Slow down: fixed Cameras start tomorrow

Police Minister Judy Spence today reminded drivers that 24-hour fixed speed cameras commence tomorrow (Friday 14 December) in two locations and in a third location in January.

From tomorrow fixed speed cameras will be operating:

·Northbound on Main Street, Kangaroo Point, between Shaftson Ave onramp and Thornton Street; and

·Northbound on Bruce Highway at Burpengary Weighbridge.

In January a camera will commence northbound on the Pacific Motorway at Tarragindi, between Birdwood Road overpass and Esher Road overpass.

“The Queensland road toll now stands at 344 which is 29 more than the same time last year.

“We are heading towards the highest road toll in a decade.

“Fixed speed cameras are about getting people to slow down. There are two signs advising people they are approaching a speed camera and need to ensure they are not exceeding the speed limit.

“I have noted feedback in the media since the announcement of fixed speed cameras. While there has been some criticism most people comment that drivers who speed after warning signs only have themselves to blame.

“The camera locations are in crash risk areas.

“Last Sunday police tested the fixed camera on Main Street which has a 60km/h speed limit. In five hours 255 vehicles travelled at speeds which would have resulted in a fine (this was before the warning signs went in).

“One driver was doing 96 km/h and another 94 km/h. That kind of speeding is unbelievably irresponsible and is what we are trying to stamp out,” Ms Spence said.

But there are worse examples than those. Speed data was collected from one lane in both directions from 2 November to 3 December 2007 on the northbound and southbound approaches to the Story Bridge.

Maximum speeds

• Every day, there was at least one vehicle registering a maximum speed of over 100km/h.
• The highest recorded maximum speed for an individual vehicle was 145.6km/h.
• Maximum speeds were not confined to late at night or early in the morning. For example, one vehicle was clocked at 120.8km/h just after 4pm; another vehicle was travelling at 117km/h just after 11am.
• Maximum speeds were not confined to weekends. For example, a vehicle was clocked travelling at 123km/h at approximately 5.30pm on a Wednesday while another vehicle was travelling at 104.6km/h at 4.50pm on a Thursday.

Ms Spence said the crash zone which takes in Main Street and the Story Bridge recorded 16 serious crashes, with victims taken to hospital, between 2001 and 2005.

Crash information for the other two locations between 2001 and 2005:

·Bruce Highway at Burpengary Weighbridge - 11 serious crashes, with people taken to hospital, including one fatal; two minor crashes.

·Pacific Motorway at Tarragindi - 16 serious crashes, with people taken to hospital, including one fatal; four minor crashes.

The New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) reports that an independent evaluation into fixed speed cameras found, where they have been installed, they lead to a:

• 90 per cent reduction in fatal crashes
• 20 per cent reduction in crashes involving injuries.

The independent evaluation showed that fixed speed cameras are effective in reducing speed generally, but most importantly, are extremely effective in reducing the number of severe crashes, including fatalities.

The evaluation also examined community attitudes to the cameras, which were generally positive.

Ms Spence said fines collected from fixed speed cameras will be spent on rehabilitating road trauma victims, improving high risk sections of road, and road safety education.

“This is not about revenue raising. I would be happy if no-one received a fine because it would mean that everyone was doing the right thing and serious injuries and fatalities were greatly reduced.

“Fixed speed cameras are part of a range of road safety initiatives this government has introduced to halt the tragic loss of lives on our roads.

“Together with mobile speed cameras, random breath testing, new random roadside drug testing, new Q-cars and our tough car confiscation laws, people who put the lives of other road users at risk will have nowhere to hide,” Ms Spence said.

13 December 2007

Media contact: 32396218