Author Topic: What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}  (Read 1806 times)

InfidelSerf

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« on: July 27, 2005, 03:19:11 PM »
I found this rather interesting.. so I thought I would move it for Ian
THR source
article source

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A bribe too far! Ukraine scraps all traffic cops

July 26, 2005

By Stefan Korshak

Kiev, Ukraine - Ever wonder what would happen if traffic cops were done away with and you could drive any way you wanted?

In Ukraine, less than a month ago, that's what happened and things are pretty much just fine.

The story of the "liquidation" of Ukraine's State Automobile Inspectorate (DAI) began in June after President Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-Europe politician who led the country's Orange Revolution at the end of 2004, decided to drive to the mountainous for some hiking.

Fighting official perks is a focus of the Yushchenko administration and the former National Bank boss has made it clear he is no fan of either officialdom or officiousness.

So, instead of travelling the 300km from Kiev to the Polish frontier in a Soviet-style motorcade of armoured vehicles, police escorts and the like, Yushchenko went in an unmarked family sedan.

Big mistake - as any rank-and-file Ukrainian driver could have told him.

Traffic cops halted the presidential vehicle, Yushchenko later fumed at a news media conference, every 30 minutes or so over the four-hour trip. The Yushchenko family's late-model German sedan was, he said, functioning perfectly and he wasn't speeding.

The stops were nothing more than repeated shake-downs for bribes, the Ukrainian leader charged.

"There is more to a traffic policeman's job than collecting bribes," Yushchenko said. "These people are undermining public trust in law enforcement agencies and I will not allow it to continue."

From his subordinates Yushchenko demanded - and received - a plan to dissolve the DAI and by the beginning of July the deed was done, the executive order signed.

Ukraine's once-feared traffic police ceased to exist.

Immediately traffic cops appeared in the media, always predicting mayhem and often justifying bribes on the grounds of poor salaries.

"A traffic policeman receives only 500 hryvnas ($100, roughly) a month and who can live on that?" a cop, identifying himself as Volodymyr N, whined to a newspaper reporter.

"If we received $300 or 400 a month we would do our jobs perfectly," he said, "but now, with no police out there, our roads will become slaughterhouses."

But that's not the way it turned out. Drivers in the Ukrainian provincial cities of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv reported traffic was moving quite normally and most drivers were obeying regulations, even though there were few, if any, traffic cops around to enforce them.

"Just like people have been driving before, breaking the rules when they can, they're driving now," said Arnold Shapyro, an Odessa taxi driver.

"The difference is that now the traffic cops aren't hassling us."

'Driving less stressful'

Despite furious road construction piling up epic traffic jams daily in Kiev, vehicles in the Ukrainian capital have in recent weeks been moving more quickly, and with a good deal less honking and noise, than when the traffic cops were running things.

"To be fair, a lot of people are out of town because it's the summer holidays," said Vadym Chabanov, a Kiev courier rider, "but driving is less stressful because now you don't have to worry about some goon on every street corner inventing violations to hit you for a bribe."

Road accidents in Ukraine average between 150-170 each day, the death toll 20-30 with another 80-100 injured.

The numbers, according to statistics complied by Ukraine's Ministry of Emergency Situations, have not changed since the traffic police handed in their badges.

"It appears drivers are being more careful," said Valery Borysov, a Kiev city official. "In general the road situation is stable."

Well, sort of.

Take the Simferopol-Armiansk highway, onthe Crimean peninsula.

Tearing along

This stretch of road, running through one of Ukraine's poorest provinces, is notorious for voracious traffic cops preying on interstate travellers - usually city folk heading to or from a Black Sea vacation.

But last Thursday motorists were blithely tearing through the table-flat Crimean steppe (on a two-lane road that would hardly qualify as a secondary farm road in the US and probably not exist at all in Germany) in excess of 130km/h, almost twice the posted speed limit.

The only law enforcement visible on the 110km run was outside a shabby cafe in Armiansk: a mannequin dressed in a traffic cop's uniform, holding a sign saying:

"Dear motorist! Take care as you drive. Armiansk wishes you a good visit to sunny Crimea!" - Sapa-DPA
I found this comment disturbing
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"There is more to a traffic policeman's job than collecting bribes," Yushchenko said
As if that IS one of the aspects of their job, just not all there is rolleyes

However the concept is brilliant, just have them as responders to roadway accidents involving injury.. much as it is now.. only they should be trained ER techs as well as "peace officers" that eliminates waste in reduntacy of public service duties.
The hour is fast approaching,on which the Honor&Success of this army,and the safety of our bleeding Country depend.Remember~Soldiers,that you are Freemen,fighting for the blessings of Liberty-that slavery will be your portion,and that of your posterity,if you do not acquit yourselves like men.GW8/76

griz

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2005, 04:33:39 PM »
I'm not very worried about corruption here in the US. If anything the state lacks moral standing when they set fines based on financial need rather than safety.

But more than anything if the traffic cops dissappeared I think that the two cars per light that now run red lights would quickly increase.
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Larry Ashcraft

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2005, 05:19:39 PM »
Wanna see what happens when there are no traffic cops?

Come to Pueblo, CO.  They are non-existent here.

What happens?  90% of the people drive like idiots.  I guess that gives a good indication of the American people.

There was an accident close to my shop Monday.  One guy stopped for a yellow light and was immediately rear-ended by three other cars.

P95Carry

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2005, 06:07:40 PM »
Didn't strike me as too bad when I was there Larry - but hey - it wasn't commute time and we were only there for one evening and a bit of next morning.

If it's that bad - what the heck is Denver like? OK - I'll guess!
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Larry Ashcraft

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2005, 06:45:48 PM »
Quote from: P95Carry
what the heck is Denver like?
I'd just as soon stay the heck away from Denver, thank you very much.  Not that I can, I have four grandkids up there, so we do make the trip occasionally (this Saturday is Sadie's first birthday).

Chris, you have to try a Friday afternoon here, to get the real flavor.  Pueblo drivers are idiots, Springs drivers are rude, and Denver drivers are both.

Actually, I get along better in Denver.  At least there, they are paying attention.

K Frame

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2005, 03:38:24 AM »
"I found this comment disturbing

"There is more to a traffic policeman's job than collecting bribes," Yushchenko said"

That's called sarcasm.
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El Tejon

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2005, 07:51:27 AM »
Sarcasm or recognition of a reality?
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Standing Wolf

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What if there were no traffic police? {moved from THR}
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2005, 05:58:32 PM »
Quote
I'd just as soon stay the heck away from Denver, thank you very much.
Yep. I go to shooting matches at the Arvada and Cherry Creek clubs; otherwise, I do everything possible to stay the @#$%^&! out of the People's Republic of Denver.

Personally, I doubt cops make much difference to traffic. I've never been convinced issuing tickets does much to change driving behavior.
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