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The studies I've read from the Motor Accident Commission and the Victorian police here in Australia show a clear correlation between speed cameras and reduced i

by neotek 14y ago

The studies I've read from the Motor Accident Commission and the Victorian police here in Australia show a clear correlation between speed cameras and reduced incidences of accidents and fatalities, so yes, I support speed cameras. Having said that, there are some pretty suspicious placements that seem like clear revenue raising. For example, a new underpass was built here in Adelaide on a road leading into the city. It has a relatively steep incline and the road curves as you enter and exit the underpass. There's a speed camera placed in precisely the best place to catch people who happen to stray a few kph over the speed limit as they descend into the underpass, and it makes that underpass difficult to go through - you're aware of the camera so you're constantly watching your speedometer as you enter and exit, and as I mentioned before, the road curves and so you find yourself drifting over the line because you can't focus entirely on the road for fear you'll creep over the speed limit and get a $600 fine and a bunch of demerit points. There have been a few crashes on the underpass already, although thankfully no fatalities as far as I know.

ktizo 14y ago
"The studies I've read from the Motor Accident Commission and the Victorian police here in Australia show a clear correlation between speed cameras and reduced incidences of accidents and fatalities" You also have to be careful with some of these statistics. Speed cameras often get put up in reaction to a series of accidents. But statistically you would expect the amount of crashes to go up and down, and if you have just had an unusually high level of accidents on a stretch of road, then you would expect the average measured afterwards to be lower in the majority of cases, irrespective of whether a speed camera was installed.
Maxious 14y ago
The Victorian studies also show that the number of fines from a specific speed camera typically goes down over time, presumably because repeat offenders get fines/lose their licences http://www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au/home/statistics/trends+in+fines+interactive+chart http://www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au/home/statistics/trend... In many Australian states (including South Australia) the payments from fines goes to a Community Road Safety Fund which is then given mostly (except for funding for holiday double demerit campaigns) to community and motorist groups to run their road safety activities, not the road authorities or police who would advise on where to put the cameras. So hopefully there is no incentive for "revenue raising" cameras - wouldn't the potential and actual crashes in the underpass have caused the camera to be installed?

by neotek 14y ago

ktizo 14y ago

"The studies I've read from the Motor Accident Commission and the Victorian police here in Australia show a clear correlation between speed cameras and reduced incidences of accidents and fatalities" You also have to be careful with some of these statistics. Speed cameras often get put up in reaction to a series of accidents. But statistically you would expect the amount of crashes to go up and down, and if you have just had an unusually high level of accidents on a stretch of road, then you would expect the average measured afterwards to be lower in the majority of cases, irrespective of whether a speed camera was installed.

Maxious 14y ago

The Victorian studies also show that the number of fines from a specific speed camera typically goes down over time, presumably because repeat offenders get fines/lose their licences http://www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au/home/statistics/trends+in+fines+interactive+chart http://www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au/home/statistics/trend... In many Australian states (including South Australia) the payments from fines goes to a Community Road Safety Fund which is then given mostly (except for funding for holiday double demerit campaigns) to community and motorist groups to run their road safety activities, not the road authorities or police who would advise on where to put the cameras. So hopefully there is no incentive for "revenue raising" cameras - wouldn't the potential and actual crashes in the underpass have caused the camera to be installed?