20 November 2011

Officers on duty - more effective that speed cameras?

| Christof
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I was heading up Athlon Drive, driving past Farrer heading towards Woden last Saturday in my wife’s little Yaris. I saw in the rear vision mirror coming over the hill behind me a 4×4 with P plates on it, it was doing about 110ish by my estimate. I had seen quite a few speeding P platers lately, they just don’t seem to care about the speed limit and it was getting on my nerves. I noticed another black 4×4 behind the P-plater that was on his tail the whole way down Athlon. Must of been his friend I thought, anyway they flew past me then got stopped by the lights, I pulled up next to the P-plater on the lights. I admit that I got goaded into going a little quick off the lights because I didn’t want him to overtake me (really silly I know), but he flew past with the black 4×4 in tow, he was really giving it the gas. Next thing I saw was that the black 4×4 lit up like a red and blue Christmas tree! It was an undercover police vehicle, I did not see that coming! Man I realized how lucky I was not to get done myself on that hill – The police officer had obviously already locked onto the P-plater because he was flying. I am never speeding again, it was the most effective speed trap I have ever seen. Don’t let mongrel p-platers goad you into speeding off the lights – you never know who is behind you!

This lesson taught me how effective actual Police officers are at catching people who exceed the speed limit. Why is the government wasting money on speed cameras (that people know the location of so slow down accordingly) when they should just hire more traffic cops? More jobs for citizens and less people speeding. What do others think?

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beejay76 said :

harvyk1 said :

It really has nothing to do with saving lives, and everything to do with revenue raising.

That old chestnut. Heard of the brake?

Funnily enough yes I have, I’ve also never been pinged for speeding by either a copper or a speed camera, and whilst I don’t drive like miss daisy I’m certainly no speed demon, thus I expect my record will remain the same.

I have however seen a large number of other drivers who have done illegal things such as dangerous overtaking, swerving between lanes without indicating, tail gating. Of course speed cameras have no hope of catching these people, but a copper in an undercover car could catch such people.

A person doing 84 in an 80 zone is unlikely to be a major danger to other road users (yes I have seen the TAC wipe off 5 ads). However a person doing 130 in a 100 zone overtaking around a blind corner is a big danger. Unfortunately the way the current road enforcement is done, the first person is more likely to be “caught” than the second person, even though the second person is far more likely to have an accident and take someone innocent with them.

Martlark said :

RugbyWhat said :

Your time frames are way out, not sure where you get 30 to 40 mins from. Once a speeder is nabbed by laser for example, within 5-10 mins they’ll be on their way with their TIN in most circumstances. Depending on the road and time it normally doesn’t take long to find someone speeding…

When you consider the setup time, ticket writing time, pulling over time, sitting in the car after you’ve driven off and finishing the papers, returning to location, setting up laser etc, it would be 30 to 40 minutes per ticket. I’ve gotten my deck chair out and sat down and watched speed traps on my street. It does take that long per offence. Of course individual results may vary.

It takes the police about 60 seconds to pull over in an appropriate spot, get out, and get the speed gun. Often they don’t even need to get out of the car as many of the cars are equipped to record speed while the police are inside, to allow for pursuit if necessary.

You do realise they they don’t actually have to write tickets any more, don’t you? It’s all electronic and you’re given a printed ticket. It takes about 5 mins, tops, and that’s if they take the time to speak to you about your offence first. There is no “finishing papers” after the offender has driven off. It’s all electronic.

The police in the ACT also set up speed traps that allow them to pull over and ticket multiple drivers at once. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them do it, though.

dvaey said :

Id also love if the cameras were fitted with deceleration detectors, to catch those who slow down before reaching the device.

You’ll love Hindmarsh Drive, then!

amarooresident312:20 pm 22 Nov 11

dvaey said :

amarooresident3 said :

Reading through this thread it’s easy to get the impression that the cops have lost control of our streets, so I went and had a look at the stats…

For the 2010-11 financial year…

So, it would appear that the cops have been pretty busy and actually increased traffic enforcement.

For some facts, it would be interesting to see how this compares to other areas (on a city and also state basis). Also, the ratio of speed camera detected offences to police officer detected offences. Also, it would be good to compare against more than just last years figures. Infact, for fair comparison, we should look at the year before speed cameras were introduced, and see how the rate of offences has changed since that time.

There is no denying the fact that a speed camera can detect a single offence, and recoup some revenue for it, sometime in the next few weeks if/when the driver receives a ticket.

There is also no denying that a police officer who detects a single offence of speeding, will also check the cars status (rego, roadworthy, etc), the drivers status (licenced, sober, etc) and also see if the car is driving dangerously before or after the split second it passes the camera. Id also love if the cameras were fitted with deceleration detectors, to catch those who slow down before reaching the device.

If you’re really interested you can always check out the annual reports and website yourself.

amarooresident3 said :

Reading through this thread it’s easy to get the impression that the cops have lost control of our streets, so I went and had a look at the stats…

For the 2010-11 financial year…

So, it would appear that the cops have been pretty busy and actually increased traffic enforcement.

For some facts, it would be interesting to see how this compares to other areas (on a city and also state basis). Also, the ratio of speed camera detected offences to police officer detected offences. Also, it would be good to compare against more than just last years figures. Infact, for fair comparison, we should look at the year before speed cameras were introduced, and see how the rate of offences has changed since that time.

There is no denying the fact that a speed camera can detect a single offence, and recoup some revenue for it, sometime in the next few weeks if/when the driver receives a ticket.

There is also no denying that a police officer who detects a single offence of speeding, will also check the cars status (rego, roadworthy, etc), the drivers status (licenced, sober, etc) and also see if the car is driving dangerously before or after the split second it passes the camera. Id also love if the cameras were fitted with deceleration detectors, to catch those who slow down before reaching the device.

RugbyWhat said :

Your time frames are way out, not sure where you get 30 to 40 mins from. Once a speeder is nabbed by laser for example, within 5-10 mins they’ll be on their way with their TIN in most circumstances. Depending on the road and time it normally doesn’t take long to find someone speeding…

When you consider the setup time, ticket writing time, pulling over time, sitting in the car after you’ve driven off and finishing the papers, returning to location, setting up laser etc, it would be 30 to 40 minutes per ticket. I’ve gotten my deck chair out and sat down and watched speed traps on my street. It does take that long per offence. Of course individual results may vary.

amarooresident310:45 am 22 Nov 11

Reading through this thread it’s easy to get the impression that the cops have lost control of our streets, so I went and had a look at the stats…

For the 2010-11 financial year

Road collisions resulting in injury 618 (650 previous year)
Seatbelt TINs 610 (increase of 12% from the previous year)
Speeding TINs 7954 (increase of 23% from previous year)
Mobile Phone TINs 2577 (increase of 37%)
Drink Drivers 1501 (the same in percentage terms as the previous year. The number of RBTs increased from 89,203 to 100,568)

In addition, the Rapid Team scanned 856,743 vehicles resulting in 4,858 TINs, mostly for unregistered and uninsured vehicles as well as 474 unlicensed, 57 disqualified and 148 suspended drivers. They also defected 1213 vehicles working with the RTA.

Source is the ACT Policing Annual Report 2010-11.

So, it would appear that the cops have been pretty busy and actually increased traffic enforcement. Either way, thought it would be interesting to inject some facts into the debate, instead of what people might feel based on something they saw last Tuesday at 4.00am.

dvaey said :

Tooks said :

milkman said :

People speed and drive like idiots because they know that except for the known speed camera locations, the chances of actually getting busted are nearly zero.

Really? What about the many thousands of TINs handed out each year by police?

Yea, listen to Tooks. Didnt you know the many thousands of TINs handed out by the current traffic patrol, has all but removed dangerous, illegal driving from our streets?

Tooks, do you believe that the number of TINs currently issued is a strong reason for people to not drive like idiots and speed? If you do believe this, then why are we constantly seeing reports of so many people who dont listen to those reasons? We’re not just talking about one in 1000 drivers being stupid, we’re talking about a decent portion.

Maybe being on the inside of a police car, you arent quite aware of how little those of us in the public actually see your cars.. You see a car for most of your day, the average member of the public might see 2 or 3 in a day, if theyre lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Dvaey, don’t presume to know what I do for a living.

1000s of people get away with stupid driving because unless you want a police state, then that’s the way it is. There are many thousands of cars on the road at any time, and probably under a hundred police cars on the road. Do the maths.

The majority of idiot drivers are not P platers. I’d say it would say it would almost be 10 to 1 to older idiot drivers to P plate idiots.

This particular driver must have been drawing attention to himself, as the black/grey 4WDs are normally the special operations vehicles. Although I do believe the CPO does instruct all officers to enforce road rules, it must be catching on as I also saw one of the similar vehicles performing a traffic stop a while back.

OpenYourMind said :

So one anecdotal story about a street race and it’s proof that officers on duty are more effective than speed cameras.

Nope. Officers have always been more effective.

OpenYourMind said :

So one anecdotal story about a street race and it’s proof that officers on duty are more effective than speed cameras.

So one narrow minded view and you thing your right all the time?

OpenYourMind8:43 pm 21 Nov 11

So one anecdotal story about a street race and it’s proof that officers on duty are more effective than speed cameras.

KeenGolfer said :

Martlark said :

Traffic cops can’t catch enough people to make them effective deterrents. Each guy they catch can take 30 to 40 minutes to catch and process. They’d be working hard to grab more than 10 speeders a shift.

Your time frames are way out, not sure where you get 30 to 40 mins from. Once a speeder is nabbed by laser for example, within 5-10 mins they’ll be on their way with their TIN in most circumstances. Depending on the road and time it normally doesn’t take long to find someone speeding…

+1 – We’ve all probably got a ticket or two in our past and unless something really fishy was going on, we wouldn’t have sat anywhere near the 30 to 40 minutes on the side of the road.

Also if the Police were all about revenue raising and not prevention, every Police car would be unmarked…

Martlark said :

Traffic cops can’t catch enough people to make them effective deterrents. Each guy they catch can take 30 to 40 minutes to catch and process. They’d be working hard to grab more than 10 speeders a shift.

Your time frames are way out, not sure where you get 30 to 40 mins from. Once a speeder is nabbed by laser for example, within 5-10 mins they’ll be on their way with their TIN in most circumstances. Depending on the road and time it normally doesn’t take long to find someone speeding…

matt31221 said :

@Martlark It may take time but I am sure the officers catch a lot more than the speed cameras.

A lot more speeders? Ha ha! Poor deluded fool.

Watson said :

It surprises me that no one has yelled “revenue raising!” because the cops don’t announce their presence by using unmarked cars.

I don’t see it as revenue raising… Whilst there is of course the “big brother could be watching” argument the fact that they could be quietly watching is a deterent. I believe they should have more undercover cars so the risk that if you do something illegal and stupid (beyond doing 81 in an 80 zone, I’m talking about real dangerous behaviour) there is a good chance you’ll be caught.

P Platers will always be childlike and for you to attempt to keep one behind a Yaris is purely futile.

Next!

matt31221 said :

So you have never done that not even once? I call BS on that mate.

WTF? I’ve never done it. And the moment I feel tempted to start playing childish games like that on the road, I’ll start catching the bus instead.

Postalgeek said :

While I have no love for speedsters, passive aggressives who hate being passed are a blight on our roads and should be hunted down like vermin.

So you have never done that not even once? I call BS on that mate.

@Martlark It may take time but I am sure the officers catch a lot more than the speed cameras. Not to mention having the benefit of actually being there to detain the car and driver if the driver had a warrant on their head or the car was stolen.

Traffic cops can’t catch enough people to make them effective deterrents. Each guy they catch can take 30 to 40 minutes to catch and process. They’d be working hard to grab more than 10 speeders a shift. That is the equation that all speeders unconsciously rely on; they know there is almost zero chance of ever been caught each time they speed. Plenty of stats and research shows the only effective method of population wide speed reduction is automatic speed detection. PS: if you see a guy pulled over by the cops, speed up, as the cop won’t be able to get you then.

pete09 said :

So OP, basically you caved into peer pressure and engaged in a street drag with a p-plater because you “didn’t want him to overtake” you?

a) Go hand in your licence.
b) I don’t know about other drivers, but if anyone, p-plated or not, is driving aggressively behind me I just let them get in front, saves having to focus on two things at once.

If someone’s that desperate to get ahead, the easiest thing is to just let them go. It’s not like it makes any difference your trip anyway.

So OP, basically you caved into peer pressure and engaged in a street drag with a p-plater because you “didn’t want him to overtake” you?

a) Go hand in your licence.
b) I don’t know about other drivers, but if anyone, p-plated or not, is driving aggressively behind me I just let them get in front, saves having to focus on two things at once.

carnardly said :

I really hope the coppers would catch the little toad in the royal blue subaru wrx.

That guy drives like a total knob and I have the misfortune to see him regularly.

I wish he’d learn a lesson or 10.

I’m surprised he hasn’t totalled his car.

Blue Subaru WRX, like saying white Commodore or Falcon….

I really hope the coppers would catch the little toad in the royal blue subaru wrx.

That guy drives like a total knob and I have the misfortune to see him regularly. I wish he’d learn a lesson or 10. I’m surprised he hasn’t totalled his car.

It surprises me that no one has yelled “revenue raising!” because the cops don’t announce their presence by using unmarked cars.

And apparently it is ok for the cops to collect revenue by catching speeding drivers – which really is like shooting fish in a barrel on most major roads – but not for TAMS.

It always brings a smile to my face when I see a car pulled over by police – especially when it’s an unmarked cop car. So yes, we need more of it, if only to give me that feeling of joy at seeing another selfish AH get nabbed.

harvyk1 said :

It really has nothing to do with saving lives, and everything to do with revenue raising.

That old chestnut. Heard of the brake?

Classified said :

About the only time I see people being careful and calm is when a marked police vehicle is around.

You forgot to mention the 50 metre space in-front of a speed camera, people normally travel calmly and carefully (generally 10+km/hr below the limit, because sure the speedo SHOULD be accurate, but are you willing to bet money on it?).

I see stupidity behind the wheel almost every time I drive in Canberra, in one form or another. It’s good that the police hand out TINs, but it hardly seems to be making a difference. About the only time I see people being careful and calm is when a marked police vehicle is around.

Disinformation9:13 am 21 Nov 11

Just keeping your eyes open will probably change your opinions about undercover cars doing nothing with speeders in Canberra. I’ve seen the black holden ute, green holden ute, white mondeo, brown mondeo, black Nissan patrol (or whatever it was) and at least three different commodores all pulling over speeding drivers in the last twelve months. In fact I’ve seen more unmarked cars pulling over drivers than marked cars.
Anyone who gets pulled over by a marked car doubly deserves their infringement fine.
If one decides to undertake more risk without a corresponding increase attention to detail and situational awareness, one should be prepared to bear the consequences.
Life in general works that way. Why should traffic infringment punishment be different?

Tooks said :

milkman said :

People speed and drive like idiots because they know that except for the known speed camera locations, the chances of actually getting busted are nearly zero.

Really? What about the many thousands of TINs handed out each year by police?

Yea, listen to Tooks. Didnt you know the many thousands of TINs handed out by the current traffic patrol, has all but removed dangerous, illegal driving from our streets?

Tooks, do you believe that the number of TINs currently issued is a strong reason for people to not drive like idiots and speed? If you do believe this, then why are we constantly seeing reports of so many people who dont listen to those reasons? We’re not just talking about one in 1000 drivers being stupid, we’re talking about a decent portion.

Maybe being on the inside of a police car, you arent quite aware of how little those of us in the public actually see your cars.. You see a car for most of your day, the average member of the public might see 2 or 3 in a day, if theyre lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Tooks said :

milkman said :

People speed and drive like idiots because they know that except for the known speed camera locations, the chances of actually getting busted are nearly zero.

Really? What about the many thousands of TINs handed out each year by police?

Compared to how many instances of silliness and/or law breaking?

milkman said :

People speed and drive like idiots because they know that except for the known speed camera locations, the chances of actually getting busted are nearly zero.

Really? What about the many thousands of TINs handed out each year by police?

Hahahaha you lost to a 4×4

onlytt600 said :

On my way home from Gungahlin Thursday night I passed an unmarked car wearing P plates – looks like it may be a new tactic, I thought you could get a ticket for displaying Ps incorrectly?

I once did, forgot to take my brothers P plate off, and got pinged for it. However, you’ll find the ‘road rules dont apply to police’ road rule comes into play here.

While I have no love for speedsters, passive aggressives who hate being passed are a blight on our roads and should be hunted down like vermin.

harvyk1 said :

Because a traffic copper whilst being far more successful in the road safety message, makes a lot less money for the gov’t than a fixed speed camera, plus a traffic copper requires sleep \ holidays and sick days, which a speed camera doesn’t, plus a traffic copper can use their discretion and better judgement, which equals less $$$ in govco’s bank account.

It really has nothing to do with saving lives, and everything to do with revenue raising.

Precisely this. Unfortunately it’s about money, not actual safety.

I would much rather more police on our roads.

On my way home from Gungahlin Thursday night I passed an unmarked car wearing P plates – looks like it may be a new tactic, I thought you could get a ticket for displaying Ps incorrectly?

madamcholet said :

Glad another one is off the road and may have learnt a big lesson! I often wonder why the police don’t sneak around like that more instead of leaving it to vans and cameras

Speed camera vans and fixed cameras are operated by the government, not the police.

So you’re admitting to street racing?

According to popular opinion your Yaris should be crushed and you should be made to catch the bus…

…that is of course unless you were drink driving at the time. Drink driving is forgivable… and understandable, it’s a medical condition and you need help.

If you admit to being over the blood alcohol limit you can keep your Yaris, as long as you promise to a judge that you won’t do it again.

Lite up like a red and blue christmas tree? What a peculiar analogy.

People speed and drive like idiots because they know that except for the known speed camera locations, the chances of actually getting busted are nearly zero.

For actual road safety, there’s nothing like having marked cop cars patrolling. Having an undercover cop car resulted in a ticket in this instance, but it didn’t prevent the behaviour in the first place.

Glad another one is off the road and may have learnt a big lesson! I often wonder why the police don’t sneak around like that more instead of leaving it to vans and cameras.

I’m pretty peed off by speeding motorists right now – seems that no one has any respect for speed limits and basically for their own and other people’s safety. I would like to know why most people – especially p-platers – believe they can handle one tonne missiles at speeds in excess of the limits.

I think there must be significant failings in driver training – probably because most of them learn from their parents and are in the car on their own within 6 or 7 lessons. I knew someone who was on the road in 4 lessons -although she had the good sense to be very wary of actually driving for a good while as if she couldn’t believe it herself. I find it all totally astonishing and am always aware when ferrying my three year old about that anything could happen at any minute. Enough to make you paranoid…

Because a traffic copper whilst being far more successful in the road safety message, makes a lot less money for the gov’t than a fixed speed camera, plus a traffic copper requires sleep \ holidays and sick days, which a speed camera doesn’t, plus a traffic copper can use their discretion and better judgement, which equals less $$$ in govco’s bank account.

It really has nothing to do with saving lives, and everything to do with revenue raising.

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