Speed cameras are supposedly sited at accident blackspots -if there are a few crashes at a site, the likelyhood of one of the breed sprouting at that location are high. So what’s the probem with that I hear? We all want to be safe on the roads, and if a camera reduces accidents / damage / injury or death that’s a good thing - right?
Well yes it is, but only in places where excess or inappropriate speed is a factor in the collisions - put a speed camera at an accident blackspot that is caused by poor design / lighting / signage and it won’t do a thing - speed is not the problem at these places, and believe me - there are plenty of them out there.
I am, as regular users of the M6 around my neck of the woods will probably already have guessed , referring to the utterly dreadful, dangerous and regulary deadly Catthorpe interchange. I have been travelling through it for just over a year now - at least four times a week but not for a while - I avoid it now at all costs. During this year, I have seen many crashes, collisions, minor bumps and a fair few fatal incidents.
I’ve been in two road closures due to fatal incidents and been trapped for hours between junctions while the motorway has been closed for the air ambulance to land. I’m not moaning mind - I would never moan about delays caused by accidents, but it angers me - especially as many lives are being lost and ruined because of shoddy design .
Is it any surprise that our local air ambulance is based at Coventry airport - less than one or two minutes flying time from Catthorpe? It’s a good job it is as it is often called there - to pick up the pieces after yet another incident.
Yes Catthorpe has claimed another victim - another life has been lost today at this appauling intersection - making two so far this year as far as I remember which is at least two far too many no matter which way you look at it. This time, another lorry driver has been killed. When will something be done about this junction?
And guess what - despite of the regular carnage here there is still NO speed cameras present at this fatal site. Is this an admission from the authorities that excess speed is not the major factor of these regular fatalities, and that the cause is the ridiculous and negligent design of the junction?
I can see no other reason why current government policy has not been followed here. The blatant fact is that bad design caused by cutting corners and a lack of proper investment at the planning stage has, does and will continue to cause casualties at this point until the investment is put here and the junction is rebuilt as it should have been in the first place.
This is why there are no ’safety’ cameras at Catthorpe - we the drivers, and they - the government and relevant authorities know that excess speed is not the major problem here. So who do we have to sue to get this deadly junction put right? Can we sue the Conservative party? It was they who OK’ed this bloody nightmare…
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
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Posted by Neil in Catthorpe Interchange, Safety 
