Latest news with #Ofcourseitis
Wales Online
3 days ago
- General
- Wales Online
Change to use of dashcam from DIY traffic cops branded 'shame'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Readers of North Wales Live have been actively debating the recent shift in police policy around the acceptance of dashcam footage. A digital portal permits public contributions of evidence concerning traffic violations. Operation Snap – spearheaded by road safety unit GoSafe – has established a digital platform that encourages the submission of video recordings showing traffic offences. Amongst the most reported misdeeds are reckless driving and perilously close overtakes of cyclists, together with incidents of jumping red lights. The initiative has been hailed as a "valuable tool" for clamping down on motorists. As more individuals employ dashcams and helmet-cams, submissions to the portal have risen sharply. From 2021 to 2023, there was a twofold increase in submitted footage, this spike has prompted GoSafe to announce an immediate change to the handling of submissions while a comprehensive review is underway. This adjustment will not impact the processing of "serious" incidents flagged by the public. However, there will be a new approach when minor infractions are reported to the police. Until now, these minor concerns resulted in warning letters sent out to offenders. This procedure will stop until the review establishes a long-term strategy. MickHookem states: "Why not just drive safely and lawfully? Unless you've got something to hide, of course." TheGreyMullet writes: "Shame. Surely it's better to be proactive in modifying behaviour to avoid serious accidents rather than just being reactive after they happen. Lives already likely ruined at that point." Ofcourseitis adds: "There are an element of people who deliberately go out of their way to cause and entrap unsuspecting motorists with their vigilante operations, its good to see the police taking a sensible stance and only dealing with the most serious of cases." Msdt believes: "Another excuse for the police to stay in their offices instead of being out there!" Cooperman1927 says: "I have a dash cam and could make it a full time job sending evidence of bad driving but I would rather have a better hobby." Tdhprestatyn comments: "A country where citizens spy and report each other. What an awful practice and place. So glad I left 11 years ago. Looking from outside in, Wales is descending into a socialist state. I don't even stay in Wales now to visit family, just stay across the border and drive (very slowly) in." Vaux08hall writes: "If the police are overwhelmed with the number being sent in then it only proves how bad the standard of driving is in Wales, it also coincides with the 20mph being introduced." Ofcourseitis replies: "The police are overwhelmed because the speed laws in Wales are unfit for purpose so most people ignore them and the vigilante busy bodies get to work with their secret filming and snitching." Thesheaperd questions: "So let me get this straight - the Police are saying they are going to ignore people breaking the law if they think it is not important enough, who decides if it is important enough? This is why we have laws to begin with, the state of the UK is going down the drain." Statistix answers: "It may just be a case of those who love to complain, but only if they can remain anonymous, have been given free reign and a pat on the back up until now." AlbertKelly adds: "You could always try driving safely so you don't have anything to worry about." Do you believe that sending in dashcam footage is the best way to help the Police sort out bad/dangerous driving? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Change to use of dashcam from DIY traffic cops branded 'shame'
Readers of North Wales Live have been actively debating the r ecent shift in police policy around the acceptance of dashcam footage. A digital portal permits public contributions of evidence concerning traffic violations. Operation Snap – spearheaded by road safety unit GoSafe – has established a digital platform that encourages the submission of video recordings showing traffic offences. Amongst the most reported misdeeds are reckless driving and perilously close overtakes of cyclists, together with incidents of jumping red lights. The initiative has been hailed as a "valuable tool" for clamping down on motorists. As more individuals employ dashcams and helmet-cams, submissions to the portal have risen sharply. From 2021 to 2023, there was a twofold increase in submitted footage, this spike has prompted GoSafe to announce an immediate change to the handling of submissions while a comprehensive review is underway. This adjustment will not impact the processing of "serious" incidents flagged by the public. However, there will be a new approach when minor infractions are reported to the police. Until now, these minor concerns resulted in warning letters sent out to offenders. This procedure will stop until the review establishes a long-term strategy. MickHookem states: "Why not just drive safely and lawfully? Unless you've got something to hide, of course." TheGreyMullet writes: "Shame. Surely it's better to be proactive in modifying behaviour to avoid serious accidents rather than just being reactive after they happen. Lives already likely ruined at that point." Ofcourseitis adds: "There are an element of people who deliberately go out of their way to cause and entrap unsuspecting motorists with their vigilante operations, its good to see the police taking a sensible stance and only dealing with the most serious of cases." Msdt believes: "Another excuse for the police to stay in their offices instead of being out there!" Cooperman1927 says: "I have a dash cam and could make it a full time job sending evidence of bad driving but I would rather have a better hobby." Tdhprestatyn comments: "A country where citizens spy and report each other. What an awful practice and place. So glad I left 11 years ago. Looking from outside in, Wales is descending into a socialist state. I don't even stay in Wales now to visit family, just stay across the border and drive (very slowly) in." Vaux08hall writes: "If the police are overwhelmed with the number being sent in then it only proves how bad the standard of driving is in Wales, it also coincides with the 20mph being introduced." Ofcourseitis replies: "The police are overwhelmed because the speed laws in Wales are unfit for purpose so most people ignore them and the vigilante busy bodies get to work with their secret filming and snitching." Thesheaperd questions: "So let me get this straight - the Police are saying they are going to ignore people breaking the law if they think it is not important enough, who decides if it is important enough? This is why we have laws to begin with, the state of the UK is going down the drain." Statistix answers: "It may just be a case of those who love to complain, but only if they can remain anonymous, have been given free reign and a pat on the back up until now." AlbertKelly adds: "You could always try driving safely so you don't have anything to worry about."
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Massive hike in speeding fines as tourist season kicks off 'get 3 points as a souvenir'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info North Wales Live readers have been discussing a surge in speeding fines as the number of drivers caught on 20mph roads soared last month. The 20mph default limit was implemented in Wales back in September 2023. A six-month 'grace' period followed, during which North Wales police prioritised education over fines and penalty points. However, this approach shifted last spring when enforcement was ramped up, resulting in a significant increase in the number of speeding tickets issued. In 2023, just over 25,000 speeding offences were recorded on 20mph and 30mph roads across North Wales. This figure nearly doubled to just under 57,000 in 2024. The number of fines peaked in August when almost 8,000 tickets were handed out, a sharp rise from 892 in June. Following this period, the numbers gradually decreased month by month, dropping to 2,966 in January of this year. However, there has been a steady climb since then, with nearly 4,000 fines issued the following month and 4,950 in March. This trend appears to be continuing, with the April statistics just released. These show that just under 6,000 drivers were caught speeding on 20mph roads in the region. This coincided with an influx of visitors to the area due to the Easter break and a prolonged spell of spring sunshine. There have been numerous reports of tourists falling foul of the speed limits, with North Wales Live highlighting one such case earlier this month. It is currently unknown how quickly hundreds of North Wales roads will potentially revert back to 30mph - and what impact this will have on speeding offences. However, for the time being, drivers continue to be caught out by the thousands each month. Commenter Ofcourseitis says: 'The criminalisation of a nation. The Welsh Government must be so proud of their achievement, preying on motorists with their anti motorist policies whilst destroying the economy behind a charade of safer roads.' Hogangymraeg points out: 'If you break the speed limit you should expect to get a fine.' Nexttheborder replies: 'Yes, but the limits should be sensible.' Flipineck retorts: 'It's not just 20 mph roads. No matter the speed limit some drivers do not care and think they are above the law.' Morpick writes: 'Visitors used to leave Wales with a stick of rock. Now they are likely to leave with points on their licences. Welcome to Wales!' SnoopJohnnyJohn agrees: 'This crazy situation is to be expected during holiday periods due to the Welsh speed limit signage regulations being out of kilter with the rest of the UK.' Brenden Bithell jokes: 'The new 'Tourist Tax' comes with 3 points as a souvenir.' Pcplod asks: 'I find it hard to understand people who complain about a speed limit of 20 mph that helps road safety. Can someone explain why they do not support the 20 mph limit?' Jennifer Thomas agrees: 'It's only 20mph in built up areas especially round schools. I can't understand why that's wrong? Most of the main roads are normal speed. You feel less stressed going a bit slower really. Enjoy your holidays.' Howel Owen is angry: 'There are no warning signs as you cross the border into Wales reminding visitors / delivery drivers of this draconian law. It's a total money making racket costing thousands of people millions in fines and points.' Tym Corbett replies: 'They are round white with a red edged with the numbers 2 and 0 in them? Similar to the ones in England?' Christian Morris says: 'It's basically a tax.' Craig Sheehan replies: 'It's not a tax, it's a law that if you break, then you pay. If you don't break the law - you don't pay.' Don Nightingale agrees: 'It's simple, if you want to speed (whatever the limit) accept the risk. The rhetoric soon changes when friends or family are injured due to inappropriate driving.' Tom Butterworth writes: 'How about a different headline? 'There was a spike in motorists breaking the speed limit, so fines were issued accordingly." Do you think the 20mph speed limit will deter tourists from visiting Wales? Have your say in our comments section.
North Wales Live
22-05-2025
- North Wales Live
Massive hike in speeding fines as tourist season kicks off 'get 3 points as a souvenir'
North Wales Live readers have been discussing a surge in speeding fines as the number of drivers caught on 20mph roads soared last month. The 20mph default limit was implemented in Wales back in September 2023. A six-month 'grace' period followed, during which North Wales police prioritised education over fines and penalty points. However, this approach shifted last spring when enforcement was ramped up, resulting in a significant increase in the number of speeding tickets issued. In 2023, just over 25,000 speeding offences were recorded on 20mph and 30mph roads across North Wales. This figure nearly doubled to just under 57,000 in 2024. The number of fines peaked in August when almost 8,000 tickets were handed out, a sharp rise from 892 in June. Following this period, the numbers gradually decreased month by month, dropping to 2,966 in January of this year. However, there has been a steady climb since then, with nearly 4,000 fines issued the following month and 4,950 in March. This trend appears to be continuing, with the April statistics just released. These show that just under 6,000 drivers were caught speeding on 20mph roads in the region. This coincided with an influx of visitors to the area due to the Easter break and a prolonged spell of spring sunshine. There have been numerous reports of tourists falling foul of the speed limits, with North Wales Live highlighting one such case earlier this month. It is currently unknown how quickly hundreds of North Wales roads will potentially revert back to 30mph - and what impact this will have on speeding offences. However, for the time being, drivers continue to be caught out by the thousands each month. Commenter Ofcourseitis says: 'The criminalisation of a nation. The Welsh Government must be so proud of their achievement, preying on motorists with their anti motorist policies whilst destroying the economy behind a charade of safer roads.' Hogangymraeg points out: 'If you break the speed limit you should expect to get a fine.' Nexttheborder replies: 'Yes, but the limits should be sensible.' Flipineck retorts: 'It's not just 20 mph roads. No matter the speed limit some drivers do not care and think they are above the law.' Morpick writes: 'Visitors used to leave Wales with a stick of rock. Now they are likely to leave with points on their licences. Welcome to Wales!' SnoopJohnnyJohn agrees: 'This crazy situation is to be expected during holiday periods due to the Welsh speed limit signage regulations being out of kilter with the rest of the UK.' Brenden Bithell jokes: 'The new 'Tourist Tax' comes with 3 points as a souvenir.' Pcplod asks: 'I find it hard to understand people who complain about a speed limit of 20 mph that helps road safety. Can someone explain why they do not support the 20 mph limit?' Jennifer Thomas agrees: 'It's only 20mph in built up areas especially round schools. I can't understand why that's wrong? Most of the main roads are normal speed. You feel less stressed going a bit slower really. Enjoy your holidays.' Howel Owen is angry: 'There are no warning signs as you cross the border into Wales reminding visitors / delivery drivers of this draconian law. It's a total money making racket costing thousands of people millions in fines and points.' Tym Corbett replies: 'They are round white with a red edged with the numbers 2 and 0 in them? Similar to the ones in England?' Christian Morris says: 'It's basically a tax.' Craig Sheehan replies: 'It's not a tax, it's a law that if you break, then you pay. If you don't break the law - you don't pay.' Don Nightingale agrees: 'It's simple, if you want to speed (whatever the limit) accept the risk. The rhetoric soon changes when friends or family are injured due to inappropriate driving.' Tom Butterworth writes: 'How about a different headline? 'There was a spike in motorists breaking the speed limit, so fines were issued accordingly."
North Wales Live
29-04-2025
- North Wales Live
Villagers swamped by overtourism say visitors 'bring nothing but disrespect and problems'
Newborough, a coastal village in Anglesey, once again found itself swamped by traffic as visitors flocked to its beach. The local residents, tired of the ongoing issue, have threatened to take matters into their own hands if the authorities fail to get to grips with the problem that has been plaguing their village for years. North Wales Live readers have been discussing the news in our comments section. Littering is a constant issue, tempers frequently rise and there are increasing reports of human waste being left out in the open. Unauthorised camping poses a fire risk at the 2,500-acre Newborough Forest, which serves as a backdrop to Traeth Llanddwyn and its tidal island. However, it's the traffic that presents the most significant disruption to a community already struggling with overtourism. On Easter Sunday, some locals reported a 40-minute delay to drive the final half-mile into Newborough due to tailbacks. Much of this traffic was trying to get to the 300-space beach car park at the picturesque Traeth Llanddwyn. This is one of seven car parks within Newborough Forest, but they all fill up quickly on sunny days. Latecomers ended up queuing along a 1.8-mile access road to the beach or parking illegally on the A4080 next to the forest, leaving some villagers irate as visitors parked in residential areas and obstructed driveways. Many locals are urging the council to follow the lead of Cyngor Gwynedd around Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the Ogwen Valley in Eryri ( Snowdonia). Here, warnings were not only issued but also enforced: alongside numerous fines, many illegally-parked vehicles have been towed away in recent years with assistance from North Wales Police. Just last week, Anglesey Council received £2.4m from the Welsh Government for the second phase of an active travel scheme between Malltraeth and Newborough. The goal is to link the two communities by extending the Lon Las Cefni network. The council hopes this will help ease traffic congestion in the area by promoting walking and cycling. However, many locals remain sceptical. Commenter Mrrogerdodger jokes: 'What?! They should make way for their tourist overlords. If it wasn't for the tourists, all of Anglesey would be empty and sink into the sea.' Ofcourseitis thinks: 'People appear to have a complete downer on the tourism industry in Wales, 160 000 people rely on tourism for their livelihood, without which there would be even more poverty in Wales.' Farman77 replies: 'Locals who are annoyed, rightly so, about the situation in their village at certain times of the year. I'm sure you or I would feel the same if we lived in Newborough.' Rojer agrees: 'Roll on the tourist tax!' Onlyfair retorts: ''Trapped at home!' I think not as I drove through a couple of times over the period mentioned and yes it may have been busier than in winter, but isn't that true of most places? I know a couple of people who live in the village and all state the situation is massively exaggerated by the anti English brigade who seem to think they own all of the local beaches themselves and no one should visit except them.' Furq remembers: 'I spent a few summers here back in the 1970s. It was usually fairly quiet in those days. I have great memories of long hot days in the sand and swimming with seals.' Hogangymraeg replies: 'It was quiet back then, it was heaven, it has now become hell. It's not as if there were no other beaches on the island. But now they all try to go to Llanddwyn, knowing full well that the road to the beach will undoubtedly be closed.' LifeboatMan believes: 'The beach does not belong to locals, nor do the locals have any more rights than anyone else to dictate who visits it, or how.' Gymraeg retorts: 'Locals have every right to complain when visitors park in housing estates, and on yellow lines.' Rocky-Reform adds: 'Anglesey County Council is to blame. You can paint double yellow lines all you like, but without enforcement it is just a waste of yellow paint. Anglesey needs to embrace tourism but there must be a strategic approach to this.' Wiseone11 states: 'I have no sympathy, the locals are only too glad of the income they make during holiday seasons, only to moan when it gets busy! Be grateful!' Caeuchaf points out: 'Tourism represents less than 8% of the Welsh economy, the so called "economic benefits" of tourism are a complete myth, nothing but propaganda put out there by the vested interests that are the tourism business owners, who happen to be the only people who make a decent living from tourists and tourism.' Stra writes: 'This is why all the local people of North Wales despise the visitors, they bring nothing but disrespect and problems.'
