news

QLD Police Union Oppose Covert Speed Cameras

Could it really be? An Australian Police Union actually publicly stating that covert speed cameras don't save lives?


Years of "every K over is a killer" ads and speed-cameras save lives propaganda has taken its toll on everyone's sanity. A generation brainswashed by the government's addiction to revenue raising cameras may soon hear the voice of reason from the most unlikely source.

Queensland's police union president Ian Leavers told reporters yesterday that recently introduced covert speed cameras are "poker machines on wheels". We couldn't have picked better words ourselves.

Embattled QLD Premier Anna Bligh (who has recently suffered a massive nose-dive in popularity) was quick to dismiss the claim, insisting they are helping reduce the State's road toll.

IMr Leavers was quick to respond, providing figures that show the State's road toll has actually increased since covert speed cameras came into operation two months ago.

According to official records, the road toll has increased from 3.7 deaths a week to 5.1 deaths a week since covert speed cameras were introduced. Going by those figures and using the government's own methods of logical-reasoning, it's fair to say that cover speed cameras are actually killing motorists.

"I fear that the Bligh government is becoming addicted to the revenue of speed cameras, sure they rake in the dollars, however, the deterrent effect for speedsters is non-existent." Leavers said.

Of course Mr Levers doesn't believe that normal (police-operated) speed camera units are also ineffective, his argument is that speed-cameras need to be visible to act as a deterrent as well as punishing those that break the law. Covert cameras do little to actually enforce the speed limit until the culprit receives a bill in the mail.

"There is not a shred of evidence that they have had any positive impact in reducing fatalities on our roads," Mr Leavers said.

Police Minister Neil Roberts also joined in on the debate, telling AAP that although covert cameras are yet to show a reduction in the road toll, they do change driver behaviour.

"I've never made the claim that covert cameras are actually reducing the toll at this stage, but over time when people get tickets in the mail it will dawn on them you don't always know where speed cameras are," Mr Roberts said.

Have you slowed down because you believe every K over is a killer? Or because you're sick of paying the camera-tax?

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent