[MrUnknown]

Speed cameras solely exist to generate profit. A road can, and does, have speeders all day and not a single accident.

I'm still going to hit a person/car if they do something stupid on the road if I am speeding or not.

If you need any supporting facts that they are only for profit, there is more research in red-light cameras. They have shown that they can cause more accidents because people try to avoid going through the intersection "just in case" they don't make it all the way through and get a ticket. This causes aggressive braking and accidents. It also doesn't help that a lot of states will shorten the length of the Yellow light at these intersections to ensure more people will go through them. Yay for safety.

As for speeding cameras, my state recently took one down due to backlash because they installed a camera 100ft before a speed increase sign. The "tickets" (I quote that because they are usually fines, and not really tickets, and usually do not cause points to be put on your license if your state has that system) included a photograph of their car passing the new speed limit sign.

The state admitted no wrong doing, and believe it was a great spot to put the camera. If I remember correctly it was in a 25mph zone that went to 45mph. It would ticket cars upto the 45mph sign for going 30mph in a 25mph zone. While "technically" correct, it's pretty obvious the motivation of wanting to put it there.

edit: found it for you, http://www.wtop.com/58/3423357/Police-question-College-Park-...

[YokoZar]

More directly, there are devices that have been shown to increase safety far better than speed cameras -- those electronic signs that ready your current speed back to you (and flash if it's too high).

[rezistik]

The problem with fines and fees is that it puts a price on things, which is why those electric signs work so much better than speeding cameras.

Sure, a $100, $200, or more ticket is expensive and a lot of money to some people it allows the people who can afford it to easily rationalize the behavior.

"It's only $200 bucks it's clearly not that big of an issue, if it was a real danger it would be more expensive"

However the speed blinkers let you know you're doing something wrong and these condition you to feel guilty therefore slowing down.

[seanmcdirmid]

Most people don't worry about the speeding ticket cost, but the increased insurance premium that goes with it.

[rockpoodle]

Agreed, insurance premium hikes are big compared to the fine. It's usually cheaper to hire a lawyer...though that also costs more than the fine.

[Alupis]

Every time I drive by one of those, I look at it, which completely distracts me from the road. (how fast does it say I'm going? Does my speedometer say the same thing? It doesn't!?)

[CamperBob2]

Agreed, I can't imagine how those signs are a net positive for safety.

[joenathan]

Those things make me go faster, I like to see how high I can get the sign to go.

[whatusername]

In Australia (Victoria) at least -- I think they are capped at 10km/h above the speed limit. To prevent exactly that.

[MrUnknown]

yep, people will naturally drive at any speed they determine to be safe for the road they are on. Those signs help make them aware of it.

I can honestly say that 90% of the time, I probably am not sure what the speed limit of a road is that I am on. I naturally slow down in residential areas, and speed up for highways. Generally this is 75mph or so in my area with a speed limit of 65mph. If they raised the speed limit to 85mph, I personally wouldn't really like it and probably wouldn't drive that speed.

I've gotten only one speeding ticket in my life, and I have never been in any accidents of any sort. The speeding ticket was on a 2-lane straight road, in the middle of the day with barely anyone around, so I was more comfortable with going fast and didn't even know I was going that fast.

edit: if you're going to down vote me, at least add to the discussion and prove me wrong.