Only in the context that speed limits are a road safety provision and enforcing them creates a general deterrent to speeding.
The objective is to engender in motorists a belief that if they speed they are in danger of being detected and punished. The greatest deterrent, of course, is the fear of being caught - that is why flourescent yellow Gatsos are an utter nonsense!
I'll try and explain my position once again. To begin with I accept without hesitation that in many locations, and in certain circumstances, it is perfectly safe to drive at speeds in excess of the posted limit. The problem is that at many other times it isn't. Speed limits are a blunt instrument intended to force drivers to slow down in areas where excessive speed can be hazardous. Note I use the term 'can be' rather than 'will always be'. The problem is that it is just not possible to say: "The speed limit on this road is 30 mph, but we will allow you to exceed that speed where you consider it safe to do so." This is largely because enforcement would become a nightmare. Your idea of a safe speed in certain circumstance may be totally different to that of an observing police officer and so you would never know where you stood. With a straightforward limit it may mean that you are forced, on occasions, to drive more slowly than is strictly necessary - but it also means that you are forced to drive more slowly when it *is* necessary and that is essential. Any law is only effective when it is enforced. You only have to look at the number of drivers still driving along with a mobile phone held to their ear to see that. So if we do not enforce speed limits, drivers will simply ignore them - and then they are a waste of time!
OK - I should have said that technologically buttisted speeding detection has been used for many years!
OK
Or a location where motorists were lulled into a false sense of safety by the layout of the road?
Yes indeed. The ACPO recommendation is 10% + 2 mph but the majority of officers will not book below 10 mph over the limit (unless it's a limit outside a school for example). The majority of Gatsos are set to 10 mph over the limit! So they *are* exercising discretion!
Uno-Hoo!
Who was at the wheel" case to be heard. 571I have stated many times that I cautioned far more offending drivers than I booked. Depended upon the type of offence, the actual speed if it was speeding and, of course...
