Pick on serious offenders, not careful drivers
Once again a senior police officer has proved himself totally unfit to hold office. Last week you reported that Anthony Bangham, Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, is strongly in favour of a tougher approach on speeding, with motorists facing fines for driving at just 1mph over the speed limit. If he wants to pick on motorists, then go for uninsured and unlicensed drivers, and dangerous vehicles – including HGVs and coaches.
John Kent, Fulham, London I am positive that the people of Britain would rather the police concentrated their efforts on curbing the growing number of burglary, theft, thuggery and fraud offences than focusing on speeding motorists. Perhaps I am being cynical, but isn’t this a case of the police adopting an easy strategy to raise funds? Howard Johnson, Wimborne, Dorset Where I live, motorists drive in excess of the speed limit all the time – and often considerably over it. I’ve seen them overtaking on double white lines and, on several occasions, even on the wrong side of Keep Left bollards. Some elderly residents have taken to wearing high-visibility waistcoats when crossing the road. Police are aware of this speeding but we never see them doing a check, as they occasionally used to. So bring on the new fines. But who is going to enforce them? Not Sussex Police, that’s for sure. Elaine Hooley, Cocking, West Sussex While drink-drive offences and using a mobile phone at the wheel are deliberate acts, going 1mph over the limit is often inadvertent.
Draconian enforcement of speed limits may be seen as a demonstration that a speed limit is absolute, but it will do great damage to police/public relations.
Those fined for driving at 31mph on a 30mph road will feel resentment against the police and will undoubtedly have the sympathy of most other drivers.
The existing system is both proportionate and sensible.
Richard Martin, Portsmouth Surely the possibility of motorists being fined for going just 1mph over the speed limit would cause more accidents – by drivers constantly looking at their speedometers. Susan Field, Oxhey, Hertfordshire The Government can’t have it both ways. You can slash public-service funding to the bone or you can have an efficient, well-manned police force. If there is to be zero tolerance of speeding, who on earth is going to enforce it?
John Tavner, Dedham, Essex We all assume the speed dials in our cars are correct, but if they’re not we could all face these fines. Name and address supplied You reported that police are considering a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to breaking of speed limits. I assume similar policies will be introduced regarding burglary, vandalism, car theft...?
Steve Barrett, Nettleton, Lincs