I've got a certificate, me

[perlmonger]

I had my restart interviewspeed choice workshop on Friday; ten eval skunnerz and two... leaders? presenters? indoctrinators? I’m not sure what to call them.

It was all quite civilised; a nice mixture of real information, dodgy statistics and emotional blackmail. I regret to write that I was a bit Difficult, pointing out logical failures in arguments advanced and failing to accept that mechanical enforcement of arbitrary speed limits is a substitute for traffic police with judgement and the ability to perceive other failure modes in driving. Another chap there does safety work for the AA and likewise pointed out factual errors in the presentation.

It’s not as though I’m against speed limits or, indeed, traffic cameras in principle; my objection is to the unquestionable assumption that breaking the law is intrinsically dangerous (in safety terms, as opposed to just being prosecuted) without regard to circumstance. If it’s possible to recognise that it can be, often is, dangerous to drive at anything approaching the limit, why is it so hard to accept that there might be times when going faster is acceptably safe?

I suppose I need to develop some respect for the law...

[wanders off muttering about people who fear life so much that they can’t accept the existence of any risk or danger, and somehow manage to believe that it’s possible (never mind about desirable) to legislate total safety, and at any cost. Life is intrinsically risky, and WE ALL DIE; live with it]

Comments

[budleysalterton.livejournal.com]

"...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to slide across the finish line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, and shouting GERONIMO!!!" -- Bill McKenna, apparently from Cycle magazine Feb. 1982

[perlmonger.livejournal.com]

You be speaking TRUTH there, Budley-san.

FastFighters

[systemiq.livejournal.com]

Huh. Did you let them cut your knackers off at the door ? Whaddya mean you have nothing against speed cameras ? I've been sat on 9 points for two years, and now must drive everywhere like Mr Magoo, courtesy of the Roadside Revenue service.
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Roy

Re: FastFighters

[perlmonger.livejournal.com]

I didn't say *speed* cameras; the ones I'm not unhappy about are the raving nutter cameras on traffic lights and in places where you'd need to be homicidal to even be doing the limit. Not many of those about though, and most of them could do with with being switched off (along with traffic lights, come to think of it) for a good few hours of each 24.

These days, if people get caught on fixed cameras, they should probably get done for driving without due care as well for not spotting the fuckers. Don't get me started on mobile cameras though, or the bastards that run them. Even the police hate that bunch.

Re: FastFighters

[budleysalterton.livejournal.com]

you want scarey mobile ?

I'm fairly certain they're trialling truly mobile cameras. A modified transit van with single tall windows in the rear and a full camera rig inside. They just trundle along at something under the limit and catch everyone that passes. I was flashed by one on the M25 a few weeks ago.

Re: FastFighters

[jezza1956.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

Blimey! I thought you were dead.

Re: FastFighters

[systemiq.livejournal.com]

Dead ? I am. From the waist up, and the knees down.

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Roy