'Slow down in my village'

Readers are being invited to submit their own articles to the BBC Scotland news website. Maggie Christophi, who lives in the main street of Pathhead, near Dalkeith, Midlothian, says speeding motorists pose a grave danger.

WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A SPEED CAMERA?

I have lived in the village of Pathhead for six years now. A lovely place with a lot of history. Not that the local council appreciate it.

We have tried to slow the traffic in the village for a number of years. Why doesn't anyone listen?

I made a decision a couple of weeks ago to sit and write an e-mail to a friend instead of having a shower and going for a Sunday paper before heading off to work in my new car.

The remnants of Maggie Christophi's car

It took 30 seconds for my life to change.

Two young boys came over the Pathhead bridge at high speed and decided to use my lovely silver Micra as a buffer. It landed up the street resembling a smart car. Both ends were squashed as it had been knocked into the car parked above it.

I could have been sitting in the car.

Both boys survived. One crawled out from under the car, the other had a spell in hospital and is now at home with his mother.

Neither had insurance, so I have had to take the brunt of it. I lost two days off work and have had to take a private hire car out as it seems I am not covered for a car that is written off.

Calls to police

My phone bill has doubled, the glass on my small front garden will be there for years.

The impact on not only my life but also my neighbours will never go away. The traffic will continue to thunder past our doors until someone loses their life. The accidents on the local bridge are numerous.

I have phoned the police because teenagers were standing in the middle of the road and had they been knocked down they would probably have landed in my front room. The police still haven't arrived. I will not phone any more.

Winter is almost here and the local bus stop is a gathering place for young people.

According to the police, to have a camera, people have to die. Where is the logic in that I ask?

Do I have an issue here? Yes, I believe I do.

The speed of the traffic in this beautiful village needs addressing. Someone, somewhere needs to do something.

I will continue to write to my MP and the Scottish Executive until they listen.

Can one person change things? Who knows, but I will try - until I leave this house I will try.

Soon we will have a new school at the bottom of Crichton Road. The thought terrifies me already and they haven't laid the foundations yet.

Why can't Pathhead have a speed camera at the entrance of the village?

According to the police, to have a camera, people have to die. Where is the logic in that I ask?

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and are not endorsed by the BBC.

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The following represents the balance of opinions received.

Could Maggie not arrange to make something resembling a speed camera. I seem to remember someone else having this problem so made one. It had the desired effect of slowing down the traffic
Andrew, Stirling UK

Absolute rubbish. I live in Pathhead as well. It's not the speed that may kill, it's the out of control youngsters driving their souped-up trash cans without insurance that are the risk. Maggie, do you honestly think that a speed camera will deter kids that have neither got a licence or insurance? After all it wasnt a "legal" driver that destroyed your car was it? We need something doing in this village that's for sure, but speeding isn't the problem. The complete lack of parental control of the packs of feral kids is the problem.
Roger Stobart, Pathhead

The Loan in Loanhead is a long straight road in a residential area and has the same problem with speeding drivers. I have reported the speeding, which is often dangerously fast, but the chief constable explained that it needs to be an accident blackspot before cameras can go up. Yet these people are breaking the law - the speed limit - so why are the police doing absolutely nothing about it? They should be out there on a regular basis, with handheld monitors, catching the speeders. The only thing that will deter speeding is the thought of being caught and fined - they should put up cameras before there is an accident.
ES, Midlothian

I often question the logic of traffic law in this society. If I were, for instance, to break health and safety regulations and lift too heavy a load with an inadequate crane, endangering anyone in the vicinity, the authorities would come down on me like a ton of bricks. Similarly if I was taking part in a clay pigeon shoot and I decided to fire over the heads of the public I would probably get a criminal record. However if I was to drive above the speed limit, endangering the general public, I might get a £30 fine and a few points on my licence that disappear in four years. How can our legal and social systems be so twisted as to allow this blatant disregard for the safety of others to go unchallenged?
Jamie Wallace, Glasgow

I agree with Maggie, as I know Pathhead well. The trouble is that at both ends it has straight, fast roads. Idiots will ignore the 30mph signs and the road markings and continue to scream through until there's a death. The only way to stop this is a camera. It is amazing how even the most cocky boy-racer will slow to a crawl rather than get fined/points on their licence. That the police are actually saying "Give us a death and we'll give you a camera" is appalling. Next thing we know they'll be telling us "We're not coming round if someone's threatening you with a gun; get them to shoot you dead first and then we'll pop round". Once again, the law is on the side of the lawbreaker rather than the victim.
Grant, Edinburgh, Scotland

I live at the side of the A682 near the village of Long Preston in North Yorkshire. Due to the number of fatalities over the years, this road has been categorised as the most dangerous road in the UK. I do not exaggerate when I say that, during the weekend, it is not uncommon for motorcycles to pass my house at speeds in excess of 100mph. I have followed fully-laden tipper trucks travelling at 60mph in an area you would want to concentrate were you driving a car at 30mph. I live at a T-Junction where the road narrows and one of the junctions is blind. My son (at the time 14) has had a lady die in his arms following an accident. There are no speed cameras anywhere near my house and as far as I can tell, no plans to install them!
adrian marley, long preston north yorkshire

I'm not convinced that a camera would have detered the two uninsured, presumably teenagers, from speeding. The accident was caused by a lack of driving experience. The fact of the matter is that there is a large number of poor quality uninsured, and quiet often not qualified drivers out there. They pay scant regard to the rules of the road in the first place and observing the speed limit is not on their list of priorities. I suspect the driver in this case got let off with a fine and a short ban. Surely the punishment should be increased to provide an effective deterent. Why weren't the parents aware of this? The car must have belonged to someone. Sadly this will happen again.
KM, edinburgh

Although it would cost a fortune in the short term, what about fitting all cars with speed guardians? Firstly, these would prevent cars exceeding, say, 80mph maximum (a little leeway to enable acceleration for overtaking on a motorway). This could be extended so that on arrival at a change of speed sign, the vehicle's computer would not permit the driver to exceed the new limit. Perhaps it would be taking it too far if it forced slow drivers to speed up a little on faster roads.
Alex, Edinburgh, Scotland

You should lobby for the "speed boards" like they have in Gartocharn, Helensburgh and Rhu. These are (apparently) more effective than a camera as they actually prompt people to slow down. When combined with regular speed traps these are very effective. The nutters in stolen cars etc. will ignore everything, The only option for that is to move house. The speed boards in Gartocharn are more effective as they were set to 35mph - whereas Rhu is at 30mph. If set to 35mph they seem more effective as the locals make the effort to try not to activate them - since at 35mph you will get a ticket when they speed trap. The 30mph boards seem less effective as people become immune to setting them off at 30-35mph. It's all about psychology I'm sure. For note, I lived on the main road in Gartocharn - the speed reduction was quite noticeable. The nightime racers didn't change but they didn't worry me - what worried me was the speed on a sunny Saturday when the kids were about. I think you can get a Neon Speed Activated 30 board without meeting the ACPO criteria for the citing of a speed camera - i.e. its realistic if the community lobbies - it's also cheaper and doesn't flash at your lounge windows at night!
Donald Parbrook, Glasgow

I have seen speed cameras put up in places where there have never been any deaths
Steven, Glasgow

I live a few miles away from Pathhead in a similar village with a similar problem. I have had one Jaguar written off and three other cars damaged in the last eight years outside my home (30mph zone). Cameras are visible but really ineffective compared to real live traffic police officers. Cameras catch people speeding, Police officers catch dangerous drivers uninsured thieves and other miscreants. We need an end to the reliance on cameras and an end to the policy of running down the traffic police departments. Unless of course the whole emphasis is on revenue generation not safety and law enforcement......
Douglas , Pencaitland

I know the road through Pathhead too and it has always been treated as a race track by the local, and not so local, neds. However I don't believe a camera would make a blind bit of difference, after all what good is a picture of the car speeding just before it runs out of control and hits the bus stop or a parked car? The answer is more traffic police. I understand that Lothian and Borders has disbanded its specialist traffic division and is relying on cameras, which have been proven not to work. See the latest figures from the England and Wales police forces. I have no problem with cameras in 30mph zones, I have no issue with cameras on traffic lights (I wish there were more) but we do need real police presence and an ability to adequatly deal with uninsured drivers on out major roads.
Douglas Kinloch, Livingston

We shouldn't need cameras or traffic calming. We need all road users to be responsible members of society who use the roads in a manner that is within the law and shows courtesy and appreciation of others. Too many drivers complain about speeding traffic passing their own front door, but are happy to speed past others.
Eric, Fife

Absolutely - what makes it even more frightening is the rise in people driving 4x4 vehicles, which even at 20mph will kill a child through skull fractures.
Andrew, Milton Keynes, UK

It is very doubtful that the youths who crashed into Ms Christophi's car were the registered keepers, so they would have been unlikely to have bothered to slow for a speed camera even if one was in place. In fact they would probably have sped up to activate it knowing that they would never get a ticket. The decline in traffic patrols due to the over-reliance on speed cameras are precisely why uninsured unregistered and drunk drivers are more likely to get away with it than ever before.
Gareth, Hants, UK

I agree totally with a lot of the comments already received. That big long straight stretch of road is perfect for safe overtaking but it has a camera right in the middle. The danger points however are not protected, such as the bridge into Pathead and the turn off to Haddington at the memorial cross. Where's the logic? It would seem to be just a cash cow for the local police force. Traffic lights at the cross and a camera at the bridge are the answer. Get rid of the camera along the overtaking straight.
A Martin, Ormiston

Stories like Maggie's actually emphasise why the current reliance on speed cameras is a bad thing. The uninsured driver that hit Maggie's car almost certainly couldn't care less if there had been a speed camera as there is little doubt that he won't have owned the car and therefore would be immune from that type of prosecution anyway. Proper & visible traffic policing on the other had would be a deterrent, as would punitative sentencing of such offenders when caught.
Stephen Graham, Edinburgh, Lothian

Maggie, don't worry. Recent government proposals regarding road tolling suggest soon we will all be subject to satellite recorded speed observation. That's everyone, all the time. Or is Pathhead, outside your house the only place there is a problem?
duncan, edinburgh

The presence of a speed camera has no bearing on whether drivers have insurance or not. They also fail to tell us which drivers are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or have no licence. Maybe the penalties are just not severe enough? Recent experience within the family of a relatively minor shunt accident proves that some people will lie and pull all sorts of stunts to evade admitting liability. Surely in this case the insurance company will indemnify Maggie - you do not insure a new car third party unless you are stupid - and then it is up to them to pursue the two boys for recovery of their costs via the courts? However I find the police attitude astonishing in failing to respond to an RTA. You should have told them someone was injured. They are duty bound to attend. Additionally, all vehicles should display insurance details as happens in Ireland and most European countries - that would provide some indication of whether there is insurance.
Coiln Redman, Solihull, West Midlands

I agree completely with Maggie's comments, however I'd go one step further and say that speed limits should also be dropped at dangerous areas. Living in Auchterarder on the A9, a number of speed cameras so called "protect the junctions". The road is so dangerous though, that at 70mph the likelihood of an incident is still very high and accidents are almost always fatal. Drop the limit throughout the danger area and put a speed camera in - It's the only way.
R Richardson, Auchterarder

It seems as if there is a legitimate case for a speed camera here. Why don't "safety" camera partnerships use their common sense to place those things where they're needed? On a motorway, I can be alert, keeping my distance, driving at 85mph and be infinitely safter than someone driving at 60mph on the phone about 2ft away from the car in front of him. Who will get the ticket and fine?
Gregor Smith, Glasgow

I think new cars and existing cars going through their MOT should have to have a speed restrictor on them. Setting it at 85mph seems to provide enough leeway for any (unlikely) rasing of the max motorway speed limit. I know of no reason why this would be bad, and many reasons why it would be good. Second, speed cameras should be removed - they cause more harm than good. They annoy everyone, cost everyone money (funding for the council/police), and don't make a difference. Next, I'd like to see the 30mph zones changed to 35mph - let's be honest - absolutely no-one drives at 30 or under in normal streets. Ask any driver that's just passed their test - they immediately know that everyone drives at around 35-40 on normal streets. This basically means that all drivers break the speed limit from the outset - so its hardly encouraging them to pay attention to more realistic speed restrictions.
Paul, Linwood, Scotland

Speed cameras are not the whole answer to this sort of problem. Dedicated and highly trained traffic police patrols are also essential. Recently released goverment figures show that the rise in drink drive deaths last year was the highest for 12 years, which coincided with the lowest ever recorded number of breathalyser tests. A motoring magazine recently drove 300 miles through 9 counties in England, with a convertible full of beer cans(the driver had 2 beer cans strapped to his head!!), without any police attention whatsoever !!! An over reliance on so called safety cameras without presence of traffic police patrols, will end with our roads being very much more dangerous places
John Zarecki, Edinburgh,Scotland

I think a better solution to a speed camera would be to install speed bumps in the area, particularly around the new school. There definitely should be greater punishments handed out to drivers who cause accidents, especially those with no licence or insurance. This shows a complete disregard for other drivers and pedestrians.
Charles, Greenock

There are cameras at the entrance to Lauder, Earlston and all up and down the A68 - why not one at Pathhead?
D Walmsley, Melrose, Scotland

I have the same problem. Motorists speed up and down the street I live on. My three-year-old dropped her toy as we crossed it one day, I had to get her to the pavement then wait 10 minutes before I could retrieve it because of speeding traffic. I have sent letters and emails to the local councillor, the police came and agreed there the cars were 'excessively speeding' but they couldn't do anything. It is my children's safety that concerns me the most. I had one car hammer down the road as I was pulling out one morning. He almost crashed into my car, with my kids sitting in the back. I can assure you he was not on the street when I pulled out, I was indicating and do you think I'd put my little ones in danger? He then had the nerve to sound his horn at me. My language left a lot to be desired that morning! The police are supposed to be there to help the community, they are the ones who can have a presence on the road at peak times. Where are they?
bren, Dundee,Scotland

The speed (and noise of the Corsa boys with their tiny cars and huge exhausts) on my street is awful. In a fully residential our children cannot play in the street for fear of being hit by a speeding car. As it is a residential area they are parked cars on both sides of the narrow road, yet people (even those who live in the same street) fire along at incredible speeds. There are no speed bumps let alone cameras. Yet prior to my moving there, children have been killed on this street. So even the death of an innocent child makes no difference. It's not only the boy racers who speed, taxi drivers and middle-aged adults are culprits too. None of them care, but when the worst finally happens they'll cry and say they've ruined their own life too. Slow down please, you're not at Silverstone.
beth, glasgow

Roads are for cars and if people living alongside them can't get used to this then they should move to a location where it isn't a problem. Accidents happen and they always will, get used to it and stop trying to wrap us all up in cotton wool !
D.Davis, Worcester, England

I disagree with the argument that speed cameras will reduce your problems. In the example you have given I don't see how a speed camera would have prevented two young boys from doing it again. Proper road sense and awareness cannot be instilled into people by speed cameras and fines. I will not be surprised if these kids didn't even have a licence leave alone insurance. How do you tackle that with speed cameras?.
Imran, Edinburgh

According to the police, to have a camera, people have to die? I've lost count in the last 10 years of how many people have died on the stretch of dual carriageway between Dundee and Perth, in the most horrific of accidents. Number of speed cameras there - none.
Allan Shiels, Newport-on-Tay

One way to slow the traffic down is to wear a fluorescent jacket and stand at the side of the road pointing a hairdryer at passing cars. This is not illegal and you'd be amazed at the results.
Michael, Wishaw

Here's a good example: I spoke to my councillor recently about traffic calming. His response? "We got 'Slow' signs painted on the road". Enough said.
Neil Small, Scotland

I can relate to the message that Maggie is trying to put across. I also live in a small village that has a trunk road running through it (A77). There are thousands of HGVs/cars each week speeding through my village also. Nothing can be done to control the speed on a permanent basis. Many will argue that speed doesn't cause accidents but my argument is the faster you are going when you have an accident then the more severe the consequences. Average speed cameras at either end of the village would drastically reduce the amount of speeding traffic.
Kenny, Cairnryan

I agree with you in principle, however in practice "Road Safety Cameras" just move the speed from one place to another. This is fine if your town is the length of the speed camera's measurement. There are other ways to slow traffic down that work in better ways, there is lots of research already carried out by councils available online and perhaps the police and the council can implement them without the need to have a body in the morgue.
NB, Livingston

It's more important to address the facts than peddle more hyperbole about the "need" for speed cameras. The "two young boys", unless they were sharing control of the car, didn't cause the accident. Only one of them did. He didn't have insurance and as a "young boy", one must assume he was unlicensed as well. Moreover, as you were in your house at the time, how can you possibly support your claim that he was speeding? He certainly wasn't in control of the vehicle and his behaviour was reckless and inexcusable, but it doesn't seem at all likely that he would have cared about a speed camera. He clearly didn't care about carrying insurance. What is required is for more money to be spent on driver training and meaningful penalties for the unlicensed and uninsured, not more cameras aimed at raising revenues on the back of dubious claims of improving safety.
John, London

And yet, there are no speed cameras on the bypass from Irvine to Paisley, despite three fatal crashes. And there are speed cameras on the road out of Edinburgh, where I do not remember hearing of a serious accident (it may be before my time). If the powers that be are going to be so blindingly inconsistent, why do they bother telling us the policy only to change it. These cameras do save lives and they should be put in places where they will save lives - not just raise revenue.
Karen, Edinburgh

Watch out, Maggie, things are about to get worse. The Scottish Executive is planning to go ahead with the Dalkeith A68 bypass even though their traffic statistics and environmental impact report are 15 years out of date. As we all know, better roads encourage more traffic and all of it will be coming past you. It seems that the people in charge of Scottish traffic are stuck in a 1950s time warp where all they can think of is building more roads.
Adam Hamilton, Dalkeith

I'm afraid this is typical of police attitudes recently. Being fed up with the extremely poor driving standards in my town, Kirkintilloch, I contacted my local police dept in August 2004. I had a meeting with a certain sergeant who told me that since road deaths were down they must be doing the right thing. But that is just using statistical reporting to justify the total absence of policing on our streets. It's a common joke in our town that Kirkintilloch is a police-free-zone. Drivers flagrantly flaunt the law because they know there is little to no chance of ever being caught. Speeding, driving without seatbelts, using mobile phones and so on are common place. It's now more than a year since I spoke to our local police force - and nothing has changed. I honestly don't think I have seen a single police patrol in that time either.
Kenny Millar, Kirkintilloch

I agree wholeheartedly with the lady's sentiment concerning speeding motorists. Kilbarchan main street has parked cars on either side of the road, yet some motorists still drive at 50mph plus with no concern as to the road conditions. The answers are not speed cameras, but speed bumps, something that slows the vehicles down and stops motorists using small towns as shortcuts to get to and from work. The penalties for drivers without insurance are adequate, so I am very interested in why this lady has not been compensated. I would advise her to seek compensation through legal means, and if the youths do not have adequate funds then seek a court seizure of their assets to be sold off to raise funds. The only message that reckless people understand is when it directly effects their pocket or lifestyle. Seizure of their playstation, games, Mp3 player, mobile phone, TV, video recorder, computer, hi-fi, dvd and cd collection (you can bet they will have this lot) would certainly make them more aware of why they should be more careful. I certainly hope the lady gets justice and can only extend my sympathy for the situation she finds herself in through no fault of her own.
Glen Allan, Kilbarchan

While I sympathise with Maggie, speed cameras aren't necessarily the answer. The uninsured young drivers presumably did not own the car they were speeding in, so they would never have been traced by a camera and therefore it would have made no difference. For the same reason, traffic calming would have made no difference either in this case. What's needed is tougher penalties for uninsured drivers and car theft, taking without consent. There doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent to youngsters driving dangerously or becoming involved in car crime.
EM, Edinburgh

I totally agree with maggie's comments. Although I live in a mid-sized town we have similar problems. The town centre has become a race-track most evenings (the boy racers even have their own website!) and judging by the amount of action taken it seems that the police couldn't care less. If you contact them you are made to feel like you are the one who has done something wrong. Here in Falkirk we have a splendid new £6m police station full of civilian staff but that does not mean there are more police on the streets. In fact there is no police traffic division based in Falkirk any more. Maggie may have to wait until someone is killed before the police take action, but it is doubtful even then if they would do something about it.
Norman Graham, Falkirk.

Couldn't they at least put up one of those solar powered flashing warning lights for cars approaching over the limit? It won't stop the maniacs but will remind people who are basically law abiding.
Rosemary Wilkinson, Renfrewshire

Couldn't agree more. Whilst I've not had Maggie's misfortune, I've been involved in a number of very near misses and one minor bump which, whilst the actions of other drivers were a factor, would never have occurred but for bizarre 'traffic-calming' measures put in place by the council. These involve islands blocking one side of the road placed on a hill so you can't see if it's safe to proceed without moving into oncoming traffic, another such island where cars which should give way file one after the other at speed without yielding to oncoming traffic, mini-roundabouts so tight you have to either swing onto the wrong side of the road or hit the near-side kerb to get round and the traffic still hasn't slowed down. And when I contacted the council to suggest that cameras would be a safer alternative as the current measures were a serious accident waiting to happen, the answer - there has to be a serious or fatal accident before it will even be considered. Only a matter of time then.
GS, Lanarkshire

I travel to and from the Borders and regularly pass through Pathhead. I wholeheartedly agree with what Maggie is campaigning for as I have regularly been passed by speeding cars on that bridge just before the 30 mph signs. Quite why the local authority won't put up 'Safety' cameras is not really such a mystery. Roughly a mile south of Pathhead is a 'speed' camera, strategically placed in a 60 mph area to catch motorists in a perfectly safe overtaking place. I am sure that this 'speed' camera will generate much more income than a 'safety' camera placed where motorists already know they have to slow down for the 30 mph limit. It has been proven in England that when cameras are removed the accident and death rate reduces considerably, thus clearly proving the theory that they are not so much 'safety' camera's but 'speed' cameras.
Derek Campbell, Edinburgh

Would a camera at the entrance to a village help? It would just slow them down as they entered the village and then speed up again. Traffic calming measures don't help either as so many drivers haven't got a clue what the road signs actually mean (had a few near misses at one junction close to home). Personally I detest cameras - to me they never seem to be where they are really needed. Personally I think that if someone is done for speeding or drink driving then they should have their car taken off them as well and if they get done for driving while disqualified then there should be a very long prison sentence as punishment. I know this is going off topic but if a cyclist or pedestrian can be proved to have caused the accident with a car then they should be punished rather than the innocent driver.
RS, Glasgow

I know Pathhead and agree entirely. I suspect that some of the problem is due to the long, wide straight before you come into the village, when coming from Edinburgh. People use this to overtake and to make up time, and don't expect a quaint village at the end of it. If the police won't supply speed cameras, why can't communities club together and buy their own?
John Whelan, Haddington

The situation regarding speedbumps is dreadful. It took a child to be killed coming out of Newcraighall Primary to have them installed there. Here in Musselburgh people thunder along Market Street and New Street at a horrendous rate. It doesn't help that people also double park on both streets so when you are crossing it's difficult even to see what's coming! My sympathies are with you, what makes it worse is the driver wasn't insured! Are they going to be prosecuted? I can see two offences there right away!
Heather Johnston, Musselburgh

I think it's ridiculous that somebody should die before they will put up a speed camera. Councils should want to prevent deaths on the road and not let a bureaucratic enforcement get in the way. Imagine if it was one of the councillors/MP's family who got killed on the roads for want of a speed camera. I should think they would wish there were cameras in place to slow down the driver then.
J. Davidson, Aberdeen

Having suffered similar damage to a parked car recently, you have my sympathies. However, the fact that the youths responsible were not insured does not remove their responsibility for their actions. Rather than risking your own no-claims bonus, you should sue them - it is their problem how they pay, via their insurance if they have any or out of their own pockets if they do not.
Megan, Cheshire

This is just as big a problem in cities. Wherever there is a stretch of road without traffic lights it seems many people simply cannot resist the temptation to put their foot down - tacitly encouraged to do so by the motor manufacturers with their slick advertising. Speed cameras won't stop these problems on their own - speeding, jumping red lights, driving dangerously, using mobiles while driving - all these things need to become stigmatised in the same way drink driving has (more or less) become. And, surely, the cost of putting in a speed camera is more than compensated for by the revenue generated through fines? I put in a Freedom of Information request to Strathclyde Police recently to ask how many motorists had been cautioned for using their phones while driving - I was quite encouraged to see it was nearly 5,000 in the first three months of 2005, so perhaps my perception that the police turn a blind eye to this might not be accurate?
Gary, Glasgow

It would seem that the cause of the crash that wrecked Maggie's car was not the lack of a speed camera but the criminal behaviour of the other car driver. Perhaps if there had been a proper police traffic patrol in the area then the driver would have been pulled before the crash. This patrol would also be able to remove the kids playing chicken in the middle of the street. I believe the answer is more traffic cops and less money wasted on expensive cameras and traffic calming, which just makes the roads harder to navigate and doesn't really slow the traffic. More traffic police to advise if appropriate and prosecute if necessary is far more effective than more concrete and more flashy high tech equipment.
Martin Handyside, Bo'ness