Pogo GPS News - Pogo Alert - Pogo Drive
Speed camera numbers increase
It seems the government is moving forward with their promise to increase the number of speed cameras on our roads to 13,000 over the next couple of years. During 2007, we made a staggering 1452 changes to our Origin360 speed camera database and 143 more changes during January 2008; changes mean adding and removing cameras or altering things like speed limits.
We've been collating our speed camera database for nearly eight years and are confident it's the best available.
You bought your Pogo product to give you the best possible protection from the growing threat of speed cameras. If you want to be able to rely on your Pogo, please ensure you keep it up to date - we recommend plugging it in to your PC and downloading the latest speed camera data every week.
And don't forget we're generous enough to give you, whenever you update and for no extra charge, any software changes we've introduced. We've made loads of changes to Pogo Drive over the last couple of months, including:
- a totally new software platform
- unique journey tracking software (enabling you to track up to 900 hours of trips via your PC and Google Maps)
- a new average speed display during SPECS (average speed) camera warnings
- Ordnance Survey data for the 7 digit postcode search facility.
We've also added French speed camera warnings to both Pogo Drive and Pogo Alert, and other countries (Belgium, Holland, Spain and Portugal) are due to be added in the near future.
Higher Penalties for speeding
It's likely that the penalty points system will get tougher this year. The government looks set to radically overhaul the existing points structure meaning that motorists could easily face a driving ban after just two speeding offences.
The proposed guidelines would mean that drivers caught at 45mph+ in a 30mph zone would receive a fixed penalty of six points and a £100 fine (increased from the flat rate of three points and a £60 fine). Similar six point penalties apply to all speed limits, up to 94mph+ in a 70mph zone.
Two such offences and you'll be banned for a minimum of six months. If you already have points on your licence, you could be banned after one more offence.
Councils are "addicted" to speed traps
It's been revealed that speed cameras are swallowing up to four-fifths of road safety grants given by the Government to local councils.
Outraged motoring groups said this confirms that local councils and the police are "addicted" to speed cameras. They're angry that spending so much on speed cameras leaves less money to spend on improving dangerous junctions and other safety schemes.
Councils and local police forces no longer keep the speeding fines raised from speed cameras, but instead the money goes to the Government which returns the vast majority of it as road safety grants.
Auto Express magazine asked 100 councils in England what they were spending the road safety grant money on. Of the £105.9 million received by the councils interviewed, £77.7 million was spent on speed cameras and just £18.5 million on road safety measures.
An Auto Express spokesman said "Maybe our shock findings explain why we struggled to extract these accounts from council officials in the first place".
More speed limits to cut congestion
Department for Transport (DFT) has revealed that motorists could face a 40mph motorway speed limit at peak times in an attempt to curb congestion and reduce emissions. Trials have recently been undertaken on the M42; the results suggest a 4% fall in fuel consumption and a 10% fall in vehicle emissions. To ensure the lower speed limits are obeyed, speed cameras will be mounted on gantries. Lots more speeding fines! Well, how else will the research be paid for?
Smoking - bad for your licence
A study by leading car supermarket Motorpoint demonstrates that smokers are more likely to speed than non-smokers. It also revealed that those who light up whilst on the move are more likely to suffer from lapsed concentration.
Why Buy From Us
There are also now many companies selling Pogo's on-line, however please be very careful to only purchase a Pogo from an authorised dealer.
We are an authorised Pogo Internet dealer and being authorised means that the consumer is protected from stolen and counterfeit goods. Also only Authorised Dealers have the expertise to provide you with the best before and after sales service, so before making your purchase ensure that the site displays this logo.
