Speeding: Disgust as safety camera is burnt out (From Dorset Echo)
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Speeding: Disgust as safety camera is burnt out
10:00am Monday 16th August 2010 in
ARSONISTS have targeted a speed camera in a West Dorset village.
Police are investigating after a tyre was put over the fixed speed camera and set alight on the busy A35 in Chideock, near Bridport, around 5.20am yesterday.
Chideock traffic protester Tony Fuller said he was disgusted by the arson attack and warned it would ‘cost lives’ if motorists sped through the village.
Mr Fuller, 77, said: “As far as I’m concerned anyone who does anything like that should be locked up and the key thrown away because they’re complete and utter idiots.
“If the speed camera isn’t working to deter motorists, someone could get killed easy.”
Mr Fuller and other members of The A35 Protest Group have been asked by police to use hand-held speed cameras to monitor traffic.
He added: “I’m worried that if people can do this to a speed camera, what would they do to a couple of old fogies with a camera?”
Protest group member Reme Cortis said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the burnt camera, it’s a disgrace.”
The camera was at the centre of controversy two years ago when it emerged it had illegally caught thousands of motorists between 1997 and 2007 due to an administrative blunder, which referred to the A35 junction with Seatown Road, when it should have been Duck Street.
Witnesses and anyone with information about the damage should contact Bridport police on 01305 222222.
Comments(28)
nigefromdorchester
says...
11:16am Mon 16 Aug 10
Indeed the Department of Transport readily admits that less than 4% of accidents are caused by excessive speeds. Therefore, 96% of accidents have nothing to do with speed at all. Mr Fuller should campaign for safer roads and not for an increase in the speed tax
Techie
says...
11:48am Mon 16 Aug 10
nigefromdorchester
says...
12:50pm Mon 16 Aug 10
www.photoblockeruk.c
om
acop40
says...
12:57pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Techie wrote:Using someone elses number plate?
I've got a fantastic method I worked out for avoiding the 'speed tax'. Can anyone guess what it is?
Speed on.
Duckorange
says...
1:01pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Techie wrote:You're going to be sensible and say drive slower, aren't you?
I've got a fantastic method I worked out for avoiding the 'speed tax'. Can anyone guess what it is?
Or, buy a Polish-registered car from your plumber.
Or, get a job at the US Embassy, and never pay a road fine, ever.
lostindorset
says...
1:17pm Mon 16 Aug 10
However Mr Fuller, can you not see that you are CAUSING these problems. You and your missguided protest, being run by those who MOVED INTO the village with the road like that, who seem to think that all the traffic should go else where (yeah build a bypass through countryside, destroy it, just so you have a bit of piece).
Your protest is costing local businesses money due to causing delays (leave the traffic lights alone), making men and women who have worked hard, late home for their dinner, and CAUSING ACCIDENTS futher on down the road, due to cars hitting other cars caught in tail backs that you caused.
And now the police are giving you more of a god complex with the guns.
Heres an idea, why dont the police go down and sort the speeding out, and why dont MR fuller and his gang move away from the road which will always be busy. It is an A road, it is the main route into devon from the south, so either accept it and move and give all us LOCALS some piece and quiet!
lostindorset
says...
1:18pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Mr-tumble
says...
1:27pm Mon 16 Aug 10
MartiB
says...
1:31pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Mr Fuller is hardly qualified to talk about road safety, the word hypocrisy springs to mind.
I also believe that the MAJORITY of the inhabitants of Chideock, do not support Mr Fuller or his self interest protests.
Stunned
says...
1:51pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Mr-tumble wrote:He looks more sad than angry and his expression amplifies this.
Wow he does look angry though!
McCrabby
says...
1:52pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Insight
says...
2:10pm Mon 16 Aug 10
...
I've often wondered about the wisdom of these so called speed camera partnerships promoting this kind of behaviour, on the one hand it's open to self styled vigilantism and on the other it's never seemed like a sensible idea putting old people potentially in harms way like that.
At least Mr Fuller saw that one coming.
Insight
says...
2:15pm Mon 16 Aug 10
The West Midlands Road Safety Board, who oversee 300 fixed, red light and mobile speed cameras are considering scrapping them after the government cut £38m off the £95m a year national budget.
Insight
says...
2:18pm Mon 16 Aug 10
FECKIT
says...
4:10pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Best thing for them is a good BBQ.
Mabu
says...
5:49pm Mon 16 Aug 10
.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=zev2vIHcj
Cc&feature=related
bootedsw
says...
6:42pm Mon 16 Aug 10
Such a shame now you might get a lovely speed camera partnership wagon parked in some location where a normal motorist would get a ticket, maybe blocking your drive or parked on the grass verge by a double yellow line.
martaaay
says...
6:43pm Mon 16 Aug 10
RobinofLocksley
says...
7:14pm Mon 16 Aug 10
siratb
says...
8:10pm Mon 16 Aug 10
-disgusted-face?!
.
I think we should use the Norwegian example - a high velocity bullet through the camera from 500m away. Less chance of getting caught.
fishman68
says...
7:16am Tue 17 Aug 10
JANEAUSTEN
says...
8:38am Tue 17 Aug 10
Because they dont want to pay the fine, or because they dont agree with the law( that speeding is an offence?).
FECKIT
says...
9:01am Tue 17 Aug 10
siratb
says...
10:25am Tue 17 Aug 10
JANEAUSTEN wrote:Ignoring the 103mph idiot - Because speeding in itself isn't necessarily dangerous (as any traffic cop will tell you), but it is very easy to catch people by placing cameras strategically and changing speed limits.
If speeding is a traffic offence, why are all these drivers complaining about being caught? Because they dont want to pay the fine, or because they dont agree with the law( that speeding is an offence?).
.
So I don't think speeding should automatically be an offence, but should be judged by a traffic officer after considering the speed, style of driving, weather, location etc...and if (s)he considers it an offence then that should be good enough.
.
Speed cameras are purely revenue generating measures. If they wanted to slow people through places like Chideock then implement traffic calming measures.
skyblueneil
says...
11:00am Tue 17 Aug 10
FECKIT
says...
1:11pm Tue 17 Aug 10
siratb wrote:Well said Siratb.
JANEAUSTEN wrote: If speeding is a traffic offence, why are all these drivers complaining about being caught? Because they dont want to pay the fine, or because they dont agree with the law( that speeding is an offence?).Ignoring the 103mph idiot - Because speeding in itself isn't necessarily dangerous (as any traffic cop will tell you), but it is very easy to catch people by placing cameras strategically and changing speed limits. . So I don't think speeding should automatically be an offence, but should be judged by a traffic officer after considering the speed, style of driving, weather, location etc...and if (s)he considers it an offence then that should be good enough. . Speed cameras are purely revenue generating measures. If they wanted to slow people through places like Chideock then implement traffic calming measures.
Also those that shout that speed kills are obviously those that are
too old to drive and go soooo slow which makes them dangerous hazards, how often I have nearly been wiped out on main roads in perfect conditions by some old biddy who can't see over their steering wheel, can't see! can't drive or does not realise that there is other traffic on the road, whether I have been in a car or on motorbike they are more of a danger than drivers that can handle their cars, are aware of others and use speed safely.
More police on the roads and generally them being seen is far better use of resources than these contraptions that are pure revenue makers.
bootedsw
says...
5:19pm Tue 17 Aug 10
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ballstoit says...
10:20am Mon 16 Aug 10
Being cursed with a small-engined gutless car I find the lack of 'run-up' almost unbearable.
I literaly get pushed up this hill by angry HGV drivers thanks to the fact I've had to approach it at 30mph and quicly ran out of steam - depite having passed the village by this point.
To be honest I'm getting fed up with moaning Chideock residents. If you dont like trafic why did you move to a village that straddles the busiest A road in Dorset??