CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"Bus lane cameras to pull in over £1 million"
(14 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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"In our view the best camera earns no money but keeps people out of the bus lane. This figure suggests signposting is still an issue."
WRONG, Neil!
The UK's road network has extensive and widespread signage to display speed limits and yet we all know speeding is still common place and, what's more, generally remains socially accepted - getting caught speeding is less acceptable. I'd say that speed cameras are mainly considered by speeders as a prompt to slow down for a short stretch before resuming their previous speed. The A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen being a prime example (I drive this at least twice a month).
"The main worry is the authority gets used to this kind of income and won’t want to let it go by making things easier for drivers."
Oh, Neil... How naive of you, petal. Bless you. Driving isn't supposed to be easy - backed up by the obligatory licencing required to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
I abide by the rules of the road and find it quite simple to avoid penalties - I follow the law. If other road users genuinely struggle to do the same, perhaps there's an argument for a) this simple control to continue to be strongly enforced in a blanket manner and b) periodic reviews of driving licencing.
A lazy argument from a lazy segment of society borne from a lazy culture.
*steps off the Persil box*
Posted 12 years ago # -
Over 1 million to be taken from scofflaw drivers- good.
If any of the whingers think they are being conspired against, they should have a look at what's involved in getting a motorcycle licence these days! A cynical eye might presume it is purpose designed to keep the masses off motorbikes and get them into nice safe cars :-o
Posted 12 years ago # -
Or to stop a certain demographic wrapping themselves round trees!
Posted 12 years ago # -
warning that automated surveillance discriminates against courteous drivers
Does anyone know what this means?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perhaps it means that the cameras can't be discreetly bribed, so that the bus lane cameras don't just apply to ghastly unwashed oiks?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Bus lanes are extremely conspicuous and the idea that a careful driver could enter one by mistake is, in my view, not credible. Neil Grieg is a clown who never misses an opportunity to apologise for the behaviour of lawless drivers. I welcome any initiative that will extract money from these antisocial yobs - maybe it could be spent on improvements to the city's bus infrastructure!
Speaking of bus lanes, why are taxis allowed to use them? Are taxis an efficient use of road space? No. Are taxis good for the environment? No. Get them out.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think it might mean that if you behave and stay out of the bus lane then you might find it hard to get into the inside lane at a junction where the bus lane would disappear and some sneaky rutter who had been in the bus lane too early would be in the way by then.
Posted 12 years ago # -
But that is not really a courteous driver though, just one who is (not) using the bus lane properly.
I wonder if it might mean that you are driving along in the bus lane to skip the queue as you always do, then you stop to let someone in who has waited until they actually need to make the turn and BANG your 10 seconds is up and you have your fine?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Speaking of bus lanes, why are taxis allowed to use them?
I'd also like to know if there's any logic behind the layout of the bus lane signs. By which I mean is the fact that the buses are always displayed at the top, bicycles underneath, then taxis (where permitted) at the bottom of the pile representative of lane priority?
Because if so, the next time a taxi driver decides to get a***y with me about not being able to filter in the bus lane past standstill traffic at faster than the 20mph I'm doing in front of him (or her)*, I may well have something to say when they start leaning on their horn.
*Used to happen quite regularly on my commute through Corstorphine on the way home from town.
Posted 12 years ago # -
warning that automated surveillance discriminates against courteous drivers
Does anyone know what this means?
He seems to be struggling with the difference between being a curteous driver and a competent driver. Competent drivers don't tend to find themselves running out of non-bus lane tarmac because they will have anticipated the hazards and have taken appropriate action to avoid being 'unfairly caught out'.
Posted 12 years ago # -
But if some sneaky rutter has already got into the inside lane before you reach the junction because they were using it when it was still a bus lane it doesn't matter how competent you are you can't move into the correct lane.
Posted 12 years ago # -
As a motorist I welcome them.
why?
because I get pissed off sitting in the queue while folk loon down the bus lanePosted 12 years ago # -
@Steveo Good point, though looking at the only figures I have to hand (DoT Road Accident Statistics Factsheet No7 - 2010, which looks at Motorcycle casualties reported in 2008),the summary amongst other things says:
"Single vehicle accidents accounted for around 1 in 4 motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in 2008" and,
"Multi vehicle accidents at junctions account for over half of motorcyclist KSI casualties....A driver failing to look properly is the most common contributory factor, with motorcyclists having a wider spread of factors".
lastly, "Multi vehicle accidents away from junctions account for a quarter of motorcycle KSIs and 37 per cent of deaths....Motorcyclists are more likely to have contributory factors than other vehicles"
Obviously there is more detail than that, (and you're welcome to have a (somewhat depressing) read at the next PY), however I would contend that the image of the solo born again bikers wrapping themselves around every other tree in the countryside is like the scofflaw cyclist, a convenient caricature/scapegoat, and with an element of truth, there are indeed some, however the biggest cause of rider casualties is still the inattentive/careless/incompetent car driver, and they continue to be the group who is not penalised by harsher multi part testing, restricted size/power licencing, compulsory standardised training etc etc.
There was/is undoubtedly a need for more rider education/training, but as usual the legislators chose to largely ignore the car drivers responsible for half the casualties and also miss the existing problem (middle aged/older riders who never had to do CBT/observed training) but rather they chose to stiffen the already stricter motorcycle licencing in what I still believe was an attempt to discourage people from taking it up.
But hey ho, no-one said life was fair ;-)
Posted 12 years ago #
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