Welcome to the Driving Defences Blog

 

I read a very interesting article in the Independent newspaper last week where the Oxfordshire council had, after announcing the switch off of its speed cameras, left one turned on to ‘see what happens’. Motorists on Woodstock Road, Oxford will not be prosecuted for their speed contraventions but the experiment had some interesting results.

In the five day test period 110 motorists were caught travelling over 35mph. That is an increase of nearly 20% and this of course will add fuel to the fire, in the debate over whether the speed cameras really do force drivers to decrease speed. With the ‘great speed camera shut down’ steadily rolling across the UK, this potential increase in speeding could be a growing trend.

A word of warning before you fire up your sports cars and motorcycles however. There is nothing that I have read to suggest that there is going to be any decrease in the number of officers using the various types of speed detection equipment such as handheld laser devices and the controversial Vascar system. Indeed this is the perfect time for the police forces to place more officers out on speed patrol to show that our roads will still be kept safe and to catch the ‘newly freed’ speeders.

I was asked to speak on BBC radio Wiltshire a few weeks ago about the police attempt to increase the use of the roadside impairment test. My overall conclusion was basically that this type of test is largely an ineffectual tool. The procedure, which is similar to that seen in American movies where suspects walk a straight line and places a finger upon their nose, is a legal impairment test at the officers disposal which is seldom used. I took a straw poll in the office and not one of us had been involved in a successful conviction for ‘drug driving offences’ without a blood test having been taken.

The government announced this week that they were going to attempt to put a ‘drugalyser’ in every custody station over the next few years. It appears that it will potentially be a useful tool for the detection of drivers who are under the influences of drugs, however the amount of cases I currently see where the police make errors using the breath test devices at police stations does not lead me to believe that the introduction of new technology will run smoothly.

 

Damien Simmonds

Most people are surprised to learn that the amount of Drink Driving which takes place is not at its highest in the winter months around Christmas but in fact occurs in the summer months.

Welsh statistics, from the Gwent area, show that collisions and casualties as a result of drink driving peak between May and September. April 2007 to March 2010 statistics for Gwent police force area show that 62% of casualties in drink drive collisions occur in the summer months (April to September) with only 38% in the winter months (October to March). (Source TISPOL website)

After two years of fun we have decided to call an end to the Driving Defences Off Road Team. Due to the arrival of new family members and the ever increasing cost of repairs we have decided that our little off roader has climbed her last hill. Over the past two years our clients and friends have enjoyed weekend trips in a truly remarkable vehicle.

Goodbye old friend.

The Oxfordshire village of Nuneham Courtenay has been offered the opportunity to keep its speed camera turned on, the BBC reported today. The village will have to find £5000 but parish council feels that it will help reduce accidents in the village and will be attempting to keep the camera on.

An interesting story and a little more weight upon the side of those who feel that cameras keep the roads safe. It raises an interesting question, of course as to where the revenues will go. It seems a little unfair that the parish council is forced to fund the camera if the revenue raised goes back into the government.

I will keep track of the story and if I find out where the revenue is to go I will update the Driving Defences Blog.

MJH