I was going to post something about the Association of Chief Police Officers’ recent declaration that there’s an urgent need to revamp the vehicle registration process. But then I got talking to Paul Smith at Safe Speed (you’ll notice I do that rather a lot) and he summed it up so succinctly that it seemed pointless reinventing the wheel. So in a special guest blog, here’s what Paul has to say, echoing my thoughts exactly.
“What’s really going on here? Number plate thefts are up. Uninsured driving is up. Hit and run is up. Vehicle cloning is up. False vehicle registration details are probably well up. Many vehicles are untraceable, and motorists are being convicted of the serious criminal offence of perverting the course of justice. As the authorities increasing rely on number plates for the automated enforcement of motoring offences, for taxes and for criminal identification, people will increasingly respond by putting themselves outside of the system.
“Enforcement with cameras and computers is causing these undesirable responses and consequential new crimes. While this was easily predictable – even obvious – the authorities apparently took no account of the possibility. The actions that are causing these problems include speed cameras, bus lane cameras, overzealous parking enforcement, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and congestion charging.
“In the last five or six years these enforcement methods and technologies have multiplied at an unprecedented rate. None of it has been useful, necessary or effective. Far from building a better society, it’s clear that these devices and methods have created a far worse society. They are developed and promoted by those with a vested interest, and the only people who do well from them are the technology suppliers themselves. Crimes, like car cloning, were the exclusive preserve of organised criminals just five years ago, but already are an epidemic and a major concern. Technology makes an excellent servant, but a cruel and incompetent master.”
I fully agree Richard….
In spite of all the hype it’s quite obvious that electronic policing in all shapes and forms has achieved absolutely nothing in terms of addressing/rectifying the quoted/perceived problems.
The intent is quite transparently the generation of financial revenue for those who create and/or operate the systems, and road safety has in fact degenerated due to drivers’ attention being increasingly diverted from road & traffic conditions to the location of speed cameras etc.
As you say, technology makes an excellent servant, but a cruel and incompetent master in the wrong hands.
AlfaMartini | 21 Jun 07 - 18:52