Transport system is unfair to commuters
THE fact that £8m has been harvested in road traffic fines during the smart motorway upgrade (The ‘smart’ way to rake in £8m,
M.E.N., August 10) raises a number of issues, not least that of the overall health of the transport system and the purpose of traffic enforcement.
If so many drivers have broken the law that does suggest both an overall problem with the road design layout and with access to other travel alternatives.
Nothing in applying these fines seems to have made the roads safer, and having arguably the most expensive public transport system in Europe denies drivers the chance to use cheaper safer environmentally friendly alternatives.
It’s worth also recalling that, in previous years, you could expect to encounter police patrols on the roads.
They could tick-off overeager drivers with advice, give unrepentant offenders tickets and be available to call for emergency medical back-up or provide immediate first aid as required.
Nothing in the on-the-cheap, revenue-generating auto-camera system provides equivalent safety support.
Above all, towns in the south that have implemented the revenuegenerating auto-camera enforcement system alongside the sort of severe extended curbs on parking that Manchester has adopted have experienced high street collapse.
Instead of the big stick of fines, we need a people-friendly policy that integrates affordably public transport with a user friendly road system. Name and address supplied
OK so £8m has been paid by speeding motorists during the M60 upgrade.
While I agree that it is frustrating when there doesn’t seem to be anybody working, especially at night, the speed limit signs and cameras are there for all to see.
If you have been fined for speeding it is no one’s fault but your own. David Harrison
THE number of smart motorway speeding fines in Manchester just goes to show how bad drivers are.
Complaints will only come from those affected.
The system works extremely well if people abide by it.
Birmingham traffic moves far more smoothly since it was introduced down there. Speeders beware, you can’t cheat this one. Joan Wainwright
IF drivers are too stupid or too arrogant to stick to the speed limit then perhaps they shouldn’t be on the road. George Chorlton, Prestwich
CAN you ask why lighting was turned off at night when bollards and such were placed on the motorways during works, even though there was little work being done at night along the whole stretch.
How many accidents were there during this period of narrow and temporary lanes?
Road chiefs will say they were protecting their workers.
We all know that there were few and far between workers operating at night.
Was it to save money, I ask? Mark Lavelle, Bolton increasingly likely, that a ‘hard Brexit’ will be agreed then surely it is reasonable for the people to be given the opportunity to consider the situation before our country is committed to this great change in direction?
Those who designed the referendum built in no safeguards, believing that the will of the people should be paramount, and those who most strongly support the result take the same view.
If the people could be trusted to make this very important decision in the first place why should they not have the opportunity to consider the terms agreed when these are known?
At that time, of course, there will be much else to be considered, the flight of foreign-owned manufacturing firms from these shores together with the reduction in size and importance of our finance industry as offices are located abroad.
A referendum on the terms of Brexit would not be contrary to the will of the people but would allow a considered decision to be made by the people. Rod Slater, Lymm