[only_as_i_fall]

This is obviously a silly case but I think traffic cameras are one of the few places surveillance could actually be called for.

I'm not sure what the perfect system looks like, but the current system in the US seems broken. Not only is traffic enforcement a huge time waste for police, but traffic stops create an unnecessary hazard while failing to discourage dangerous driving.

[mindslight]

Cameras discourage dangerous driving even less, because automated systems tend to only look at superficial metrics (eg speed) rather than actual dangerous behavior such as rapidly darting between lanes or tailgating.

As far as traffic stops creating needless hazards, the solution there is simple - change the expectation for motorists to only pull over where there is enough room (so not just in the breakdown lane), and prohibit officers from carrying weapons on traffic stops. If a motorist escalates to violence, the correct answer is to retreat and form a new plan that reflects the changed circumstance and higher severity of crime, not to jump into playing Rambo.

[only_as_i_fall]

You could pretty easily change that though. Having a cop drive around in a patrol car seems way less effective that if the same resources were used to pay someone to look at traffic cams and send out fines for dangerous driving.

[mindslight]

I'm reminded of those arguments in favor of making supply chains ever leaner. In reality, cops sitting on the side of the road are on call and ready to go in case something else more important comes up. I'm certainly not defending cops sitting around playing Candy Crush while waiting for the radar's alarm to go off, but abstracting and outsourcing seems like the wrong way to go here.

Cameras also have a serious due process problem in that if you get a notification even one week later, you're unable to collect evidence to defend yourself. If it's a daily commute, you might not even remember the weather conditions.

[fy20]

For those who aren't aware, bus lanes like this are often the only roads passing through city centres in the UK. The surrounding area is often a pedestrian area, with the only traffic being buses, registered taxis and emergency vehicles (delivery and utility vehicles are allowed in the early morning). The alternative route for regular traffic would be a few miles longer - which could mean 30 mins or more at rush hour.

[iso1631]

Vast majority of bus lanes are a dedicated lane down a multi lane road for pushbikes, buses, motorbikes (and for some stupid reason taxis). It effectively allows a bus with 50 people on to jump the queue.

In this particular case it is a "bus" only lane over the river, the diversion for non buses is less than a mile, and far less for almost any actual car journey (given that if you just wanted to cross the bridge you'd walk.

The far more problematic issue in Bath is the continued closure of Cleveland Place due to the bridge falling to bits.

[kawsper]

The UK also have average speed zone cameras where the average speed is calculated across a long stretch of road, in Denmark I've only seen fixed speed cameras.

[beardyw]

Very civilized driving in those stretches with everyone going exactly the same speed (more or less).