All the evidence suggests that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the major contributor to road crashes and to death and injury, far more so than any other single factor. That's why most countries have zero or very low tolerance regimes and many use random alcohol testing as well.
That having been said, speed carries with it attendant problems, more so in circumstances demanding more caution.
In most places, devices which capture speeding offences are widely regarded as no more than revenue raising - a form of additional taxation. But if cameras and the like are used sensibly - allowing a small degree of latitude for example - and deployed to identify those guilty of serious and persistent transgression - usually well over the posted limit - then few of us could argue. I do wonder though why cameras also don't catch those travelling at well under the limit thus impeding trafffic, or those who won't move across lanes.
But cameras and other devices don't do anything to prevent other more serious and dangerous abuses such as tail-gating, weaving in traffic and intimidating other motorists. Just think of how many rear end collisions each of us has seen in Doha for example! That's a role for active policing - something sadly lacking in Qatar.
All the evidence suggests that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the major contributor to road crashes and to death and injury, far more so than any other single factor. That's why most countries have zero or very low tolerance regimes and many use random alcohol testing as well.
That having been said, speed carries with it attendant problems, more so in circumstances demanding more caution.
In most places, devices which capture speeding offences are widely regarded as no more than revenue raising - a form of additional taxation. But if cameras and the like are used sensibly - allowing a small degree of latitude for example - and deployed to identify those guilty of serious and persistent transgression - usually well over the posted limit - then few of us could argue. I do wonder though why cameras also don't catch those travelling at well under the limit thus impeding trafffic, or those who won't move across lanes.
But cameras and other devices don't do anything to prevent other more serious and dangerous abuses such as tail-gating, weaving in traffic and intimidating other motorists. Just think of how many rear end collisions each of us has seen in Doha for example! That's a role for active policing - something sadly lacking in Qatar.