A quarter of NSW' lucrative speed cameras have been shut down

[TVR-190]

A quarter of the state's lucrative speed cameras have been shut down | thetelegraph.com.au

The state government yesterday ordered the RTA to immediately turn off 38 cameras, sacrificing more than $10 million in revenue a year.

But drivers who think they can now flout the law should think again. The RTA issued a warning yesterday that mobile camera vans and speed traps would still be operating.

The shutdown came after a report by Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat yesterday found 38 of the state's 141 cameras had no significant road safety benefit.

The RTA had proposed relocating the 38 cameras or deactivating some of them after further reviews.

But Roads Minister Duncan Gay ordered them to be immediately turned off and dismantled in coming months.

Twelve of the cameras are located in Sydney.

One of those - in a school zone on the Great Western Highway at Parramatta - has long been despised by drivers, raking in a staggering $9.5 million over four years.

"We want to make sure cameras are there for road safety, not as revenue-raisers," Mr Gay said.

"For some camera locations the number of crashes did not drop, so we need to be looking at other measures. This could include alternative treatments such as road safety upgrades."

He warned drivers who were caught speeding at the locations up until yesterday must still pay their fines.

The report found speed cameras across the state had improved safety, with total crashes and injuries falling 26 per cent and fatalities down by 67 per cent, in the three years after installation.

The Auditor-General said speed cameras "generally" changed driver behaviour and improved road safety, but some had failed.

"The RTA should place them where they work and remove or replace them when they don't," he said.

Opposition spokesman Robert Furolo last night said drivers would be confused by the possible deployment of mobile speed camera vans in the same location where fixed cameras were being removed.

"Premier O'Farrell promised to remove speed cameras that were not effective. He didn't say anything about replacing them with mobile speed cameras at the same sites," Mr Furolo said.

"Motorists are unlikely to think Mr O'Farrell has kept his promise."

The NRMA has backed a recommendation that the RTA review its speed camera locations annually.

A Step in the right direction.

[greenacc]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME ? Why are Road safety upgrades are a second thought to reducing accidents !!! Who The FFFFF is running this country.
at least the Libs admitted Labours BS and canned the cameras.

This could include alternative treatments such as road safety upgrades."
He warned drivers who were caught speeding at the locations up until yesterday must still pay their fines.

[dirt drifter]

anyone know which cameras they're turning off?

[NV-MY-VT]

Next up: Victorian Red Light and Speed Cameras.

You think you guys got it bad up there....

[STEEV888]

Double the cameras don't shut them off, people will learn over time not to speed and all that extra revenue can be used to cut petrol tax. I guarantee you he same person has not been caught 10-15 times because they learned their lesson. Let the stupid benefit others.

[ephect]

they are looking at it correctly, road toll and deaths are not always linked to speeding. if you drive the roads, there a mess, potholes tram-groves, its a hard enough fight just to keep the car on the road.

most know where the cameras are and slow down for them, then just speed back up after passing them. they dont learn THE lesson, they just learn A lesson at that intersection.. doesnt ever stop them from speeding ever again.

EDIT: leave the boxes up, dont tell anyone if their working or not, everyone wont want to risk it and slow down

[Dr HaxZaw]

yeah i got one i drive through everyday in a school zone getting shut down... winning

[Hangman]

yeah i got one i drive through everyday in a school zone getting shut down... winning

Congrats, now you can speed through a school zone

Double the cameras don't shut them off, people will learn over time not to speed and all that extra revenue can be used to cut petrol tax. I guarantee you he same person has not been caught 10-15 times because they learned their lesson. Let the stupid benefit others.

Good idea in theory, but do you honestly believe any of the revenue will go towards something like cutting petrol prices?

[NV-MY-VT]

I have NO problems with Speed cameras, just so long as the money goes directly to the Red Cross or something.

[PhatCommy]

It's too bad the government here in SA doesn't agree
Dangers in cutting speed cameras | Adelaide Now

[STEEV888]

Good idea in theory, but do you honestly believe any of the revenue will go towards something like cutting petrol prices?

Not at all my friend but one can dream.

[ucwepn]

Saw a new type of mobile speed camera today, was one of those new holden medium suv things (can't think of the name lol), instead of black boxes on the bullbars it had no bullbars and it was all enclosed inside the vehicle on the passenger side of the dash sat this large black box with a camera hole at the front of it.

[Dr HaxZaw]

Congrats, now you can speed through a school zone

lol i drove through about 4pm everyday and im always nervous as to whether my clock might be wrong or the flashing lights arent working

[TVR-190]

lol i drove through about 4pm everyday and im always nervous as to whether my clock might be wrong or the flashing lights arent working

Is this the one at Gymea, Can't remember if you were the guy who lived near me.

[Dr HaxZaw]

Is this the one at Gymea, Can't remember if you were the guy who lived near me.

lol thats the one... bit retarded actually cause the lights are red so often youd need to either brake really late or floor it off the lights to get caught when its not a school zone lol

oh and yeah im in caringbah

[bogan_vk]

i wish they would get rid of all speed cameras ,im so sick of concentrating so much on my speed instead of the road.

[Hangman]

i wish they would get rid of all speed cameras ,im so sick of concentrating so much on my speed instead of the road.

While I don't like speed cameras as much as the next bloke, I still don't see that as an excuse. It's not hard to maintain a speed without constantly watching the speedo. It only takes a second to glance at it.
I said this a while ago in another thread, but, while driving, who rubbernecks the hot chick on the footpath? Lights a smoke? Looks at the stereo? Texts/talks on a mobile? Yet can't maintain a constant speed for 30 secs through a speed camera.

[bogan_vk]

While I don't like speed cameras as much as the next bloke, I still don't see that as an excuse. It's not hard to maintain a speed without constantly watching the speedo. It only takes a second to glance at it.
I said this a while ago in another thread, but, while driving, who rubbernecks the hot chick on the footpath? Lights a smoke? Looks at the stereo? Texts/talks on a mobile? Yet can't maintain a constant speed for 30 secs through a speed camera.

true, but i always worry whether my speedo is accurate and how accurate the camera is ,i cant be doing too bad though i havent had a fine in years.

[ephect]

every car i drive, i always check it with a GPS, and i have not yet been fined when the speedo reads 105 and the gps readys 100. i trust a GPS more than the speedo, and i know its not applicable in a court of law. acurate enough for me