Is it unreasonable to post a warning about a speed trap?

[bbcessex]

Just seen this debate going on on our local village Facebook group.

Poster A: Warning everyone, there are police with speed gun trap at XXX lane today.
Poster B: thanks for sharing, will go slow down there today
Poster C: the point of speed gun traps is to catch speeders and give them consequences like fines or speed awareness courses. Consequences change behaviours. You are wrong to pre-warn people as it removes the consequence which means the drivers won't learn a lesson.

For the record, I'm not any of the posters but I completely agree with Poster C. Typical facebook bunfight has now ensued.

Is Poster A unreasonable to post the warning?

I'm actually Poster D - the person who is pissed off with hoons obviously breaking the speed limit by a significant amount (you hear them coming as they're winding up). If there's a pattern eg every thurs to sat between 9pm and 1 am - i contact the cops and request a speed trap get set up. It's worked a charm as these people are obviously going fast enough for instant loss of licence. Give it a week or two from reporting and the hoons go away - probably because they no longer have licences (or vehicles if impounded for hooning).

A is reasonable. C is a bit condescending.

The most important thing here is people slowing down, trying to pre ent accidents . The goal shouldn't be to make money.

YANBU. It drives me nuts. I live in a little cul de sac next to a 30mph road. There’s a beautiful area the other side of the road and we often take the kids there as do many people. Trying to cross the road is a nightmare as people absolutely fly up it. There are often mobile speed camera vans and I always see warnings on Facebook.

Someone is going to get killed crossing that road one day.

Poster A posted info that will make people keep within speed limit. So well done. Right thing. The speed trap only punishes folk who did speed, it doesn't actually stop them speeding.

I try super hard to say in speed limit. It still slips over limit sometimes just b/c of moving with traffic. Seems like most the time when I am in limits, I have other drivers right up my arse impatient about going the mere limit.

The aim of speed cameras is deterrence and surely the Facebook warning achieves same effect. If I saw it I’d think hmmm there’s one there - probably others about too. Better take extra care.
Win win, no?

The only reason it’s illegal to notify people of speed traps is because they are there to make money. If they really wanted to slow people down it wouldn’t be illegal.

The only reason it’s illegal to notify people of speed traps is because they are there to make money. If they really wanted to slow people down it wouldn’t be illegal.

Nonsense. It only slows them down for that short section of road and thus is pointless. A nice fine, some points and/or a speed awareness course slows people down for longer and hopefully gets persistent offenders off the road for a period of time through a ban.

C is being a self righteous twunt
Yes

And yes again

Give me a self righteous twunt who drives safely - over arrogant speeding driver dick heads any day

I’m with A

We have some places in our area where the speed limit drops suddenly for now reason and it’s very easy to miss/forget (lots of greenery often hiding signs and most people either don’t notice or don’t care). There is no safety reason for the drop in speed limit. Police often target these areas but it makes no difference to the way people drive sobthe only ostensible effect is revenue raising.

@SoupDragon most people who I know who have been fined for speeding are just more mindful of speeding down for cameras (and knowing where they are). I can’t say I’ve ever seen any of this nonsense change peoples driving style.

@CuriousaboutSamphire oh you had me laughing with the perfect peter comment!

I'm with C. I wouldn't warn anyone.

@Vulpine Just because you drive above the signposted limit doesn't mean you are arrogant or dangerous.

Speed doesn't kill. Inappropriate speed (high or low) may be a contributory factor. But in most cases it is just part of a much bigger picture.

I can’t say I’ve ever seen any of this nonsense change peoples driving style.

Plenty of people on MN say the speed awareness course has. The twats you describe who are only more mindful of cameras are the reason why warning people of speed traps is stupid.

I'm with poster C.

If you don't want to get caught speeding, don't speed. It's not a difficult concept surely.

Iwant2move, I wasn't suggesting your husband was doing any of those things. We're all imperfect but even if we're doing everything right at that moment, somebody else might be doing things wrong and they cause an accident.

What I'm saying is that speeding drivers tend to be aware of the road and I don't believe it is speeding drivers who have the majority of accidents; inattentive drivers do because they are not paying attention and cannot react.

Gently but again, you don't know what other people's circumstances are and I choose not to post mine, they're personal. It doesn't mean that I don't understand what you're going through. Nobody can really walk in somebody else's shoes, regardless.

I agree with A
at least people will slow down

Hardly. Because surely the purpose of speed traps is a deterrent.

I do know of a case where a car was pulled for flashing people coming in the opposite direction toward a speed trap (how they were seen doing this is anybody's guess). I don't know whether or not this ever resulted in a prosecution.

But as for speed vans, there are official public websites actively telling people where they are going to be on a given day!

Beats me as to what the real agenda is here - other than of course, a money-making scam.

If you don't want to get caught speeding, don't speed. It's not a difficult concept surely.

To many on this thread it is.

DP got a speeding fine, and points. I told him he was a dick for speeding and a dick for costing us £100 for having a lead foot. Guess what? He's more careful now. Job done.

So many irritants and difficulties in life would be eradicated if self important twats didn't think the rules don't apply to them!

100% with C. Speeders kills people and destroy lives and deserve to be caught. In addition they cause more pollution, acceleration noise etc and make streets more unpleasant places to walk.

I don't believe that the Holier-Than-Thou people on here never speed or have never exceeded limit.

I suspect they're like the person I followed today doing 35 mph on the 60 mph zone road. They kept 35 mph up in the 30 zone. And continued 35 mph in the 60 mph zone on other side.

I suspect they're like the person I followed today doing 35 mph on the 60 mph zone road. They kept 35 mph up in the 30 zone. And continued 35 mph in the 60 mph zone on other side

I bloody loathe those drivers as much as I loathe the aggressive speeders.

I've not long passed my test, I'm very aware of my speed, my sat nav turns red if I exceed it by 1 mph so I adjust. I don't drive too slowly either. But I'm not compromising my licence for anyone. Doesn't make me holier than thou, it makes me someone who doesn't want to lose their licence.