Safety – Amenity – Access – Health

The Walking Class Heroes

Patrons: Dame Leonie Kramer AC DBE & The Hon Sir Laurence Street AC KCMG

The NSW Auditor-General today released his Speed Camera Report.  (QUOTE):  “Some members of the public view speed cameras as revenue-raisers only. We found no evidence that revenue is a factor in determining where to locate cameras”, Revenue from speed cameras reduces the longer they operate.  Overall, speed cameras change driver behaviour and improve road safety. Fixed speed cameras reduce crashes and speeding”, Mr Achterstraat said.

The Chairman of the PCA, Harold Scruby, said today: “Would the NRMA and the shock-jocks, who have been robotically bleating that speed cameras are revenue-raisers, please now be silent?

“Both the RACV and the RACQ are on the record as being in favour of speed cameras, including covert mobile speed cameras. All speed cameras in NSW are overt with more warnings than a cigarette pack.

“Speeding is a crime. Anywhere. Any time. It's the greatest killer on our roads.  Mr Scruby added.

“The NSW road toll is at its lowest ever, much due to speed camera enforcement.  Apart from the pain, grief and suffering, road trauma in NSW costs about $8 billion per annum. Gross income from speed cameras is about $70 million.

“That leaves about $7.3 billion we need annually, before we actually ‘raise’ a penny in revenue.

“We fully support the Auditor-General’s findings and recommendations (QUOTE):  ‘I support RTA’s plans to review and relocate these cameras if other more appropriate road safety measures can be used … Speed cameras save lives. RTA should place them where they work; remove or replace them with other measures when they don’t.’

On 19 August 2009, Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) John Hartley wrote: “There is ample evidence that the current fixed speed camera program conducted by the RTA is having significant results in the reduction of fatal, serious and major crashes within close proximity to speed cameras. It is envisaged that a mobile program where the vehicle is parked on the side of the road at various locations could have a greater impact on drivers in areas which are or the driver believes may have mobile speed cameras operating.”  He recommended:  “That NSW Police Force support a Digital Vehicle Mounted Speed Cameras (DVMSC) program with preference to the functions being undertaken by the RTA.”

“In 1991, NSW had 24 ‘wet-film’ mobile speed cameras.  In 2008, the former NSW Roads Minister announced they would be replaced by 25 DVMSCs.  To date, there are still only 6.  We call upon NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay to commission the remaining 19 Mobile Speed Cameras, without any further delay, as recommended by NSW Police.

“Motorists who speed anywhere in Australia should be fined and receive demerit points, no matter how, where, by whom or what they are lawfully detected.  NSW has amongst the lowest penalties of all jurisdictions for low range speeding.  It’s $88, the same as a parking meter ticket plus 1 Demerit Point.

“We must embrace speed camera technology to complement the good work of NSW Police.  Some of the revenue should be hypothecated to go towards putting more police back onto our roads and footpaths.”  Mr Scruby said.