If exceeding the speed limit is bad and causes harmful consequences should we not seek to enforce speed limits. It is argued that exceeding the speed limit causes various problems.
Increased risk of accident.
If we break the speed limit there is a greater chance of being involved in an accident. Since, at least, 3,000 people per year die on British roads; we should take all possible steps to reduce the number of fatalities. As well as the loss of life behind every accident and fatality lies an enormous economic cost. – loss of earning, hospital treatment e.t.c. The economic cost of driving slower is quite minimal. True some journeys may take a little longer, but, generally speaking the cost is limited
Increased pollution
This applies particularly to motorway driving. When we drive at higher speeds engines become more inefficient increasing carbon emissions.
Makes pedestrians feel unsafe
Speed cameras often come through local public pressure. Local residents wish to reduce the noise and fear factor of speeding cars therefore, they welcome speed cameras. Lower speeds makes it more pleasant to live by busy roads
Advantages of Speed Cameras
Speed Cameras Raise Revenue
Speed cameras raise revenue which can be used to offset other taxes. If you stick to the speed limits you will never pay this type of tax. However, if you break the speed limit, you will have to pay this optional tax. Therefore, good drivers in effect, get a lower tax burden. This is the best type of tax because it only penalises those who cause the problems – of excess speeding. People complain that speed cameras are just another tax, but, that is not a problem.
Reasons to Abolish Speed Cameras
It is argued that speed cameras are ineffective in reducing accidents because people only slow down for the camera, but, then speed up when they have passed it.
However, there is a solution to this problem introduce average speed cameras. These could be particularly effectively used on bendy rural roads, which have the highest fatality rate for any road.
Speed Cameras on Motorways
Motorways are statistically the safest form of transport. A speed limit of 70mph enforced by speed cameras may seem unnecessary most motorway drivers exceed this. There may be a case for raising the motorway driving speed from 70 to 80mph. But, why not have random speed camera’s to catch people doing over 90mph?
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1 comment so far ↓
I have nothing against speed camera’s as long as they only fine you when you have been speeding. I got a fine through in march, and i knew i was deff not speeding, i could prove this as the tracking system in my car from fleetm8 records a years history of my car’s movement, and on the day i got the fine, i was 2mph below the limit, but the camera had me doing 5mph over it. Thats when i don’t like speed camera’s.
Lucky for me i had a was to prove i was right.
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