Cheryl Cole said.........

[Ken Byng]

Just a final word to Mr Vaughan. I wouldn't let egotistical and over-emotional bozos anywhere near a speed restriction scheme, and I am surprised that Somerset allow that. Southampton has some of the most sensible traffic controls in the UK. Certainly better than those I have seen in the west country. Now I know why. 'Nuff said.

As I said before - your time is better spent behind a steel guitar.

Last edited by Ken Byng on Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[WineRider]

Community Speed Watch is an attempt to save lives. Some of us take it very seriously Mr Byng, including the police who train and support us. Please don't mock. Unfortunately an hour every fortnight isn't going to make any difference to anyone's musical performance unfortunately, including yours or mine.

I didn't say anything derogatory about your personalised plates, rather that I appreciated the subtlety and humour of some others.I think you rather missed the point. Please try not to be so sensitive.

For the record my surname is Vaughan.

What's in a surname...not much. I spent my mispent youth trying to beat the coppers at thier own game and "Do Gooders" never got a look in. Police are there for a reason, thjey are paid servants of the crown...part time narks are not...just busybodies in my book. Community speed watch ? what can you tell from the side of the road...doing bobbies jobs, they are paid you aren't. Speed doesn't kill but bad drivers do. Do you speed watch wallies check your speed machines every day and have them calibrated?????
I haven't always appreciated Ken's work for Southampton...Hell it needed it, right back in the early .60's when from Bournemouth to the Check Point in Portswood was a rat race of bikers and coppers...who won? I did More times than the old bill or the traffic calming measures

Maurice

[Ken Byng]

Maurice
We have veered off-topic here, away from the original thread of someone showing off their personalised number-plate. Having said that, I have to echo your succinct comments. Traffic control was a tiny part of my job, which was mainly parking controls. That's why I say I am thick skinned. The amount of criticism that parking attracts is extreme.

I have had many debates with senior police officers about speed traps, and they often admitted that the income generated was a very useful part of their overall existence. Their argument of safety was often flawed and not substantiated by facts. I had many residents at meetings who wanted to wear hi-viz jackets and hold radar guns. They got short shrift from me as their motives were not always honourable, and thankfully our senior police officers felt the same way. The anti-car lobby could be quite vociferous at times.

Last edited by Ken Byng on Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bobhcot]

Mr Byng - I asked a question - whose idea was it that people had to die before the traffic calming went in? City Council? Yours? Or should I ask City Council the same question? Shouldn't be a problem, after all I lived in and around the same City for just over 30 years.

"egotistical and over-emotional bozos" - is that description aimed at me? If it is then I may very well ask that your post is removed. I would find such an inaccurate and uncalled-for comment highly offensive.

Stick to what you know and that obviously doesn't include Somerset's road safety policy.

[Ken Byng]

......... I asked a question - whose idea was it that people had to die before the traffic calming went in? City Council? ..........

Mr Hcot - The policy is that there has to be evidence of RTA's in an area first. Otherwise we would have had many anti-car bods wanting controls in places that had perfectly safe speed limits. The number of times I have heard the expression "accident waiting to happen" probably runs into the hundreds. That's why I feel the people voicing that opinion don't have the calmness or objectivity to be involved in decision making or enforcement.

"egotistical and over-emotional bozos" - is that description aimed at me? If it is then I may very well ask that your post is removed. I would find such an inaccurate and uncalled-for comment highly offensive.

It wasn't aimed at you directly, but as they say....if the cap fits. Don't be so thin skinned.

Stick to what you know and that obviously doesn't include Somerset's road safety policy.

Well, judging from the amount of police radar speed cameras that I see on the bridges over the A303, it is obvious that West Somerset police must have a policy of hammering the motorist instead of deploying their valuable resources elsewhere. Rather than take up any further valuable space on this site, why don't you send me a PM where we can continue the discussion in private (which is how it should have been progressed right from the start)? Or even better - at Siston next month. I don't want to fall out with you as you were kind enough to let me use your guitar and amp one time.

[WineRider]

Ken I realised that after I'd sounded off...should have gone to specsave or a different eye specialist.

Just one question, how do you judge where to put calming and or camera's when an accident takes place on a dead straight road...such as a motorway? Apart from mechanical failure I can only see bad driving as the cause. I know get someone to walk in front with a red flag...it worked just at the turn of the century.

I shall now retire from this discussion and continue trying to play a lap/console 8 string plank.

Tongue in cheek no axe to grind, but some lovely red to drink at lunchtime...French of course.

Maurice

[David Hartley]

After reading all that, I have to agree with
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Cheryl

[Malcolm]

Ken I am going to Cornwall shortly, can you advise a route avoiding Somerset, or maybe Baz might loan me that RoadAngel radar detector he has fitted ?

[Dave Nutt]

Whilst on the subject of transport.
I'm thinking of buying a towable caravan, anyone got any views or helpfull advice.
Dave.

Last edited by Dave Nutt on Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:43 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Ken Byng]

Ken I realised that after I'd sounded off...should have gone to specsave or a different eye specialist.

Just one question, how do you judge where to put calming and or camera's when an accident takes place on a dead straight road...such as a motorway? Apart from mechanical failure I can only see bad driving as the cause. I know get someone to walk in front with a red flag...it worked just at the turn of the century.

I shall now retire from this discussion and continue trying to play a lap/console 8 string plank.

Tongue in cheek no axe to grind, but some lovely red to drink at lunchtime...French of course.

Maurice

Maurice
There are very few dead straight roads in Southampton, and those that exist have multiple traffic lights plus speed cameras (not at my instigation I might add). I am very anti speed cameras and have been a proud Road Angel owner for the last 12 years. Never been done for speeding touch wood, but I am a bit old to do boy racer impressions like Ivor the Driver.