$50m Victoria Speed Camera Blitz
July 13, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Victoria is set to receive its largest expansion of the speed camera network since 1986 with the addition of 31 new fixed speed cameras across the state. 22 existing sites will also upgraded from red light to combined red light / speed cameras.
As if that’s not enough an additional 3000 hours per month – or a 50 per cent increase – of mobile camera operation has also been given the go ahead in a move that will see Victorian coffers benefit of revenue exceeding $48 million.
Police say the blitz is aimed squarely at safety and hope it will drive the state’s road toll below 300 fatalities per annum.
“It’s going to be really, really aggressive,” Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay said. “I’m sure some parts of the community will probably have a bit of a whinge, but we’re really confident this will take us to the next level.”
There will also be increased targeting of major events including the Formula One Grand Prix and Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said the Brumby Government move would save lives and make roads safer.
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State Labor at it’s finest!
Hands up the muppets on these blogs that actually vote Labor?
I’m pretty sure the money would be better used for things like driver training etc. Speed isn’t the biggest killer, its inattention and inexperience (IMO).
“said the Brumby Government move would save lives and make roads safer.”
lol
Yeah, and earn another 48 million $
Its things like this that make you want to own a car less and less [or at least driving it]
Anyway, the old story DONT SPEED and you have nothing to fear!
Come back Jeff, we miss you!
Cheers
F-0
Revenue raising at its finest!
The job of a policemen is edging away from “law enforcement” to “revenue collectors”
To those that have kids you’ll understand this comparison:
If you chastise your kids all the time and punish them continually they will grow up to be troublesome. But if you “tactfully” offer them a treat for doing good they will work hard at being good to get their treat. They will grow up to be well behaved kids (generally). We the drivers are the kids and the police are the parents. By continually punishing drivers all they are doing is making us hate them more and not listen. Use the money to incentivise good driver habits, after all isn’t that what the police want – good drivers and less accidents?
Ken Lay said. “I’m sure some parts of the community will probably have a bit of a whinge, but we’re really confident this will take us to the next level.” What level would that be??The next credit level??
well once you know where they are and you’re speeding at night time just turn your lights off :D i have yet to try it cause i’m on good behaviour
The “next level” is police armed with – a portable eftpos machine! Swipe-N-Go on the spot for a 10% discount off your fine and half price Tuesdays. Don’t forget the 5-6pm happy hour where all fines are doubled! The next level in policing adds new meaning to the term – COP SHOP.
Sorry Sam-R but the next level is linking your E-Tag directly to your savings acount and having it hooked up to the speed camers.
But seriously, how about th enovel approach of employing more Police (the standard constabularly worked fine without diploma’s before) and purchasing say 100 Corollas ot Focii painitng them Hi VIs and let them loose 24/7 on all roads. Ever notice how well the traffic behaves and how many people obey “EVERY” road law, right down to two hands on the wheel when there is a police car near them??? Now that’s a novel thing called Policing……
OK – look at our current road tolls, increase in speed cameras increase in deaths on the road. WHY?? because there are no police on the roads. In Adelaide the other Sunday there was a front page report following groups of youths at there leisure driving from one side of town to the other causing havoc. Then in the middle of the night actually blocked a highway for drags, burn outs etc. Over 100 cars parked each side of the road. This occurs every weekend. Where were the police? If you dont use your car and catch public transport there is an increase in violence and assults against the public. Where are the police? In fact a bikie beats someone to death at an Airport, where are the police?? Our roads and highways are a disgrace, no matter how many fines they collect, GST on fuel, fuel excise tax, state charges…… wheres all the f***ing money?? Its not a matter of Labor or Liberal its our government corruption…. or is it communism??
“a move that will see Victorian coffers benefit of revenue exceeding $48 million” in a “blitz is aimed squarely at safety and hope it will drive the state’s road toll below 300 fatalities per annum”
Seems like a dicotamy of political bullshit to me. Public interest is not bieng served here! The introduction of mandatory ESC and ABS will lower road tolls, not more fixed speed camera’s. I can honestly say as a P plater both ESC and ABS have saved my ass more times than a fixed speed camera ever has. Why these are not mandatory on all new vehicles is beyond me, drivers make mistakes and having systems in place to help actively correct them do alot more good than punishing those who have made the mistake. I’ve learnt from my mistakes and am slowly improving in my driving, although a Government sponcered defensive driving course would only further improve it, surely?
Just as an interesting side note: more and more people are loosing their licence each year as a result of fixed and mobile speed camera’s under the egis of high road tolls, yet the road toal seems to steadily be falling.
FRONTMAN – Please don’t give them any ideas, they may use them!
CarAdvice – Please change the picture on this article, everytime I scoll down and see this policemen I think he’s looking at me!
Brett – You have a very valid point. The reason why there are no police attending these terrible crimes is because they’re too busy fining Miss Daisy for doing 5kmph over the speed limit
Nick – I though you would have got the idea by now but I’ll let you in on the secret, speed cameras are there to raise revenue not lower road tolls. Why else do they hide mobile speed cameras in NON-BLACKSPOT areas?
FrugalOne – I got booked for 62 in a 60 zone. I didn’t think I was speeding but the policemen thought otherwise. 0 tolerance he called it, $50 thank you very much! Thats revenue raising if I ever saw it.
I’ve no problem with the fixed speed cameras, they are not so much revenue raisers as they are a tax on idiots.
Please just increase my taxes and get more police officers out there.
Could a journalist from this site get some figures , use FOI, on how many extra fines have been issued for not keeping left, tail gating etc?
Every morning I overtake about 5 -10 cars in the middle lane as I watch trucks and fogwits sitting in the right lane.
Or is speed the only road rule now?
Sam-R Says:
July 13th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
FRONTMAN – Please don’t give them any ideas, they may use them!
Sorry my friend, Mia Cuppa et al…..
But up here we are getting really peeved with the mentality of the southern states and there speed. Every Winter we get a flood of grey nomads towing their vans at 73.5km/h along single lane sectionsof the highway scared out of their brains to go any faster less the big bad camera goes flash…. They are only pensioners you know!!
More seriously cameras do nothing to combat the driver who sits below the speed limit wearing thin the patience of those behind to the point that someone does try to pass a the wrong point and well you get the picture…..
If we had police actually doing traffic duties they could also enforce the obstructing traffic (or at least suggest courtesy be used). That’s the other thing, an office has the ability to use discretion, 5 cars travelling safely, 3 second gaps indicating etc, but at say 120 in 110 zone on the Hume on a perfect sunny day no danger so let them go. Alternatively a car travelling a 95 and constantly blocking cars by moving into the Right hand lane speeding up till it along side someone then slowing down will not be booked by a speed camera yet the officer on the beat has a miriad of misdemena’s at his disposal.
I agree with the speeding kills line, but before you go biting off my head, i hold the line to a grain of salt. doing 100km/h in a 40 or 50 zone is what i call speeding, not 55 in a 50 zone.
What most people don’t understand is that you should drive to the conditions, that is if it is say an 80 zone, but really heavy rain limits vision and traction, you should travel slower than 80.
Finally, most speeding related accidents occur at speeds far greater than the speed limits, not just over moving with flowing traffic.
Victoria Police – just another tax department. Fact that walking trhrough CBD will get you stabbed, glassed and robbed, that’s alright huh.
Ken Lay is a political puppet character. Bloody idiot that is only worried about how much money he can steal from motorists.
If police want less than 300 deaths on the road – HOW ABOUT THEY START TRAINING PEOPLE TO DRIVE. Getting a licence here in Vic, you need to parallel park and that’s it – no car control required, no emergency braking required, no swerving test etc etc. Ken Lay – yet again, you suck man, you suck.
Thanks to the stupid couple of thousand Commodore drivers in Victoria that persist to write their cars off at big speeds, this is the only way the Police feel that they can control the road toll. No talk of defensive driver training etc..
Got fined the other day over a very minor technicality on a round about that didn’t pose any threat to other road users or myself. Unique roundabout and a highway patrol car waiting to catch people as a revenue raiser.
Could have let me off with a warning but decided to be a smart arse to add insult to injury.
I could tell them where they could nab hoons everyday of the week but the actions of these people seem to go unabated.
Easy money here in NSW is what it’s all about.
Never see patrols so I guess they all watch telly back at the depot most nights.
p.s I don’t think the Constable had started to shave yet.LOL
Another thing I think that needs sorting out is the accuracy of speedo’s in cars.
My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that speedo’s only need to be accurate to 10%, meaning that a driver might be driving at 60kph according to their in-car speedo where as in reality they could be going as slow as 54kph or as fast as 66kph!
This would explain a lot of the slower drivers out there, they might just have a speedo that overestimates their speed!
Exactly how much of this is directed at encouraging people to actually drive intelligently? Or are Victorians beyond salvation in that regard?
one word that will reduce road tolls! EDUCATION – I read with interest car`advices first hand experience with excessive speed on the autobahn’s in Full Throttle 2. The point highlighted was that this country can have pensioners travelling at 80 within three lanes of porsches doing over 200 and how? because they know how to drive and obey road rules for the benefit of themselves and everyone around them. I can;t remeber exact figures but i am sure there road toll is less per capita of drivers than our own.
I can’t think of how many times I shake my head at idiots who simply don’t know how to drive or follow simple principles like keep left unless overtaking or how to use a round about! It is a minor thing yes, but the improvements to traffic flow, safety and driver tempers is remarkable!
Need to have a look at some of these countries procedures for gaining a license, continued education etc
I also agree with improving police presence, because as was rightly pointed out, when was the last time a camera booked someone for driving in the right lane or not indicating, nopt to mention the improvement in peoples knowledge/use of simple road rules!
Is keep left unless overtaking still a law where you are Jp? In WA that law has been abolished in roads with speed limits of 80kph or less.
Hahaha Realcars…………. Constable Dribble is employed to collect money for the Government theses days ,my experience in dealing with them the last 12 months shows most don’t even know the law and the real criminals get off anyway! No justice for the honest I give you the tip!
Driver education should start at school including defensive driver training .
JP if u were booked as I was on this “unique” roundabout u wouldn’t be happy either.
Pure revenue raising.Nothing more.
Booked a few years ago for doing 105klms in a 400m 100klm zone with 110klm zones either side.
Same smart arse approach from the Constable concerned.
Revenue is King!!!!
They should no longer be called Police officers as the level of genuine policing and their success at catching real crooks or even just car thieves, is appalling.
A more fitting badge for this group would be simply “Revenue Collection Service”.
By the term “Fixed” does Vic-Pol mean “Rigged” as in Gambling as in no matter what happens or no matter what you do you will lose [points; money; your licence or your car]?
Keep flashing your headlights fellow Vics.
I don’t think the cameras are where the accidents are by and large.
Instead they are on wide clear roads where drivers commonly pick up minor amounts speed. 6 kays over is not callous but that is what the traffic safety industry harps on here all the time, largely to the exclusion of other vital safety messages. The public is discouraged from objecting to the focus on speeding fines as a safety policy.
Where is the poor tyres ad or the texting while driving ad or the loose surfaces ad. Not much money in the fines for those dangers.
governments all over the world have some sort of income/investment
Dubai=oil/tourism
malaysia=palm oil/sugar
and so on
Australia=speeding fines/cameras
idiot
SADDD
Final question on Driver’s test: What’s your credit rating?
The answer comes from the UK. They are allowed to drive at a speed they feel compfortable pretty much everywere they go. (ie 70Mph speed limit, people generally sit on 85-90Mph – Yes 150Km/h – yes, lived there for 3 years). Their police are nice, and helpful (road cops!), they give advice and warnings, and fines to those who really do deserve them.
Uk drivers are not harrased, as a result they have to drive well (at speed, knowing their car’s limits/abilities). They have less road deaths per head of population by a factor of around 3/1 against Australia.
They have wet roads more often, fog, severe truck spray, and for part of the year snow (even occasionally black ice), and still less deaths. Hmmm I hear you say, speed kills? even that 2km/h over you got fined for? YES!!!! DEATH, DESTRUCTION, IT KILLS!!!!!! (not falling asleep at the wheel, or being fully cut drunk)
Our government loves propergander, trying to cover up its love of covert taxing. We need to force them to pay every cent of motoring revenue into good roads and lowering TAC payments. That way they cant use it for their other revenue plans and scheemes.. that will curb the trend.
We need a lobby group… RACV? … as if
Peter, you are EXACTLY RIGHT!! Until you drive in England (and Europe for that case), you don’t fully realise how bad a great majority of Victorian drivers are. Take a cab in France and the driver will hit 160km on the freeway (well ours did), and you will feel a whole lot safer than one of ours who is doing 50km/hr down Flinders Street. Their drivers focus on driving alone.. None of this wathcing the speedo to make sure we don’t go 2km/hr over the limit.. No talking on a mobile.. etc.. Just driving. They are passionate about their cars, and it shows. If the governemnt and police were really into reducing the road toll they would make getting a licence harder, with frequent re-testing and annual roadworthy checks on cars. Google getting a car licence in Sweden and you will see how much effort is put into driver training. Until that time, we will have a million muppets driving on the roads, blissfully unaware of what to do if they skid or need to apply ABS.. I bet 90% of the road users will take their foot of the brake when their ABS kicks in and boots them in the foot the first time they use it.. Get real Vic.Police.
The more fixed speed cameras there are on the road, the less time people will spend watching the road.
People get paranoid about the cameras and just watch their speedo. The amout of drivers I see that begin to veer into another lane in the vicinity of a fixed speed camera is rediculous.
I agree 100% with the claims that they are revenue raisers because I truly believe they are more dangerous than they are good.
realcars Says:
July 13th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
“Got fined the other day over a very minor technicality on a round about that didn’t pose any threat to other road users or myself. Unique roundabout and a highway patrol car waiting to catch people as a revenue raiser.”
And I bet at the same time some cretin was robbing a service station or engaging in a mass brawl and the police were no where to be found…
It’s good to know all the people on this blog so far are against this type of blatant revenue raising.
id like to see them deliver on this safer roads promise. With that $50million go and upgrade the major roads and not just on a big bonus for Mr. Brumby’s department. I vote labour but strongly reconsidering it. I hope Sydney dont pull a stupid stunt like this.
Highway robbery. No wonder so many people drive around on cloned plates. All you have to do is find a car the same colour and model as yours and make a copy of the number plate. Saves on rego and fines.
I meant reduce the death tolls btw :p
It’s not the police or the gov. fault. Australian take
anything the gov throw at us, winge about it for few weeks then life goes on. lets stop winging for once and do what the germans or italians would have done in this situation..
Peter and G3ETURBO – I’m with you 100%. Aussies just bend over and take it from the pollies and cops. If this is Europe you’d see blood on the streets from angry people that had enough of this BS.
95% of Oz population are bloody sheep, no wonder they can walk all over us 5%.
Real cars was not having a shot at your mention of a round about – however since u raised it. The point i was making was that should you spend the money on additional road cops as oppose to cameras then you would have a certain extent of leniancy from police in assessing a situation and whether to fine or not (depending on the cop/mood)ie if there wasn’t anyone on the round about when you committed your minor infringement they may warn you in the hope you do follow the rule next time during school hours/peak traffic when these rules r important! Go to any round about, odd shaped or not and you will see how inefficient and dangerous these things become if drivers dont follow simple principles/rules.
In reply to the keep left thing yes it is down here – the law cant practically apply under 80 anyway?? it is on the 110k highway with a grandma doing 80 in the left lane that this annoys you and wish people where a) aware of it and B) followed it or was enforced