Killer road vandals put lives at risk
VANDALS who covered speed cameras along the A1079 Hull to Beverley road with paint have been branded "ignorant and irresponsible".
Safety officials have reacted angrily to the graffiti, pointing out the overall aim of the cameras is to reduce accidents and minimise fatalities on one of East Yorkshire's most notorious routes.
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A speed camera daubed with paint on the A1079
The affected devices are on the stretch of the A1079 between the Dunswell roundabout, on the outskirts of Hull, and Beverley.
Those responsible have attacked the cameras with green paint, attempting to obscure the lenses.
The paint has made it harder for motorists to spot the cameras, with the graffiti covering sections of the high-visibility yellow coatings of the equipment.
However, the damage has failed to prevent the vandalised cameras – thought to number three – working properly, according to their operators.
Councillor Matthew Grove, East Riding Council's portfolio holder for highway maintenance, streetscene and emergency planning, said: "The people who have done this completely irresponsible act are probably ignorant of the fact that these speed cameras are there to save lives.
"I would like to see them try to explain to relatives of people who have died on these roads that what they have done is right."
In 2007, the section of the road between Market Weighton and Hull was named the seventh most dangerous road in Britain by Road Safety Foundation for the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP).
However, since the cameras were installed in 2006 the number of accidents and injuries has been slashed.
Now it boasts the title of the fourth most improved road in Britain following EuroRap's latest report, published last month.
A spokeswoman for the speed camera's operator, Safer Roads Humber – a partnership made up of several organisations, including East Riding Council, Hull City Council and Humberside Police – said: "The safety cameras on the Beverley bypass have been really good so far as the number of casualties on that road have dropped since enforcement began.
"The A1079 has gone from being one of the worst roads in Britain to one of the most improved, therefore the cameras have done their job."
Anyone with information about the vandalism to the cameras can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
73 Comments
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by truvelo, bev rd
Friday, August 07 2009, 1:27PM
“jon willerby said
Safety cameras make people believe it's safe to travel at the speed limit at all times.
jon dont talk rubbish do the speed cameras snap you for driving under the limit no they dont its just idiots that dont drive to the road conditions.
the speed cameras are there for one reason only to catch people driving over the maximum limit what ever that may be for a paticular road.
if anyone thinks otherwise they are just deluding themselves.
if everyone drove withinn the law the speed camers would be removed 1 because there was no job for them to do and 2 because it would cost the authorities to operate and maintain them.”
by Bimty, Right here waiting for Dave + Paul
Friday, August 07 2009, 9:53AM
“Hmm.... Dave + Paul - notice no more silly posts from you two on this story today then? Didn't fancy taking me up on my offer then eh boys?????
Thought not - now who's the doughnut!”
by john, beverley
Friday, August 07 2009, 9:09AM
“agreed re: people driving at the proper speed through the speed cameras - you regularly get idiots doing 50mph because they're scared of the cameras, and because of the cameras its now impossible to get past them safely!!
Also, the cameras on the hill by market weighton are really sneaky - I'm sure a lot of people have been caught thinking it is a 70mph road (dual carriageway one side/single other side)!!”
by Mark, Sutton
Friday, August 07 2009, 7:43AM
“Martin you moron, why are Hull City Council to blame for speed cameras in the East Riding? Why are planners to blame when road layouts etc. are designed by traffic engineers? Why is everyone but the speeding motorist to blame? I am against speed cameras, but your flawed arguments really don't help.”
by Jon, Willerby
Friday, August 07 2009, 12:41AM
“You can't measure safe driving in miles per hour.
30MPH in the 60MPH zone might be the safe maximum speed at some times and 80MPH might be perfectly safe at other times.
Safety cameras make people believe it's safe to travel at the speed limit at all times. They don't stop motorists driving at inappropriate speeds below the speed limit when it's icy, raining of visibility is close to zero.
As Tim quite rightly mentioned in the comments. If they really cared about safety and not just robbing the motorist then they'd have sorted Priory Road out years ago. One of the most abused junctions I've ever seen with a large number of accidents is Anlaby Road / Rawling Way. I don't see them rushing to install red light cameras there, probably because they won't generate sufficient revenue.
As far as the A1079 goes. If you install cameras after a peak in accidents then the natural tendency after a peak is a reduction. They can then claim their cameras caused the reduction even though the reduction would have occurred anyway. It's just a big con and we're paying for it.”
by Observer, West Hull village
Thursday, August 06 2009, 10:48PM
“Steve in Thorngumbald - stop talking drivvel. While I wholeheartedly agree with you that speed cameras are - for the most part - a waste of time, and a money making device, they are NOTHING whatsoever to do with the Police. They are local council funded and a government incentive. The money raised by them goes into the general coffers, some of which may find its way to the Police...”
by confused, .com
Thursday, August 06 2009, 10:42PM
“steve, thorngumbald
yes i do stick to the speed limits and i have never had a speeding fine parking ticket or any conviction in over 22 years of driving both professionally and for pleasure however i do drive to the speed limit but get idiots not many but some that overtake but then i meet them again further on up the road and all they gained was the length of the vehicle behind its those types of idiots that cause the accident just because they are to impatient and think about no-one but themselves.
and from your comments it would seem you are one of them. and as soon as you are caught start crying about it.
do you also realise some people are on tachograph and COULD speed from one end of the country to the other without being caught along the way only to be caught a month or more down the line when ministry of transport or the police inspect their tachos so there are a lot of people that just can not afford to speed as its their living.
i hate boy racers even the ones that dont grow up but still fit the category”
by steve, thorngumbald
Thursday, August 06 2009, 9:39PM
“deeerrr confused do you stick to the speed limit everywhere you go? if so how many people overtake you?thats why accidents are caused people doing bang on the limit and people wanting to do a realistic speeds so overtaking these cameras are not safety cameras they are money making rackets for the hard up police force!!”
by speedy gonzales, in my reliant robin
Thursday, August 06 2009, 9:24PM
“martin, Hull
i agree that if you drive you should reach the maximum speed limit as long as conditions allow you to do so. it is against the law to drive too slowly for no reason and it is annoying.
but having said that if it causes frustration to the person behind to the point where you start to drive like an idiot because of it then both types of people should not be on the road.
very often some idiot overtakes you, speeds off and you are right behind them at the next junction they get nowhere for doing it”
by martin, Hull
Thursday, August 06 2009, 9:03PM
“If our fantastic council, planners, highways etc did the job they are supposed to in the FIRST place then there would not have been the amount of accidents on that road in the first place. The road should have been made straight or even a dual carriageway and with better views for over taking. Well done Hull City Council and everyone else as YOU are to blame for the accidents by getting it wrong yet again. Everone knows that fixed cameras are fixed to a focal point. You can do any speed you like coming up to the camera 70, 80, 90 whatever. Hit your brakes and do the speed limit 30 feet before the camera and you won't get a ticket. I agree with the previous comments about slow drivers. If you are not confident of doing the speed limit you shouldn't be driving as you cause us drivers who want to do the speed limit, not break it, to be frustrated. Get off the road or pull in, just like the safety signs in scotland ask you to do. What about all the irresponsible people spraying our city with paint. Were are the complaints about that”