1 around JHB and Midrand, no place to pull you over, and a lot of other areas the same.

It is true though that its just a income generating activity for the metros, and they dont pay nearly enough attention to other rolling violations with the resources available.
 
Far as I know they have to stop you at manned cameras or the fine is not valid.

They must also be visible from 60 meters away I think.
 
I have to navigate through a series of fixed cameras every day & I hear that it's worse in many other places. They are an expensive, ineffective nuisance & can even be dangerous when unsuspecting drivers panic & brake/veer suddenly.

The just recently added a new fixed camera on a main route close to my home. If I wasn't mad enough about it being on a downhill bend just before a robot, then I was absolutely fuming when I read the local print that it was placed there as the result of petitioning from some local residents. What selfish spiteful bunch of knobs I thought. It had nothing to do with speeding (technical/excessive) but rather the noise from cars passing nearby the homes in which they had chosen to reside. I'll bet my life that those people are more than happy to speed through everyone else's streets as it suits them.
 
SSung said:
The just recently added a new fixed camera on a main route close to my home. If I wasn't mad enough about it being on a downhill bend just before a robot, then I was absolutely fuming when I read the local print that it was placed there as the result of petitioning from some local residents. What selfish spiteful bunch of knobs I thought. It had nothing to do with speeding (technical/excessive) but rather the noise from cars passing nearby the homes in which they had chosen to reside. I'll bet my life that those people are more than happy to speed through everyone else's streets as it suits them.
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They stuck a speed bump in on a road near a friend's house for the same reason. He now hoots everytime he goes over it :D
 
JBenci said:
...
The next question is why do they hide? If they were visible, it would obviously calm traffic. If speed cameras were painted in neon colours (as they are in the UK) this is would clearly make the roads safer.

....
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Don't confuse safety cameras with speed cameras. A safety camera is visible to make you aware of the dangers of speeding, jumping robots, etc. There intention is not to generate revenue but to reduce accidents. We have a safety camera in our area that often flashes to warn motorists that they are about to jump a red robot. Since they turned these cameras from speed to safety, the number of accidents has dropped.

Speed cameras are for law enforcement and revenue generation.
 
If everyone stops speeding then this problem might resolve itself.
 
xumwun said:
If everyone stops speeding then this problem might resolve itself.
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It won't, because the vast majority of speeding infringements are likely to be down to people inadvertently drifting over the limit, not headline-grabbing disregard for set limits. As long as cars are predominantly under human control it will happen, and our useless traffic cops will continue milking it.
 
HapticSimian said:
It won't, because the vast majority of speeding infringements are likely to be down to people inadvertently drifting over the limit, not headline-grabbing disregard for set limits. As long as cars are predominantly under human control it will happen, and our useless traffic cops will continue milking it.
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That might be somewhat true but most drivers seem to almost constantly disregard speed limits.
Most people I see driving on the roads are going at least 20km/h over the limit.
 
HapticSimian said:
It won't, because the vast majority of speeding infringements are likely to be down to people inadvertently drifting over the limit, not headline-grabbing disregard for set limits. As long as cars are predominantly under human control it will happen, and our useless traffic cops will continue milking it.
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Discipline.... thats all it takes. Been driving since 18, turning 38 this year, never ever had a speeding fine. Not once ;)

Like it or not, SA drivers overall have a very bad attitude while driving. I see it every day; not coming to full stops at stop signs, not using indicators, stopping on the pedestrian crossings at robots, rushing red robots, talking/texting on cells. This is everyone, not specific race or sex... everyone.
 
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White tax... Guvument needs to earn some profit some how :erm:


SirFooK'nG said:
Discipline.... thats all it takes. Been driving since 18, turning 38 this year, never ever had a speeding fine. Not once ;)

Like it or not, SA drivers overall have a very bad attitude while driving. I see it every day; not coming to full stops at stop signs, not using indicators, stopping on the pedestrian crossings at robots, rushing red robots, talking/texting on cells. This is everyone, not specific race or sex... everyone.
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This is true. People don't take the rules that seriously in this country, me included i'm afraid. But fining people doesn't seem to help.
 
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SirFooK'nG said:
Discipline.... thats all it takes. Been driving since 18, turning 38 this year, never ever had a speeding fine. Not once ;)

Like it or not, SA drivers overall have a very bad attitude while driving. I see it every day; not coming to full stops at stop signs, not using indicators, stopping on the pedestrian crossings at robots, rushing red robots, talking/texting on cells. This is everyone, not specific race or sex... everyone.
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I wouldn't argue the point to any great extent; I'm a few years behind you - not as many as I'd like - but I share an almost equally spotless record. I received a fine once, at 18, for doing 101km/h in a 90 zone... on a downhill.

I'd only argue that most people don't speed to any major extent, or with any malicious intent. It happens, and it's exploited as a revenue stream.
 
There's really no excuse here. People are always going to moan and bitch when their pockets are being hit.

You haven't been driving since yesterday and you should have the savvy to know how fast you should drive by

  • taking note of the speed limit traffic signs
  • using your past experience and knowledge of the type of area and road you're driving on (you do not drive 100km/h in a suburban area or 50km/h on the N1 when traffic is flowing freely do you?)

Furthermore, they give you a 10km/h lenience in excess of the limit.

The main thing is that when you get a fine, you're at fault. No use in blaming the authorities for not reprimanding you about something you already know you shouldn't do. The control is in your own hands. Don't blame others for your mistakes. Rather own up, take responsibility and don't do it again.
 
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visrot said:
There's really no excuse here. People are always going to moan and bitch when their pockets are being hit.

You haven't been driving since yesterday and you should have the savvy to know how fast you should drive by

  • taking note of the speed limit traffic signs
  • using your past experience and knowledge of the type of area and road you're driving on (you do not drive 100km/h in a suburban area or 50km/h on the N1 when traffic is flowing freely do you?)

Furthermore, they give you a 10km/h lenience in excess of the limit.

The main thing is that when you get a fine, you're at fault. No use in blaming the authorities for not reprimanding you about something you already know you shouldn't do. The control is in your own hands. Don't blame others for your mistakes. Rather own up, take responsibility and don't do it again.
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AND for those of us not sitting on high horses, there are a couple of considerations I think need to be taken into account:
1. If speed traps / cameras were implemented to enhance road safety (surely the main reason behind speed limits), why on earth are they often hidden?
2. WHY are they seldom placed on genuinely dangerous stretches of road, but rather in locations where it's easier to catch people driving too fast? - at the bottom of a hill, for example.
3. How do you expect people to respect the system when those whose job it is to enforce it abuse their powers to their own gain? (cops using speed traps as a revenue opportunity rather than for actual road safety, a situation I'm sure we're all familiar with)
 
Colin62 said:
Except you?
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I'm relaxed while driving, my opinion is presume everyone is an idiot so I need to take extra care. Must admit I have had a fine for a parking meter :( (lol .. about 15 years ago, cost me R20.00 :p...)

As to bacon patrols sitting on their arses manning picture booths. I will agree its a waste of time. Nothing constructive comes from it.
 
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