Speed Cameras
A traffic enforcement camera also known as a speed camera is a system, including a camera which may be mounted beside on over a highway or installed in an enforcement vehicle to detect traffic regulation violations, including speeding, vehicles going through a red traffic light, unauthorized use of a bus lane, for recording vehicles inside a congestion charge area and others. These cameras have the ability to take clear pictures of any moving vehicle enabling police to see the numberplate allowing them to easily track down the owner of the car in order to charge them accordingly. To do this the cameras use Automatic number plate recognition which is a mass surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images to read the license plates on vehicles. Speed cameras are extremely controversial, this is because people believe they are a distraction to drivers, causing them to panic and slow down causing an accident. On the other hand, they dramtically decrease speeding in areas. Speed cameras are gaining £20million worth of fines to the treasury every year.
1. Speed Costs Lives
Road traffic accidents cost the lives of over 3,100 people in the UK alone.
It is the biggest cause of death for those under 30 years of age.
If speed camera's are used and placed in the best locations, then cutting speed, can and will save lives.
In 2002, 3431 people lost their lives on our roads. 33% of these deaths were due to excessive speed. 179 of those killed were children. The Association of Chief Police Officers says that speed is the most important factor in road crashes, more so than even drink or drug driving. [1]
2. Economic Benefit.
The economic benefit is not from the small amount of revenue raised. The economic benefit is from the reduction in accidents and deaths. The economic cost of a road death is estimated at £1 million. This includes costs of police, hospitals, lost earnings e.t.c. Saving lives, especially that of young people definitely has an economic benefit. Of course, it is difficult, if not impossible, to place a value on a human life, but there is a definite measurable economic cost which does justify reducing deaths through speeding.
3. Speed Camera's are a tax on the rich and stupid.
Speed camera's are not really a tax because there is no obligation to pay it. If you drive safely and stick to the speed limits you will never have to pay it. People who either don't care about paying a fine or drive carelessly, will however pay it. This means money is raised to be spent on various improvements. When other people pay fines for speeding, it means other real taxes can be lower. The rich and reckless, are just subsidising those who drive responsibly.
4. Good for environment
Lower speed is more efficient leading to lower fuel consumption. This will help reduce carbon emission and global warming.
5. High Speed is bad for communities and other types of exercise.
Many villagers ask to have speed cameras because they know quality of life improves when speed limits are introduced. Studies have shown that excessive speed supreses cycling and walking
1. They cause accidents because people brake from 40 to 30mph.
2. Speed is not the main cause of death.
Here people misquote DFI statistics. Speed definitely is a cause of death on the roads.
3. Countries without speed cameras have lower death rates.
It is not possible to compare countries because factors vary significantly. What is important is the effect speed cameras have on reducing death and accidents on that particular road.
Benefits of Speed Cameras
1. Speed Costs Lives
Road traffic accidents cost the lives of over 3,100 people in the UK alone.
It is the biggest cause of death for those under 30 years of age.
- Being hit by a car at 40mph 9/10 people die:
- Being hit by a car at 30mph 5/10 people die:
If speed camera's are used and placed in the best locations, then cutting speed, can and will save lives.
In 2002, 3431 people lost their lives on our roads. 33% of these deaths were due to excessive speed. 179 of those killed were children. The Association of Chief Police Officers says that speed is the most important factor in road crashes, more so than even drink or drug driving. [1]
2. Economic Benefit.
The economic benefit is not from the small amount of revenue raised. The economic benefit is from the reduction in accidents and deaths. The economic cost of a road death is estimated at £1 million. This includes costs of police, hospitals, lost earnings e.t.c. Saving lives, especially that of young people definitely has an economic benefit. Of course, it is difficult, if not impossible, to place a value on a human life, but there is a definite measurable economic cost which does justify reducing deaths through speeding.
3. Speed Camera's are a tax on the rich and stupid.
Speed camera's are not really a tax because there is no obligation to pay it. If you drive safely and stick to the speed limits you will never have to pay it. People who either don't care about paying a fine or drive carelessly, will however pay it. This means money is raised to be spent on various improvements. When other people pay fines for speeding, it means other real taxes can be lower. The rich and reckless, are just subsidising those who drive responsibly.
4. Good for environment
Lower speed is more efficient leading to lower fuel consumption. This will help reduce carbon emission and global warming.
5. High Speed is bad for communities and other types of exercise.
Many villagers ask to have speed cameras because they know quality of life improves when speed limits are introduced. Studies have shown that excessive speed supreses cycling and walking
Criticisms of speed cameras
1. They cause accidents because people brake from 40 to 30mph.
- People shouldn't be driving at 40mph
- Government should use average speed cameras
2. Speed is not the main cause of death.
Here people misquote DFI statistics. Speed definitely is a cause of death on the roads.
3. Countries without speed cameras have lower death rates.
It is not possible to compare countries because factors vary significantly. What is important is the effect speed cameras have on reducing death and accidents on that particular road.
CCTV Cameras
Normal security cameras work in a similar way to traffic cameras in that the police men can watch what is happening live. Security cameras are not as useful when it comes to recognising people as they can not recognise an individual person. However, they can be programmed to alert the police to anyone who looks similar to the suspect. Although not as useful as traffic cameras, this is still very useful as the police will still be informed, whereas without the camera the police would not know until later if at all.
CCTV cameras work in much the same way as speed cameras in that police are able to view footage of a particular location enabling them to have an idea of what could have happened at that particular incident. Saying this, CCTV is sometimes quite poor quality and can not always recognise the criminal. However, they can be programmed to alert the police to anyone who looks similar to the suspect. Although not as useful as traffic cameras, this is still very useful as the police will still be informed, whereas without the camera the police would not know until later if at all.
Police Radios
Police use radios called Airwaves, to keep in contact with the rest of the force including other officers and also back to the computer aided dispatch room back at base. With these radios officers are able to communicate with the base station so they are aware of the situation the are able to enter. Also they might need to ask them details about the person they are about to charge this gives them a better outlook on the criminal they may be about to deal with. If an officer is in trouble then they are able to talk with other street officers for back up this is usually the case when there are not enough officers to deal with the specific siuation. This enables police to more successfully co-ordinate an operation, whether it is a car chase or a raid on a building. These increased levels of communication mean that the police can work more efficiently as a team which results in more arrests being made and less convicts escaping.Police Tagging
Criminals who are release from prison, but do not pose an immidiate threat to the community as a whole may be tagged. This involves an electronic GPS emmiting device to be attached to the leg of th offender and signals are continually sent to a monitoring centre which is able to track the criminals location at all times. If the tag is forcebally removed of tampered with, then the polic are alerted and come within minutes to check that the individual has not breached th agreed terms and the they have not commited another crime. Sex offenders for example are often barred from going near parks or schools. They may also be confined to a certain area around their home and may have a curfew stopping them from being out too late at night.
Tagging could be the answer to rising prison populations as it enables police to make sure the criminal is out of trouble all the time plus they do not need to take up space in a prison for a petty crime such as the one they have probably commited. The tags also keep the society aware of who is a criminal because it can be easily visible on the culprits leg. This allows people to keep away from a person such as this. Furthermore, these tags are savng money because the goverment does not need to pay out a lot of money on prison supplies such as food and hygeine. This is one of the reasons why tagging is used more than a straight prison sentance.
Advantages
- Stops overcrowding prisons
- Allows minor criminals to still suffer a punishment
- The criminal is being tracked at all times
- police are able to reach the criminal within minutes
- saves a lot of money because they do not need to sustain them in a prison
Disadvantages
- Criminals could see this as an easy way out and may recommit crimes as it could be that they are not getting punished properly for it
- May have a negative effect on the criminals mental state
- The tags may malfunction ad allow the criminal to be free for some time. (can be seen below)
New Stories
Breakdowns in police radio system | |||
A new police communication system has been plagued by breakdowns, including during some of the biggest emergencies in Devon and Cornwall. "Airwave" failed on 93 occasions between 2005 and 2008, according to figures released under a Freedom of Information request. The hi-tech digital radio system failed when the MSC Napoli ran aground and looters descended on Devon in 2007. Devon and Cornwall Police said it was working hard to build new masts. The force admitted problems had occurred in remote areas or when the volume of calls had overwhelmed the system. Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall explains the "Airwave" police radio system Federation spokesman Sgt Steve Tovagliari said: "It's a major issue for us because our primary concern is for officers' welfare and safety. "If the system fails, obviously the officers aren't going to be afforded the protection for them or the people of Devon and Cornwall."
"It works and there's been investment which will allow it to move into the future," force spokesman Tim Bishop said. "The public should be assured it provides us with the communication we need to support public safety." | |||
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