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Government Response to petition for a freeze on speeding fines for motorcyclists
Submitted by Chris Newbigging of Emap Automotive – Deadline to sign up by: 12 January 2007 – Signatures: 3,544
You recently signed a petition asking the Prime Minister "to freeze all speeding fines levied against motorcyclists until such time that the Government tests and approves all speed detection equipment for use specifically on motorcycles."
Speed detection equipment has been proven to be untested for it's accuracy on motorcycles.
Various devices have been proven to give inaccurate or false readings when used on motorcycles.
We petition the Government to freeze all speeding fines levied against motorcyclists until speed detection equipment has been tested and approved by an independent body for use on motorcycles.
The Government's response
Speed measuring devices used by the police to produce evidence for court have to be of a type approved by the Secretary of State. The UK "type-approval" process is extremely rigorous and involves both operational and laboratory testing.
Details of the type approval process are laid down in the Speedmeter Handbook, available on the Home Office website: Here is probably the most rigorous process of its kind in the world, and is very highly regarded. Manufacturers selling their equipment in other countries are keen to proclaim its UK type-approved status.
The Home Secretary only type approves devices that highly qualified and experienced Home Office scientific advisers are satisfied have passed the demanding requirements of the type approval process.
We should explain the two stages of the type approval system which all speed measuring devices must successfully complete before they can be used by the police for enforcement.
The equipment is initially tested by the police as if in full operational use although, of course, no prosecutions are brought during the testing period.
Once the police are satisfied that devices are of a sufficient standard to meet their needs the responsibility for testing passes to the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB).
HOSDB's requirements cover such issues as storage, operating temperatures, portability, durability, weather proofing, and electro-magnetic compatibility as well as obvious matters such as accuracy and reliability. Independent scientific test houses carry out the testing.
Only when a device has passed all these tests will a type approval Order be signed so that the police can use it for prosecution.
There is no condition on the type approval of any enforcement device that it cannot be used on motorcycles. HOSDB do not carry out specific tests of speed measuring devices on motorcycles as there are no technical reasons to believe they present new technical challenges not present with all other types of vehicle.
The type approval process does however include, as well as laboratory tests of compliance with specifications, extensive operational trials by the police. In these all vehicles on the road are tested, including motorcycles.
We are satisfied that all devices currently in use merit their type-approved status and irrespective of the type of vehicle detected exceeding the speed limit, if they are used in line with any conditions laid down in their type approval order, with the manufacturers' instructions and with ACPO's Road Policing Enforcement Technology Code of Practice for Operation Use, they can be relied on to produce accurate readings.
Given this thorough approach to testing, the Government does not believe that there are grounds for freezing speeding fines levied against motorcyclists until speed detection equipment has been tested and approved by an independent body for use on motorcycles.
Link: Department for Transport www.dft.gov.uk
Link: THINK! Road Safety www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can view it here:
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page10777.asp
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