Of speeding, drug hauls and behaviour-NSW

[wulos]

Originally Posted by fmc351

One could argue that the position of the car in the bushes, just past the fixed camera was there to catch the drivers who know where the cameras are and drive according to that knowledge rather than the speed limit. You become aware of the system, outsmart it, and it outsmarts you. Downhill is not an excuse to lose sight of speed. You do have a brake pedal.

Which basically goes to show that whilst the speed cameras are being installed in a 'noted' blackspot to help save lives, the police are more then happy to target motorists once they have successfully navigated this section of road. It is normal, everyday accepted behaviour to accelerate up to the posted speed limit. The simple facts of the matter are that there is an increase in the speed limit soon after the camera, where the road quality improves by straightening out, with a wider cleared area on either side of the road. If this policing strategy was in the interests of road safety why were they not targeting a more dangerous section? Why was he not policing BEFORE the bends, not after where it straightens out?
Of course people have a brake in their car, and downhill sections are definitely NOT an excuse to lose sight of your speed. - Who is argueing that?

Originally Posted by fmc351

IMO, the hiden copper provided more incentive to stay within the limit, than the easily spotted ones. Some people drive by just slowing down for the easily spotted one. Think of him as a sniper, he keeps you on your toes at all times, you never know where he is.

If they're going to behave like snipers we better take their pursuit cars off them, as well as those less easily spotted unmarked cars. We'll give them Yowie suits & Camo paint, and issue them instead with high powered egg firing 'infringement canons' as well? - fixing damaged paintwork is almost as expensive as a speeding fine anyway :
Take a look at my first post, mentioning the fact that at 8.30-9am in the morning, on a 30-40km long section of road I encountered no more then 15 other road users. How can a hidden copper noticed by only 1 or 2 observant roadusers (out of 15-20) provide more of an incentive NOT to speed, then a clearly visible presence noticed by several hundred?. It would be interesting to know how many other roadusers that morning were aware of him hiding in the bushes 'keeping them on their toes'.
There are plenty of other roads that see a much higher traffic flow density then this one, and whilst I do agree that there needs to be policing on ALL roads, I personally believe that the $$$'s could've been better served policing the roads where all of that extra holiday traffic was.

Originally Posted by fmc351

Maybe police should send out memos announcing locations of radar traps and be restricted to that spot all day. We could all avoid those roads and drive at mach 1 everywhere else without fear of fines.

Which is precisely what they do on the NSW RTA site in regards to fixed speed camera locations. To a lesser extent what they were forced to do in regards to mobile speed camera locations, by being req'd to have signage in shot of speeding motorists. Locations of 'police operations', or blue zones, are reported on quite a number of Sydney radio stations, with every traffic report (20 minutes apart in peak times)to increase public awareness - with motorists being extra vigilant of their behaviour, even though the police may no longer be in that location.

[Tiapan]

Well try sitting on the speed limit in every speed zone,
i did this on a 600km drive yesterday and found it quite distracting...its much safer when i can go the speed i find necesary and keep my bloody eyes on the ROAD where the hazards are, not on a little circle with a needle in it

Originally Posted by wulos

Locations of 'police operations', or blue zones, are reported on quite a number of Sydney radio stations, with every traffic report (20 minutes apart in peak times)to increase public awareness - with motorists being extra vigilant of their behaviour, even though the police may no longer be in that location.

Only on Nova. All the other radio stations' traffic report supplier have a good relationship with emergency services including police. They also probably have a time limit of what they can put in reports and radar traps generally do not cause problems with traffic flow therefore is very low priorty to report even if they wished to report it.

[wulos]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Only on Nova. All the other radio stations' traffic report supplier have a good relationship with emergency services including police. They also probably have a time limit of what they can put in reports and radar traps generally do not cause problems with traffic flow therefore is very low priorty to report even if they wished to report it.

The reporting of police activity goes back nearly 10 years. Several questions were raised about the legality etc of broadcasting of this type of information. I can still remember hearing an interview with the then police commisioner who was talking on Sydney Triple M breakfast radio at the time with Andrew Denton. His argument (and fully supported by the police commisioner at the time I might add) was that the idea behind it was to help get the road safety message out there, and keep everyones mind on road safety. The radio is listened to by people that are not actually driving at the time, hence assists in getting those listeners thinking about it as well.
I don't see the correlation between broadcasting of this info, and having a bad relationship with emergency services, as they are trying to deliver the same message - ie reduce the incidence of speeding, and save lives.
There are a number of other stations out there apart from just Nova that broadcast that type of information. I can name at least 4 that I listen to regularly that broadcast this type of info.

[GasoLane]

Having been driving around the countryside for a bloody long time (I'm an old phart!) the only way to slow down traffic streams on country roads, single or multi lane, is Police presence in a marked car. Face it. what is the first thing you do as soon as you see a marked car anywhere? you back off, right?

A few years ago in a small American country town (small by US standards) they tried a system where every Mr plod in the town took his patrol car home every night and used it for personal use. Shopping, visiting friends etc. The Presence of 'more' police cars on the road apparently resulted in reduced crime, speeding and accidents.

But that will never happen here because the Police Force is always grossly underfunded. Buy a scanner and listen to a GD car at an accident scene calling in to ask for permission to stay there after their shift. They need permission to work overtime!!

This probably why after a long weekend HP cars are scarce, they've done the overtime (during the long weekend) and their station will be over budget unless they have some time off.

Fixed cameras dont get paid overtime.

[havoc19]

all this talks make me wish i was about to lose my p's for speeding instead of a u-turn at a no right turn sign LOL

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by wulos

Which basically goes to show that whilst the speed cameras are being installed in a 'noted' blackspot to help save lives, the police are more then happy to target motorists once they have successfully navigated this section of road. It is normal, everyday accepted behaviour to accelerate up to the posted speed limit. The error is doing so prior to passing the sign that indicates a higher speed limit. Or exceeding that limit once past the black spot, if you arent speeding, it doesnt matter how many you pass. The simple facts of the matter are that there is an increase in the speed limit soon after the camera, where the road quality improves by straightening out, with a wider cleared area on either side of the road. If this policing strategy was in the interests of road safety why were they not targeting a more dangerous section? By focusing on the blackspot, you only serve to move the blackspot. Drivers tend to become complacent as the authorities dont seem to be concerned with the "safer" section. Why was he not policing BEFORE the bends, not after where it straightens out?
Of course people have a brake in their car, and downhill sections are definitely NOT an excuse to lose sight of your speed. - Who is argueing that?
It was the mention of the downhill section. you didnt say it, but the hill comment is generally seen as an excuse for creeping over. I may have made an *** of u an me on that by assuming, more me.

Take a look at my first post, mentioning the fact that at 8.30-9am in the morning, on a 30-40km long section of road I encountered no more then 15 other road users. How can a hidden copper noticed by only 1 or 2 observant roadusers (out of 15-20) provide more of an incentive NOT to speed, then a clearly visible presence noticed by several hundred?. It would be interesting to know how many other roadusers that morning were aware of him hiding in the bushes 'keeping them on their toes'. If done all the time, not just there but "anywhere, anytime", anyone speeding knows the chances of getting caught are higher. That acts as a disincentive to speed anywhere, anytime, not just in known blackspots, or where the permanant cameras are. The fact Police cars stand out is not only a visible deterent, but also a beacon for activity, it's a double edged sword. Many drivers are well aware that once a police car is passed, its very unlikely you will encounter another within the next 5 minutes, so the foot goes down again. That, aswell as above, are the reasons i support the tactic of hiding, and or placing them occassionally somewhere unexpected, while also being visible on other occassions as a visual deterent. While blackspots can be notorious, they are far from the only place accidents occur.
There are plenty of other roads that see a much higher traffic flow density then this one, and whilst I do agree that there needs to be policing on ALL roads, I personally believe that the $$$'s could've been better served policing the roads where all of that extra holiday traffic was.Are you sure it wasnt? Are you sure there isnt a statistical or tactical reason for the focus on that road? The fact that there were only 15 cars you passed, suggests they have a reason other than revenue raising, when much higher traffic is encountered elsewhere. the police arent fools, and if youve seen several cars, not just one, then likely it isnt officers dodging duties, but an officially concerted effort for a purpose



Which is precisely what they do on the NSW RTA site in regards to fixed speed camera locations. To a lesser extent what they were forced to do in regards to mobile speed camera locations, by being req'd to have signage in shot of speeding motorists. Locations of 'police operations', or blue zones, are reported on quite a number of Sydney radio stations, with every traffic report (20 minutes apart in peak times)to increase public awareness - with motorists being extra vigilant of their behaviour, even though the police may no longer be in that location.

True. But Im more aware everywhere when i dont hear those reports.

and when i talk about the awareness as a disincentive, im talking the average guy who may do 5 to 20 over, but not all the time. Not the guy who will drive despite losing his licence, drink a few too many and drive home. Nothing acts as a disincentive to these people. But it doesnt negate the authorities responsibility to come up with ways to curb average motorists actions given limited numbers of officers, in focus of the blatent numbnuts