RTA plans 40 more mobile speed cameras for NSW

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By Brett Davis | November 01st, 2010

The RTA and mobile speed camera contractors are about to launch 40 more covert speed cameras in NSW. This is a massive increase on the $2.1 million Redflex contract currently underway, which only operates six mobile camera cars.

It doesn’t take a mathematics genius to figure out the cost of such an operation, which will be paid for using tax-payer’s money of course. The most annoying and frustrating part is there’s going to be a new ‘seven step’ incentive program which offers commission-like bonuses for the contractors based on the number of tickets they issue – key performance indicator (KPI).

An RTA spokesman recently told The Daily Telegraph,

“Contractors can earn up to 11 per cent more if performing perfectly on all KPIs and could be deducted 14 per cent if KPIs are not met.”

Reports say other incentives include; bonuses based on the quality of the images taken of the speeding drivers as well as how fast the tickets can be filed to the RTA. Meeting these ideal requirements, as said, will give contractors the chance to pocket up to 11 percent more income per month.

So, the government is paying contractors, using our money, to buy ‘action shots’ in a buy-and-sell money-making scheme for maximum profit. And it is ‘profit’, this is no longer between the RTA and the police (government organisations), this is now external trading. One cannot begin to exhaust how ridiculous this is in just a single breath.

It’s no longer a matter of whether or not speed cameras are a revenue raising exercise instead of an initiative setup to save lives; it’s now down to the projected revenue the cameras can potentially raise, like a business forecast. Proctor Law defence lawyer, Peter Proctor, was quoted as saying in the Telegraph report,

“It is disturbing to note that these operators are on an incentive scheme. This is now a money-making business at the expense of the people.”

The 40 new mobile cameras are planned to be in operation by July, 2011.

macca

the NSW govt has money problems and they’ve seen how much ca$h has been made in Victoria. here in Vic we donate $400M to the govt each year (they even budget for it), and our road deaths are 30 more than this time in 2009. Tim Pallas (roads minister for Vic govt) says they don’t need the money – well Tim, will you give it all to charity?
ST

No party will kill this stupid addiction called cash revenue.

I just cannot believe there isn’t any group large enough to just get rid of this notion that it’s bad driving and not pure 3km/h over a limit that is the killer. If there wasn’t that revenue stream attached to speed cameras, do you think any political organisation would be pushing so hard for it? Certainly hasn’t been much push for a better alternative.
http://Audi Robj

Not about safety, just revenue. If it was about safety they would take all this money and put that into better roads and increased speed limits. This will never happen.
Banicks

So the fact that other countries and experts have blatently told Australia, the RTA and the government these things do nothing, they’re still progressing with implementation of operation road revenue..i mean safety. Yea ok.

Time to start vandilising I think.
Yonny

Who can save the poor motorist from these ravenous thieves?

And why aren’t Australians jumping up and down with outrage over being ripped off by their governments? Why aren’t mobile speed cameras being targeted by motorists? I’m not condoning that, but in the UK and the USA fixed and mobile speed cameras are constantly being vandalised yet it seems to be quite rare here, and I’m not sure why. I think the average Aussie is just a sheep who will do whatever he/she is told to do by the government.

laurie

Spot on Yonny we complain when the banks put interest rates up but happily pay these stupid fines BUT remember its Macquarie Bank that has a finger in this and where is the opposition on this, DEAD QUITE! why because its a gold mine

laurie

laurie

Car Advice

Just heard on the news that the road Minister has scrapped this idea!

laurie

ST

Link to the good news?

laurie

ST heard it on the car radio on 2ch 1pm news

laurie

Al Juraj

Aussies are just too nice to lay a finger on those who deserve it. That’s why operators keep volunteering to place cameras on their cars to catch ‘dangerous’ drivers. In other countries, it’s like suicide. Best I’ve heard was a parking fine guy beaten up by a group of people in a certain locality, but nothing else.

THE FACT

The NSW Government will be kicked out next year for a fact,hence BE WARNED THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU CONTINUE WITH THIS RUBBISH YOU TOGETHER WITH THE RTA BOSSES WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB.

Because if road safety was the whole purpose of this speed camera exercise then RTA would have made compulsory resiting of driving test every couple of years, would have sponsored BMW safe driving classes, would have introduced safe driving training classes.

Unfortunately none of these and more RTA or NSW government has done , HENCE START LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB NSW MINISTERS AND RTA BOSSES
Jonty

If it is not a revenue raising scheme then lets ask the question:

Why do the (soon to be over 40) mobile speed cameras not have to display the speed limit and that they are in the immediate area…?

For decades fixed speed cameras have displayed a visual warning about the speed limit and that they are just ahead…see photo above. The logic is that the visual reminder makes a driver aware of the speed limit and sticking to it, thus reducing speeding and accidents.

This has been the thought process (and case put forward)for decades, and as it is still in place one can only deduce that it is seen to be working. So why then no such thought process for the mobile cameras.

To take it a step further let’s outsource and incentivise the process…sorry but that is beyond me.
Shak

I no ill get at least 50 thumbs down for this, but i think it is relevant. We constantly complain that the government is milking this Camera cash cow for all its worth, but its drivers like you and me who are funding them. And why are we paying all this cash? Because we are obviously in breach of the law, an albeit draconian and outdated law. if we could simply drive within the limits of the law, they would have no one to fine, and then eventually get rid of these miserable devices. If you do eventually get a fine, challenge it. I have only ever received one fine, and it was eventually overturned as it was proven to be inaccurate. I know that i’d much rather spend my money proving my innocence, than giving it straight to the government.

Monster

Oh wait.. let me think, the revenue generated by the fix speed cameras have fallen so the NSW government introduced these mobile cameras to make up for the lost of of money. I didn’t make this up, it was on the news and it was stated in the government announcement.

People were driving safer around these so called dangerous black spots, as a reward we got more speed cameras to find any possible way to get money from us.

The current speed limits are extremely unreasonable to say the least. The government propaganda machine want us to believe driving above the speed limit is deadly, but in reality it isn’t.

Just watch the government lower the speed limit once again if everyone obey the current limit, or watch them boost up the road registrations fee, or parking fee, or congestion charge, or whatever retarded law they can think off.

So the road minster has apparently scrap this idea, that only means they government will quietly pass it in when people are less aware. Didn’t the government said they will only introduce 6 of these mobile money collectors on our road?

By the way, how many lives and accidents have those 6 mobile speed camera saved? None?

Shak

I agree with you that speeding is not always deadly, but what i am saying is that unless you get a faulty reading from a camera, which is easily proven, you were breaking the law, and if you had simply followed the law in the first place you wouldnt have had the fine. I agree that speeding may not be deadly to your life all the time, but it sure is to your wallet most of the time.

daniel

The government that makes the law is the problem, the lie that speed kills is the problem. Training us to be mindless robots is the problem. Accepting laws just because its a law is the problem. Accepting the lie and conforming is the problem

daniel

Human being are not robots! I’m constantly checking my speed looking out for cameras, worrying about getting caught going a few kms over the speed limit. This policy is dangerous and irresponsible. Do you honestly believe that the road toll will increase if we got rid of all speed cameras tomorrow? The vast majority of people drive within their limits weather this means they are breaking the law or not. Today, i was on a wet highway and was constantly under the speed limit. On a dry day ill, if i deem it safe drive over the speed limit. Fifteen years of driving experience has given me the ability to judge what is safe and what isn’t. I’m part of the majority that can judge what is an appropriate speed and what isn’t. Driver skill based education is the key, Germany is a perfect example of competent driver training programs and test criterion.
RC

I think you’re missing the point here. When fine revenue drops, ie more people complying with an already excessively low limit, what do you think the response is? Lower the limit even further! How else do you think they can still catch people speeding? Why do you think they dropped the default urban limit from 60 to 50, & now they are talking about dropping the cbd limit to 40? To all those ‘don’t speed & you won’t get fined brigade’ what, can I ask, are you going to do when they decide to drop the motorway limit from 110 to 60?

http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes.blogspot.com/ Paul

When they the Australian company that makes this equipment sold it to the state of Arizona, the locals got so sick of it one of the ‘contractors’ was killed in a drive by shotting.

When small time governments persecute their own citizens they leave little choice by for the people being persecuted to fight back.

The result was, Arizona cancelled the contract and got rid of speed cameras all together.

Wayne Kerr

In America, people have the balls to deal out mob justice. In Australia, the government has taken our balls away.

My Cars Called T-Rex

And then sold our balls to an offsore bank.

http://BMW Nelson

Fck RTA and this Speeding crap.

Wake up and smell the Carcass Australians!
Hung Low

There is one very important KPI that the RTA has failed to mention to the private operators…….. LOWERING THE ROAD TOLL!
Wonder why? Because deceptively in their own admission, they and the private operators know that this lucrative fund raiser cannot and will not achieve that KPI.

I will be writing to my MP and I encourage others to do the same!

Shak

tried it many times. Their secretary gets back to you six months later with a response which basically attacked me and told me that i and the whole motoring community was wrong.

Noel

This is getting beyond a joke, put as many speed cameras in as you like RTA. As far as I am concerned, the money collected is a stupidity tax. The biggest issue I have is the RTA say they cameras save lives, they do not.

The RTA has blood on it’s hands, the “speed is the only killer on the road” message has indoctrinated many drivers into believing as long as they are travalling at or under the speed limit everything is alright. The biggest problem on the road is poor driving, it’s time all bad driving was dealt with as harshly as speeding.
anthony

america has hardly the speed cameras australia does. especially victoria. when i was living up there. 20mph over the limit.. of 70.. was frequent! and spite most cameras being operated by highway patrol it wasnt an issue…

forget speeding. its plane old bad driving that kills. i think we need to take a stand like europe and UK and just blow the suckers up. (opinion dont come arrest me mr conroy) and get rid of the things.

Roger Ramjet

A ladder and draw string garbage bag would bring temporary relief when fitted over the camera unit!

Government hater

Lets start a protest about this. It’s going to far.
I will support any form of protest. Perhaps get experts to research it and then get petitions of people online?

http://BMW Nelson

Count me In!

Government hater

Also mobile speed cameras do no slow drivers.
How will anyone slow down if they do not know where the cameras are.

If anyone gets done at a mobile speed camera, then crashes their car down the road a little bit, sue the government for having a speed camera that did not slow you down.
Because that’s there purpose right? And if they fail to do there job and you crashed, then the someone is at fault? Camera operator? Government? RTA?

Al Juraj

Flashing your lights to warn others about a camera is illegal. So if we are not to speed, then how come we can’t alert our mates to slow down?

The Oracle

I have only seen one of these camera cars. It was southbound direction on the Hume Highway, just north of the Wagga Wagga turnoff. It was a long, flat and straight section of dual carriageway freeway in daylight with fine weather.

I would be very suprised if this was what you would call a blackspot.
What

I understand the frustration, but people – this is your country. And it’s a democracy!

Take up the cause and DO SOMETHING!

Government and non-govt-organizations are >30% of GDP.

They have created a monster – this is another instance of financing / feeding the monster.

Good luck.

BB

We need the lawyer from ‘The Castle’ This is completely against the vibe!

Save It for the track

I certainly don;t agre with KPI’s being linked with tehse things, but seriously the driving public need to stop bleating.
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I book someone for speeding they whinge, I book someone on their mobile phone they whinge, I book someone not indicating they whinge, I book someone who has unrestrained children they whinge, I book someone with bald tyres and defect their car they whinge.
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STOP BLEATING people. Stick to the road rules, have a roadworthy vehicle and you have nothing to worry about, either from a camera or from Police.
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I’m sick to death of every man and their dog blaming somebody else for THEIR poor driving or simple apathy when it comes to the rules or their vehicle condition. Don’t like the rules?? Don’t drive. Or go over to India or China or somewhere like that where road deaths and injuries are comparatively astronomical, load your 7 seater van up with 20 or so people on bald tyres and hit the road at whatever speed you want using whichever side of the road you want. Seriously, enough whingeing…

Yonny

I do stick to the road rules – well, most of them. I will admit to exceeding the speed limit from time to time, but always at times/conditions/places where I believe it to be safe (you know, exercising my discretion and experience, something that the state governments used to trust drivers with). The fact that I am not only still alive but haven’t had a speeding ticket in over 20 years may show that I can be trusted to do the right thing where and when it counts.

You’d be hard pressed to find many reasonable people who believe drink driving laws are draconian or stupid – but speeding laws and the current harsh enforcement of same are recognised by a large percentage of the driving population to be plain revenue-raising and probably counter-productive. And when the government comes up with crazy crap like the KPIs described above it just proves what we all know – it’s all about the money.

You ping me doing 80 in a 60 zone, or 50 in a 40 zone I’ll cop it sweet. You ping me doing 140 in a 100 zone when I’m not overtaking and I’ll cop it sweet. You ping me doing 105 in a 100 zone and I’ll think you’re just having a lend of me.

All that the long-term use of speed cameras have proven Australia-wide is just how safe it usually is to exceed a given speed limit – completely different to the hysterical rubbish we are being fed about every kay over being a killer.

Save It for the track

Yonny. In NSW my personal tolerances are fairly close to what you have just stated as copping sweet, and as a matter of fact, I’m very likely just to flash or waive a finger at a 50 in a 40, as unfortunately there’s usually a 60, 70 or even an 80 in a 40 coming along, so why should I waste time with a 50 in a 40?? Most others I know work the same way. 105 in a 100 wouldn’t even get a finger point or a flash from me.
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The point I was trying to make earlier is that the rules are there, drive to them and you have no problems, and that just about everybody complains when they get a ticket, speeding or otherwise.

BB

Stop being a sheep and letting people tell you what is good for you. Time to think for yourself.
Al Juraj

There are so many rules but there is hardly any help to abide by them. If you really didn’t want people to speed, then there should be speed check devices scattered around the roads. I’m sure there’s well enough revenue to implement these and proactively prevent people from going over. The thing is the money you guys get from us is used only to build even more cameras. There are supposedly speed checks in the Hume, but there were times they weren’t working at all. But can you say the same with speed cameras? It’s quite contradicting Australia can build these devices bullet-proof but cannot come up with reliable cars.

VIC has a 2-3 kph tolerance in the cameras but they allow vehicles to have up to 10 kph offset. Where’s the logic in that if you are so concerned with safety? There should also be a law prescribing manufacturers to build accurate speedometers so if it indicates let’s say 60, actual speed is exactly 60, nothing more, nothing less. A cheap, small TomTom has a precise speed reading, and this has only been invented recently. Speedometers have been there for roughly a century, so why can’t they be perfected?

Save It for the track

Australian Design Rules were changed a few years ago, the +/- 10% allowed was basically changed to a rule that requires no new car speedometer can display a speed LOWER than actual speed, but can display a speed HIGHER than actual speed.
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process that for a second. New cars for quite a few years now CANNOT display speeds higher than actual speed, and when car magazines or other reviewers bother to quote actual speed to displayed speed they are always lower. e.g. displaying 100, doing 96 or similar.
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GPS, not 100% accurate either in all cases. Have a close look at one when you’re a passenger and watch how the speed sometimes fluctuates.
No manufacturer could guarantee a speedometer for a great length of time. Variations in component wear, tyres et.c mean changes occur in readings. The only way to ensure an accurate speedometer is to have it checked and calibrated periodically (like NSW Hwy patrol vehicles), which includes having the same type of tyres set at the same tyre pressures during use of the vehicle after it is calibrated.
With states like Victoria not even bothering to have yearly registration roadworthiness checks on vehicles, I seriously doubt that more resources would be put into making more premises available to undertake calibration of speedometers. All too many Victorians and South Australians struggle just to make sure their tyres are even legal, let alone getting their speedos calibrated. Have an older car that was subject to the old ADR of +/- 10% and you live in Victoria it’s probably worth checking that your speedo isn’t displaying lower than actual, as Victorian Courts don’t accept the 10% argument. It all comes down to personal responsibility, keep your vehicle roadworthy, drive to the rules, then maybe you can all bleat and moan about potholes and road conditions, which if you know there’s an issue on a road, slow the hell down.

Freddie

Now you’re telling us no device can show the exact speed. That makes all these speeding laws bullsh!t. Until the government can provide us with the right gadgets to monitor our speeds to the dot, then there is no way these rules are justifiable.

You sir, seem to be contradicting yourself. You enforce stuff that cannot be accurately complied to.

SCRAP THOSE STUPID CAMERAS NOW AND FIND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE MONEY!!!

Wayne Kerr

I would gladly pay double or triple my license renewal fee, if the extra revenue could eliminate the need for speed cameras in all but black spots.

It’s established that it’s more about revenue than speeding and I don’t want to lose my points as a result of some retarded law enforcement rampage.

I finish work late a night and it’s rather annoying having to drive at the speed limit (20km under the comfortable cruising speed). Falling asleep due to boredom is far more dangerous and speeding whilst alert.
Al Juraj

The sad thing is motorists and these institutions are never on the same page. Car enthusiasts want to have fun on the road, safely of course. There’s a difference between speeding and excessive speeding, but pathetically, the government finds them synonymous. You go over by 1 or 100 kph, it’s the same thing. It’s a business now.

If it’s really about safety, then there shouldn’t be huge, third-world like potholes around here. You tend to lose control trying to avoid them, and if you don’t, your car’s integrity will gradually diminish, making it less safe as well. With all these taxes blah blah, they should be silky smooth that even a hardcore 4×4 will ride nicely.

Another issue is poor policing resulting to the continuance of hoons. They could range from mindless oldies to insecure P-platers and a bunch of uneducated bogans. They are the most unsafe on the road and there are hardly any patrol cars to stop them. And don’t forget those mobile phone users who are never flagged.

While schools and workplaces endeavour to decrease bullying, it keeps increasing when you drive your car. A camera photographs your plate and the scheme goes like, “Pay your fine or else!” If you want to contest, you have to go to kangaroo court and kiss your holiday savings and leave goodbye. They’ll always have a way to squeeze something out of you, through a simple Bpay transaction or the so-called justice system.

join the fight

in that case, can you counter sue them for the lost wages? I would definitely do that.

http://www.ihavepredicted.com I Have Predicted

Do they even recalibrate these things anymore ?
Seems they are wrong more than they are correct
Freddie

When you see these, destroy the cars and pulverize the operator! That’s how the Yanks beat us. They’re rowdy but try something to get somewhere. The Aussie’s submissive nature would simply succumb to any law that’s forced on them.
http://www.mobilespeedcameras.org mobile speed cameras

Totally agree they spend a lot of money in this, is better if they spent on better roads.