Hello Dragons. Thank you for allowing me to share this concept with you.
The problem statement:
On 12th September 2022 at 15.15 I took a brief walk through the village. Redacted Lane has a mandatory speed limit of 30mph. There are houses that border both sides of the road. Within the space of three minutes, I was passed by three vehicles, the drivers choosing to disregard this speed limit. The drivers were in a Mini (c. 40mph), a Transit (also c. 40mph), and a large German 4wd (in excess of 50mph). My solution to this problem will tax the stupidity of drivers such as these, and send that stupidity tax directly into the local economy, for the betterment of the community and all who live within it.
The tool:
I propose a scheme to install combined ANPR/speed detection cameras every 100m along the 30mph section of Redacted Lane. As well as being live-linked to DVLA, these cameras should be networked between themselves. This real-time network would not only be able to detect ‘on the spot’ speeders, but would be able to calculate speeders based on the speed/time taken to travel between cameras A to B, A to C, A to D, etc.
The solution:
I propose a simple, three-tier, speed-dictated tariff of fines, using the technological tools above. Fines, because penalty points and speed awareness courses have their place, but speeding in a residential area is a life-threatening activity, therefore the solution to the problem must be so painful that speeders – once caught – will never break the law again. The three-tier tariff is as follows:
Low offenders: Those law-breakers speeding at less than 10% above the 30mph limit will receive a ‘first warning’ letter from DVLA. Any offender so detected more than three times in a year, will be automatically issued with a fine of £5,000.
Medium offenders: Law-breakers detected between 33mph and 42mph will incur a fine for each infringement of £3,000 per every mph they are over the limit. Therefore, a vehicle detected at 40mph would incur a fine of £30,000 for that infringement.
High offenders: For those who register as travelling at speeds greater than 42mph, the fine is increased to £10,000 per every mph they are over the limit. Therefore, a vehicle detected at 45mph would incur a fine of £150,000.
The benefits:
I propose that all fines are distributed on the following basis: 48% should be given to the sponsoring Dragon, to repay their investment and to defray any capital purchases required for this scheme. The remaining 52% is to be handed to the Parish Council, under the proviso that this money is not to be held in account for more than three months and, thereafter, is to be distributed to worthy causes within the parish.
Thank you for your time and attendance, Dragons. I look forward to your responses. For your further information, I have listed a brief FAQ:
FAQ:
Q. Doesn’t this require a change in legislation (which would never get through the commons)?
A. No. All this actually needs is a Statutory Instrument (SI) to be drafted by the Minister of Transport, and signed off by the Prime Minister. It doesn’t need to go before the House of Commons or Lords
Q. Aren’t these fines set too high? For example, £150,000 for being 15mph over the speed limit?
A. No. I feel that these fines are proportionate. However, if the Dragons feel we need to decrease the fine, we could consider halving the penalties to attract repeat business
Q. Why don’t you just reduce the speed limit?
A. People who drive through a 30mph zone at law-breaking speeds will have no second thoughts of driving through a 20mph zone at law-breaking speed. Reducing the speed limit to, say, 20mph, is a fine example of futility