Dan Holdsworth
May I clarify: Speed cameras can easily be made invisible to approaching vehicles, although (obviously) not completely indetectable. They can be placed behind available masonry, vegetation or road signs. They would even fit behind a speed limit sign (a red circle with some numbers in it).
I agree that there are problems with enforcing the law, particularly with people who will lie to cover up their law breaking. Maybe the law needs changing to make the registered owner of a vehicle liable for offences caused with it, unless the vehicle has been reported as stolen.
I think they are a very useful tool for enforcing the law. They are not perfect, of course, partly because they usually only monitor a small patch of road - hence my suggestion that they should be made less conspicuous.
I agree that most of the time a speeding vehicle isn't causing great harm. It is also absurb to say that speed alone was the cause of an accident in the same way that I wouldn't blame the gun in a game of Russian roulette. The problem is that inappropriate speed it is a factor in increasing the severity and frequency of accidents. We should all play our part to reduce the risks, unless we are incredibly stupid, of course, in which case we should break the law and then blame the police for enforcing the law.
Bob
