Why warning fellow drivers about speed cameras could potentially land you with a hefty fine

No one likes getting caught by a speed camera which means usually if you spot a new camera its just instinct to tell others about it if youre having a conversation, perhaps approaching the road that it is located on as a passenger in a car.

However extending a well meant warning other drivers using the same road as you by flashing your headlights could land you in hot water!

The Highway Code states you should only flash to let other drivers know you are there and doing otherwise could potentially prevent police officers from doing their job

Rule 110 states: “Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there.
“Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.”

This means that drivers do choose to flash to warn others about a speed trap implemented by the police, they could be in breach of section 89 of the Police Act 1997 .

Under this law it states that it is an offence to “wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty.”

If the police deem you are obstructing their ability to perform their speed checks on other motorists you could be slapped with a maximum penalty of £1000.

Source msn.com

UK's top 10 highest earning speed cameras

Ever wondered which cameras earn the most revenue? look no further....  

The following information is based on figures from 2015 (Worked out by Carole Nash using freedom of information request to the UK's largest county police constabularies).  

THE 10 HIGHEST EARNING UK SPEED CAMERAS IN 2015

1. A1, Great Ponton North Bound, Lincolnshire - £606,400

2. M180, West of River Trent, Scunthorpe - £583,500

3. M25, London Orbital junction 17 and 18, Rickmansworth - £538,500

4. M25, London Orbital junction 5 and Clacket Lane Services -£373,300

5. A12, Stratford St Mary Southbound - £305,400

6. M25 London Orbital junction 18 and 17, Rickmansworth - £255,400

7. A22, Eastbourne Road, Halland - £167,100

8. A3, Esher Bypass, Hook - £149,700

9. A14, Bythorn, Cambridgeshire - £121,200

10. A34, Milton, Southbound - £63,600

Source: Carole Nash 

The camera that caught the most people was located near Grantham in Lincolnshire It caught 6,064 speeders during 2015 (average of 19 per day) thats £600,000 in fines over just one year

The fixed camera on the northbound carriageway of the A1 however is certainly not the most lucrative standalone camera today......That's because it's no longer there.

It was replaced by eight average speed cameras erected to monitor the route, which cost £750,000 to install last year, according to the Lincolnshire Echo.

The second most profitable speed camera, according to the research, was further north in Lincolnshire - a section of the M180 close to Scunthorpe caught 5,853 speeders that year, clocking up £585,300 in fines. 

Unsurprisingly, Britain's busiest motorway - the M25 - had three separate locations feature in Britain's 10 highest earning speed cameras on 2015.

All three captured a whopping 12,122 speeders, resulting in £1.2million in collective fines. The trio are between junctions 17 and 18 close to Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, north west of London, in both directions, and betrween junction 5 and Clacket Lane Services, south east of London, in Surrey.

Rebecca Donohue, head of marketing at Carole Nash, said: 'With some speed cameras issuing tickets that amount to well into the hundreds of thousands it's understandable that, at times, motorists feel like they are being taxed again.

'It's really important to remember that such cameras are put in place to reduce accidents and save the lives of motorists and bikers, something which is far more important than any amount of money.

'We wanted to find out which roads are prone to speeding motorists to help raise awareness of the dangers in those areas and encourage bikers and drivers alike to take extra care on these roads.' 

NB Of the 35 forces contacted under the freedom of information act, 20 responded with information about their snap-happiest speed cameras

Source: Mail

Speed cameras being covered with bin liners in protest

France’s tobacconists are covering speed cameras with black bin liners in protest at plans to enforce the sale of cigarettes in plain packets. They say the "cover up" action is a symbolic move to reduce the government's revenue, similar to what they say will happen to their tobacco revenue.

The 2014  European Union law ordered that health warnings cover 65% of the front and back of cigarette packs with 50% of the sides - though member states are allowed to force completely plain packaging when "justified on grounds of public health".

Following the first action over a month ago, 20 of 97 districts have now been targeted.

So far three people have been arrested, but all were released without charge.

 

March of the 20mph camera enforced speed limits on busiest roads across Britain

Motorists face £100 fines as 20mph limits are imposed on some of Britain’s busiest roads.

Until now, the lower 20mph speed limit has been restricted to smaller roads in residential areas or near schools. However this is about to change with 20mph limits to be introduced on major arterial roads (policed by the latest digital speed cameras).

London Mayor Boris Johnson has revealed that eight pilot schemes will be run on ‘Red Routes’ – the main arterial roads that carry a third of the capital’s traffic. 

Other towns and cities including Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh say they also intend to introduce the new limits.

The minimum fine fore motorists caught breaking the 20mph limit will be £100 fine and three points on their driving licence.

The AA says the new limits are being driven more by ‘dogma’ than road safety. A spokesman said: ‘These 20mph zones are popping up like spring daffodils.

‘There is a lot of fear among drivers that, with 20mph being a relatively unfamiliar speed, widespread speed camera use will make them look more at their speedometers than at what is happening on populated streets in front of them.’

If the trials in London ( due to last 18-months)  are judged a success, the 20mph limits will be made permanent and imposed on 30 miles of key ‘Red Routes’ considered by transport bosses to be ‘more local road than motorway’. Some 175 miles of residential streets.

Under the new London scheme, the first road to convert to 20mph next month will be Commercial Street in Shoreditch, linking into plans for Tower Hamlets and Hackney to become 20mph boroughs.

Rod King, founder of the ‘20’s Plenty for Us’ campaign group, said: ‘The current 30mph national limit is being rejected as “unfit for purpose” for communities so we’re setting out a series of government actions required for a planned transition to a UK default urban limit of 20mph by 2020.’

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Research shows 20mph zones can save lives and this government has made it easier for councils to introduce them.

‘It is for local authorities to set speed limits and for the police to decide how best to enforce them.’

The spokesman added: ‘We are undertaking a three-year research project to better understand the effect of 20mph zones and their impact on local communities.’