New UK police speed gun can read license plates from half a mile away at night

Post by ceejayoz » Sun, Dec 13, 2020, 3:44 AM UTC

XorNot wrote: post #22

ISL wrote: post #17

I once saw speed cameras as "un-sporting" until travelling elsewhere in the world where they are commonplace. In those countries, it seems like everyone just drives the speed limit. If the point of speed enforcement is to, you know, ensure that everyone is going the speed limit or slower, they're awesome. Norway's system of timed speed cameras are particularly wonderful -- they simply photograph a car and then photog…

I agree speed camera are necessary but "time of travel" speed cameras are absolutely violating the intent of the law, which is to have people drive safely. Part of driving safely is that you may need to speed up to avoid a situation, or change lanes safely or what have you - a time of travel camera (in the way they get implemented which is identical to single-point speed cameras AFAIK) is essentially just a random ti…

Post by judge2020 » Sun, Dec 13, 2020, 3:47 AM UTC

smnrchrds wrote: post #32

XorNot wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree speed camera are necessary but "time of travel" speed cameras are absolutely violating the intent of the law, which is to have people drive safely. Part of driving safely is that you may need to speed up to avoid a situation, or change lanes safely or what have you - a time of travel camera (in the way they get implemented which is identical to single-point speed cameras AFAIK) is essentially just a random ti…

> Because tickets aren't just monetary And the only monetary aspect is not the fine, it is the also the increased insurance premiums. The latter can be much more punishing than the former.

Post by TomVDB » Sun, Dec 13, 2020, 3:49 AM UTC

Scoundreller wrote: post #23

ISL wrote: post #17

I once saw speed cameras as "un-sporting" until travelling elsewhere in the world where they are commonplace. In those countries, it seems like everyone just drives the speed limit. If the point of speed enforcement is to, you know, ensure that everyone is going the speed limit or slower, they're awesome. Norway's system of timed speed cameras are particularly wonderful -- they simply photograph a car and then photog…

> but if you're loaning your car out to someone who speeds, at least some of the culpability falls on you. Not in Germany it doesn’t. Only the actual driver can be found guilty of speeding, even by speed-camera. I understand they’ll take pictures of the front of the vehicle and check against who’s lives at the registered address. Not sure if it’s an infraction for the registered owner to refuse to identify the likely…

Post by lotsofpulp » Sun, Dec 13, 2020, 3:53 AM UTC

judge2020 wrote: post #33

smnrchrds wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Because tickets aren't just monetary And the only monetary aspect is not the fine, it is the also the increased insurance premiums. The latter can be much more punishing than the former.

I didn't know this was a thing in the US until a few months ago - apparently the local police notify insurance companies (somehow) of speeding violations and thus give the insurance reason to increase your premiums.

Post by jfim » Sun, Dec 13, 2020, 3:54 AM UTC

acdha wrote: post #8

mberning wrote: post #4

I find it odd that there is so much emphasis on enforcement of speed limits. Studies have shown that speed limits above and below the prevailing speed of most drivers is a much higher risk factor that raw speed. And then there are other behaviors such as using a cell phone and driving that may be criminalized, but do not seem to receive such fervent enforcement.

Some of it is due to how easily speed can be measured but you're over-simplifying what the studies actually show. Speed is what turns minor accidents into major ones, especially for people who aren't themselves in cars[1] so while it's true that for avoiding vehicular collisions the most important factor is going around the same speed as the rest of the vehicles there's still a significant difference in injury/death…