Speed camera fury: The Greeks might be onto something

YOUR SAY: I HAVE been watching the current debate about unmarked speed cameras with more than a little interest.

YOUR SAY: I HAVE been watching the current debate about unmarked speed cameras with more than a little interest.

Not long ago, on the way to Brisbane, I cruised into the Minden 80km area at not too much over 80 before noticing it was now 60km for roadworks and yes, there was one of the famously anonymous Nissan Patrols parked right at the sign.

So now I'm waiting for the letter and wondering if my failure to notice either the trojan Nissan or the new sign indicates declining cognition and maybe I should henceforth just stay home.

That the roadwork seems to consist principally of a line of cones on the shoulder and nothing else is obviously an issue properly understood only by people in hi-vis vests.

But it made me think back to when I was in central Greece in 1998. The traffic was pretty horrendous on the main arteries, nobody seemed to give a rat's about the posted speed limits and I asked a local if there were any radar traps.

He said the local government officials had tried speed cameras but after a number of fines had been issued, enraged Greek motorists had shot them all to pieces (the cameras, not the officials).

Now, while this has to fall under the heading of unacceptable behaviour, it's hard not to confess that the vision of an apoplectic Zorba hanging out the car window and emptying his pistol into a speed radar is quite engaging.

It speaks of a certain independence of spirit, if not a consideration for road safety, of which there was little to be seen in the hellenic republic.

On a somewhat tangential note, this in turn reminded me of the efforts of the United States Mint to introduce a dollar coin. They tried this with various different coins, including the Susan B Anthony dollar which was almost indistinguishable from a quarter, but the US public didn't want a dollar coin, didn't care what all those in the Mint wanted, and simply refused to use them.

The Canadians did the same as we did; introduced the dollar coin and withdrew the dollar note from circulation.

The US Government was/is reluctant to take that step, no doubt fearful that the populace would rise up in Greek fashion and, having plenty of firepower, reduce the US Mint to a smoking bullet-riddled wreck. No doubt the Greeks would approve.

Now, I seem to have digressed but, back on track. I'd like to thank those clear-sighted police officers who have spoken out about the shortcomings of speed cameras.

I doubt the government will do anything; they want the money, no way they'll admit they were wrong and the hype of speed cameras is akin to our theatrical airport security checks - easy to defend and too much effort to fix.

At least we will have the comfort of knowing that, when one of those letters comes in the mail, many of our coppers (most?) agree with us that it's just a money grab and time to stop pretending otherwise.

A.R. KENNY, Toowoomba

Originally published as Speed camera fury: The Greeks might be onto something