Tax collection

[John Forsyth]

For those who may have missed this in the Herald 11 October -

< A voluntary motoring group in Britain says the switch from traditional
police traffic patrols to policing by revenue-gathering speed cameras
has caused unnecessary road deaths. The Association of British Drivers
(www.abd.org.uk) says that as the number of speed cameras soared from
1993 on, the downward trend in road deaths was almost completely lost.
"Had the former trend (a year-on-year 6 percent decrease in fatalities)
continued, about 5,500 people that have died on the roads in the last
decade would be alive today." The association says the move away from
driver education schemes to speed cameras has caused problems. "Further
evidence of this is provided by the steady reduction in those
apprehended for careless, dangerous and drunken driving from 232,000 in
1990 to 144,000 in 2000, a decrease of 37 percent in absolute terms, and
a decrease of over 45 percent when increased traffic is allowed for."
Chairman Brian Gregory said: "We have been warning for years that speed
cameras make the roads more dangerous. How many more will have to die
before we return to traditional and proven road safety values based on
skills, individual responsibility and consideration?" >

Perhaps the Government could play its part in reducing the road toll by
funding the NZ Police in such a manner that removes the imperative to
concentrate on self funding instead of road safety and driver education.

__________________
john forsyth BCG191

[EricW]

Well said!

[David & Judy Kerr]

Come on guys' we are NZer's we never learn from others
mistakes...