To be fair the ‘efficient policing’ of the past often meant patrol cars hiding on entry slip roads on clear night time motorways with their lights off waiting for another easy nick instead of cameras.
Then when drivers got wise to that trick, among others, the law called for unmarked cars in which case all bets were off at any time.But it was a good bet that if anything was approaching in the mirrors from behind, when travelling at around the ton, it was probably the law.
From experience traffic light cameras are better and fairer than a copper stating that ‘in his opinion’ you should have stopped on amber which changed within 15 feet of the line.
The main problem with cameras is the combined lowering of speed limits to maximise the chances and margin of any offence that goes with them.Including ‘variable’ motorway limits.
Also the fact that it was one endorsement regardless of the margin over.As opposed to potentially 6 or more points for one speeding offence now.
It’s also clear that most traffic speed enforcement has long been politically motivated with the intention of disincentivising road use.
While if we need more enforcement it’s random licence and ID checks which are needed most and a blitz on positioning like drivers cutting right hand bends and ignoring white lines.
The roads are clearly infested with unlicenced drivers who’ve never learn’t to drive or passed a test.