I’m not sure additional surveillance is a good idea in the current US political climate.
Yeah, this is always my problem with the “simple solution” of all kinds of cameras (honestly, including body cams, too, but i think the pros outweigh the cons there, given that they are strictly governed).
I think the better solution is a bounty like some places do for cars parking in bike lanes.
We have red light cameras & enforcement cameras, but people still do it, just less amounts. Cameras are just for raising money for locations’ governments that get either wasted or diverted up to Rich-Super Rich Economic Classes/Owners. One accident with a automobile is possibly deadly.
Im glad he mentioned enforcement cameras in London as they do seem to really work to stop the best majority of drivers but it also has to be seen in the wider context.
We have standard signage across the country, and one agency who registers cars and provides driving licences. The same sign being used everywhere is super helpful.
Enforcement of all driving infractions are high (apart from speeding to an extent). We have lots of speed cameras, red light cameras and yellow box cameras (https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/rules-of-red-routes/yellow-box-junctions). We have highly motivated (often too aggressive) parking enforcers run by the councils who give tickets, and some councils aggressively remove cars in bus lanes or other areas where parking is not allowed. My friend got his car towed for parking on a double yellow overnight and I’ll tell you, the stress, annoyance and cost was enough for all our friends to be careful (in certain places which you learn or assume the worst e.g. Nottingham and Newham do this, Surrey does not seem to so see lots of misuse of double yellows and bus stops there).
We have mandatory, standard licence plates both front and back. You are likely to get pulled over by the police if it’s missing or not visible. There’s also a risk if it doesn’t match the car, which they have instant access to the details of through the one agency (name, model, colour).
We also have a points system as fines allow rich people to ignore these rules if you have fixed fines. Each infraction could be 2 to 6 points. If you get 12 points you lose your licence and I think you have to retake your test. You have a lower threshold for a while after first passing your test. I would love to see a fine being a percentage of income or wealth like some countries but the points system seems to work.
In central London, driving or having a car is seen as an expensive privilege. It’s also slower (because of bus lanes and restrictions), hard to find parking and we have great alternative transport. The suburbs are a different story where I don’t know anybody who does not have access to a car. If we improve public transport across the outside boroughs (I.e. not just into central), I really hope car usage will go down.
It’s very rare to see drivers using bus lanes in London as a result of these different factors, not just the cameras themselves.
Fun fact: diplomatic consider themselves exempt from these which is pretty annoying because they are not taxes, they are fines for bad behaviour (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-11-14/hcws218)
So many possibilities, but no will
- cause it’s unpopular for the drivers and government - chance of losing at next election.
Could be not true - see brave Paris mayor.Also self-financing enforcing system, higher penalties.
Maybe I’m wrong. More examples like Paris?
