ACT: Speed camera changes

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Urban Services Minister John Hargreaves today(Friday, 4 November 2005) announced changes to the operation of speed cameras in the ACT, aimed at getting Canberra motorists to slow down.

Mr Hargreaves said an additional mobile speed camera unit has commenced operating in the ACT and the ACT Government would be expanding the operation of its speed camera vans to include more arterial, major collector and minor collector roads.

"Reducing vehicle speed is a major factor in reducing the number, and severity, of accidents," Mr Hargreaves said.

"In the ACT we have a habit of driving about 10kms over the speed limit and to most of us we think it is reasonable and normal but studies have indicated that a uniform speed reduction of just 5km per hour would cut casualty crashes by about 28% - this would see an average 560 fewer casualty crashes on our roads per year."

Mr Hargreaves said the changes bring the total number of mobile units to five and will provide a higher level of coverage on roads that continue to experience speeding traffic.

"Currently, there are 62 mobile speed camera sites and statistics taken from these locations in 2004 show a reduction of on average three to six kilometres an hour than in 2003. This shows that current mobile speed camera sites are having the desired effect of slowing vehicles down," he said.

"To help maximise road safety benefits, it makes sense to expand the camera operations across a greater number of sites. It will provide more flexibility in placing the five cameras at strategic locations to address road safety concerns."

Mr Hargreaves said there are approximately 650 arterial, major collector and minor collector roads in the ACT, and through a staged process all of these roads will be assessed for suitability for van placement.

"Expanding the mobile speed camera network means that drivers will need to pay more attention to their speed as they will not know where to expect a speed camera. Obviously, if you are driving at or below the designated speed limit then the extension of the mobile speed camera network won't affect you.

"It anticipated new sites will not be available for use until early next year and closer to this time an advertising campaign will take place to inform the community of the change and also remind them that roads with a default speed limit (50km/h) are not individually signposted.

"Unlike other jurisdictions, the ACT adopts a very overt approach to its use of speed cameras. We display clear signage and are out in the open, sending a simple message to motorists to slow down. The location of the additional sites will be included to the existing listing available at www.transport.act.gov.au ".

[MITCHAY]

It slows people down but only for the immediate stretch of road before and after the van, after that people just put the foot down again. Hell I've even seen people speed past the vans even after seeing them. The camera locations are posted on the net too. IMO it's almost impossible to get busted by a speed van in the ACT.

[BuuBox]

One step closer to Victoria's system...

[Electric]

They introduce speed cameras and then over the last year the road toll has gone up almost 300%.

Their solution..... more speed cameras!! :

Fools.

Obviously there is more to road saftey than revenue cameras, I wonder how many more people will have to die before Urban Services Minister John Hargreaves figures that out.

[Tote]

And next year when the road toll falls to it's usual level they will claim a win and use it as excuse to add a few more cameras.
Regards,
Tote

[KEV EB XR8]

Ahh the hen pecked nations capital..... About time you all got the same as the rest of us!!!!!

The average speed of vehicles in victoria has gone down 3 or 4km/h according to the government yet road deaths have increased.

[clontarf_x]

I dont see why people always whinge about speed cameras

Over here in WA theres a multanova on almost every single dual carriageway at some point during the day.

We sh*t ourselves if there someone wearing a fluro jacket on the side of the road!

[Falchoon]

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/det...ws&m=11&y=2005

Licence renewal testing urged
EMurray
Tuesday, 8 November 2005

All ACT drivers and motorcycle riders would have to sit an on-road test when renewing their licences, under a radical proposal to curb the territory's mounting road toll.
The suggestion was put forward by the Australian Motorcycle Council in a meeting with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in Canberra yesterday.

Council chairwoman Robyn Major said there needed to be continuing assessments throughout drivers' and riders' lives.

"It's a big ask and it's not something that would be undertaken lightly by any government, because it's a significant shift in the culture of the community that expects to get a licence and keep it for life," Mrs Major said.

It has been a horror year on the ACT's roads, not just for motorcyclists but for drivers and other road users.

The death of a 32-year-old motorcyclist on Sunday afternoon brought the territory's road toll to 25, seven of whom were motorcyclists.

The Bonython man died at the scene after the motorcycle he was riding, with a female passenger, collided with a car at the intersection of Hindmarsh Drive and the Monaro Highway.

The spike in the toll has alarmed the ACT Government, with Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Transport Minister John Hargreaves weeks ago demanding answers as to why so many people were dying on Canberra's roads.

Mrs Major said intersections posed one of the greatest threats for motorcyclists.

"At intersection crashes, usually the driver has caused the crash but the motorcyclist comes off second best because we are more vulnerable."

The meeting between the Australian Motorcycle Council, which is the national peak body for motorcycle riders, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the federal government agency responsible for transport safety investigations, was scheduled before the weekend's accident.

Mrs Major, who is also president of the Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT, said it was up to the bureau to pass on the proposal to the various road safety bodies it reported to, with a view to including it in the National Road Safety Strategy.

Under the bold plan, all licence-holders would have to perform an on-road assessment each time they renewed their licence.

Currently, once drivers pass their initial practical examination, they are only required to pass an eye test when they renew their licence every five years.

Some licensees, such as elderly drivers, must also submit to medical examinations to ensure they are fit to continue driving.

As learners, motorcyclists must take lessons, followed by a skills test and a provisional training course. Elderly riders are required to be re-tested on the road.

Mrs Major said motorcyclists were more likely than drivers to update their practical skills throughout their driving careers.

The officer in charge of traffic operations for the ACT, Detective Superintendent Michael Chew, said the re-testing idea warranted some discussion.

Good idea, way overdue. There's no way the Govt will go for it though because they won't make money from it like they do with Greed Camera$.

[Dodge]

more cars less speed is the growing problem on most roads during daylight hours

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I wonder why they don't express the fatalities on Aussie roads as a percentage of licenced drivers or number of registered cars, not overall figures...