“UK to Drop Construction Zone Speed Cameras"

Dear Pennsylvania Drivers:

Does the Legislature really want Senate Bill 172, authorizing speed cameras in Pennsylvania? Do they want to increase highway crashes? 2018 is an election year.

Look what happened in England: concluding that speed cameras in work zones were a failure, the UK Department for Transport dropped speed cameras from construction zones in 2006. http://thenewspaper.com/news/12/1270.asp
“The UK Department for Transport (DfT) will replace speed cameras in work zones with laser-activated signs that display an estimate of a motorist's speed without issuing a ticket. Although the agency does not admit the speed camera policy had failed, an unreleased DfT report showed conventional speed cameras caused a 55 percent increase in collisions.”

There is no "safety crisis" in Pennsylvania highway work zones. PennDOT's own data shows that 75% of the PennDOT workers killed were accidents with other workers or work machinery, and that less than 1 worker every two years has been killed since 1970 by passing automobiles. There is no reason to institute a "pilot" program of speed cameras in work zones, except to put money into the pockets of special interests and the government. Re-engineering of the work zones along with proper signage will make them safer without speed cameras. Just like in the UK.

Don’t your Senator and Representative want safer streets for everyone? Tell them to VOTE NO on SB 172: and remind them to keep an eye on November.

“UK to Drop Construction Zone Speed Cameras"
"UK Department for Transport drops speed cameras from construction zones.

“The UK Department for Transport (DfT) will replace speed cameras in work zones with laser-activated signs that display an estimate of a motorist's speed without issuing a ticket. Although the agency does not admit the speed camera policy had failed, an unreleased DfT report obtained last year under the freedom of information act showed conventional speed cameras caused a 55 percent increase in collisions.

"’Speed cameras don't work, and I'm very relieved to hear that we will not be using them as often in the future,’" said Safe Speed founder Paul Smith, who uncovered the 2004 accident report. "’However, part of the problem is an excessive degree of focus on numerical vehicle speed and it seems we will have to wait some more before Department for Transport wakes up to reality.’"

“UK Highways Agency officials only admit that the speed display signs are more effective than the cameras, encouraging half of drivers to match the posted speed, as opposed to less than a third with ticket cameras.

"'Rather than simply punishing drivers with a £60 fine and three points, this appeals to their better nature,'" Richard Deacon, the contractor in charge of the M42 freeway told the London Times. "'People tend not to like being shown up for behavior which puts others in danger.'"

“Unlike speed display signs used in the United States, the UK signs employ automated number plate recognition (ANPR) to identify and display motorists' license plates along with their estimated speed. High speeds are not displayed to prevent drivers from attempting to set records. The devices, for now, do not record the movements of individual motorists.”

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tom McCarey Member, National Motorists Association-----------------------------------------------------------------