Your opinion

Sir - For some time I have read in 'Letters to the Editor' section of Fleet NewsNet articles appertaining to Speed Cameras. It would appear in the past printed view on the subject that no donators who have expressed their views on the reason or purpose of Speed Cameras have got the gist of the subject.

I therefore attach my donation to the column titled 'Feet Per Second' that explains other facts that have not been known to other donators, being the difference and consequence of a vehicle travelling at a lower speed and that travelling at a greater speed, and the consequence thereof.

Feet Per Second

THE basic cause of road accidents is wide-spread ignorance of ground speed, not only on the part of pedestrians but also motorcyclist and of virtually every driver of a motor vehicle, and I add that if this widespread ignorance on the part of road users be cured-and it is curable-then there will follow a great reduction in the toll of road accidents and deaths. A speedometer does not tell anyone their ground speed. It does nothing of the kind. And it is because most motorists deludes themselves Into believing that a speedometer tells them how fast they are covering the ground that the danger of road accidents is increased.

A speedometer gives a rider/driver speed in miles per hour. Thus have you any mental picture of the length of any hour or the length of a mile? I doubt it. The only measure that gives one an overall picture of speed at which a vehicle covers the ground is measure feet per second. At Sixty miles per hour a vehicle covers 87.9 feet per second. To make it easier to understand call it 90 feet per second which is correct within 2 per cent. All you have to do is to add one half to the figure of your speed in miles per hour and you will have your speed in feet per second.

Now if all riders/drivers think of feet per second instead of miles per hour, look, scan and plan farther ahead, drive at a safe speed for the road and prevailing conditions and road surface and be able to stop within the Limit Point, distance that is seen to be clear, then you will be on the correct course to be a better and safer driver not only to yourself7passengers in the vehicle but other road users too.

Another aspect of risk management/road safety is whenever driving a motor vehicle touches what is called Kinetic Energy, which can be best, described as weight in motion. As a speedometer records speed in Miles Per Hour, I therefore quote weight in Imperial measure. A detailed explanation is for example a vehicle weighing One Ton and moving at a speed of30mph will strike an object with a 30-ton Impact thus at 60mph the moving force would strike an object with a 60-ton impact It does not leave much for any ones imagination to realise the injury, loss of life to a pedestrian(s) and or damage to property caused by such a force on impact.

Human nature is such today that when traveling from one place to another most are inspired with the same desire-to get to their destination as soon as possible. So they travel as fast as possible with no regard to speed limits and safety of other road users.

Drivers who are arrogant in the manner they drive, selfish and inconsiderate to the health and safety of other road users and pedestrians cause or are involved in most road accidents. "Feet per second" and "kinetic energy" do not occur to most of them -until after the accident. The cost of injury, pain and suffering and death cannot be evaluated. The purpose of Speed Cameras is a deterrent to inconsiderate drivers who are not complying with the Law for the prevailing road and traffic conditions and Speed Limits at that time or place.

Most self opinionated so-called competent drivers/riders have not read let alone studied the contents of the "Highway Code' if they did and comply with the information/advice given at all times, concentrated on their driving, look and plan well ahead and allowed adequate time to complete their journey, they would not be moaning about how unfair Speed Cameras are. After being caught therefore eligible for appearance at a Magistrates Court. Three penalty points or more on their driving licence and monetary fine for the offence committed. Thus if you are caught exceeding a speed limit, don't moan. Comply with the Law it is Safer and Cheaper to do so for everyone.

Gordon Cole
Director of Training
E-mail:safety@fleetdriverservices.co.uk