Scruby Stikes Again

[Fairlane]

http://www.smh.com.au/drive/revealed...1030-hptp.html

Thought id post this one up and realise what a crackpot this guy is. If i saw him crossing the road id dont think I would stop.

And the journalist is an idiot too, thinks its an exclusive because she got a fax from Harold Scruby. Anyway for those not willing to read the article here are some highlights.

PREVIOUSLY secret RTA figures dealing with camera-detected speeding offences appear to expose a policy of allowing a 10per cent tolerance before a penalty is applied. The data shows that not a single NSW motorist was penalised for being caught travelling at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h in a 100km/h zone during July and August. Harold Scruby, the head of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, says the figures reveal what many have long suspected – that the Roads and Traffic Authority allows a discretionary margin of 10 per cent in excess of the speed limit before a penalty is imposed. Mr Scruby wants to know who is setting the tolerance threshold: "Is it some unaccountable Sir Humphrey who is under the instruction of ministers to make sure the Government is popular?"

The RTA says it works with the police to set tolerance levels but the police Traffic Services Commander, John Hartley, told the Herald that "each organisation is responsible for the independent operation of their individual speed enforcement programs". The RTA has offered no explanation for the figures, which were released to Mr Scruby under freedom-of-information laws. Mr Scruby believes the margin has been inadvertently exposed by a shift since the end of June to 10km/h increments for lower-level speeding offences. A former Victorian assistant police commissioner, Ray Shuey, said "10 per cent has been sort of usual in many jurisdictions", although Victoria had moved to a lower threshold. He said 10 per cent was based on an outdated Australian Design rule which erroneously assumed a large drift in some car speedometers. Assistant Commissioner Hartley said the NSW Police Force did not discuss tolerance levels and "any motorist can be fined for exceeding the speed limit by 1km/h".

That final police officer was a bit off, "outdated Australian Design Rule" pretty sure its still in force mate, and well even minor changes in tyres can knock a speedo about.