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Think they’ll stop at Speed Cameras…

Matt Brogan — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:58:00 +0000

…think again! Motorcycle News reports this morning that the NSW State Government is currently testing ‘Noise Cameras’ at Mount Ousley.

They claim the system is designed to minimise noise from truck movement in urban areas, but is it just a matter of time until this is turned in to another revenue raising exercise to top up the already bulging coffers?

We’ll keep you posted.

Matt Brogan

Point-To-Point Speed Camera Makes First Mistake

Alborz Fallah — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:21:06 +0000

Victorian residents beware, the State government’s latest and most expensive speed camera has been proven wrong, by a bus driver. Victoria Police admitted last week that the new point-to-point speed camera system recently installed on the Hume Highway had issued a ticket to an innocent man.

The new system works by photographing a vehicle as it passes between two camera stations, it then calculates the time taken and works out the average speed of the vehicle! At least, that’s what it’s suppose todo.

The system recently caught a bus belonging to Seymour Coaches driving 123km/h in a 110km/h zone. Although the $250 fine didn’t bother the driver, Seymour Coaches managing director Peter Louchnan wasn’t going to admit fault, especially when all his buses are speed limited to 100km/hr!

After indicating the company was going to fight the fine, government inspectors came and verified the limiter prevented the bus from exceeding 100km/h and the charge was dropped.

Victoria Police Superintendent Shane Patton was quick to put the blame on human error and not the camera equipment. Mr Patton told reporters two similar buses with similar number plates were traveling on the road at the same time. Mr Patton blamed the ticket on human supervisors who are supposed to verify the automated ticketing process.

Source: The Age

Study Finds Alternatives to Speed Bumps and Cameras

George Skentzos — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:32:45 +0000

A Virginia Department of Transportation sponsored report finds positive alternatives to speed bumps and photo enforcement.

The report released last month has shown that there are less-invasive alternatives to speed cameras and speed bumps. The study focused on two innovations, LED stop signs and optical speed bars both of which were found to have “traffic calming” effects without any downside beyond the cost of implementation.

The LED stop sign is designed to improve visibility – especially at night. Researchers attempted to collect data before and after the signs were installed to evaluate whether the $1600 solar-powered devices were effective in encouraging people to stop, but different observers failed to agree on what constituted a safe stop. The study then could only focus on observed reductions in speed leading up to the sign.

However, the optical speed bars (fancy term for horizontal lines) proved far more successful. By creating a visual sense of the speed for the driver, these horizontal lines have resulted in a decrease in speed of between 4 and 12 percent (2-5 MPH) on roads with a speed limit under posted by at least 5 MPH. This is based on the concept that conventional line markings can sometimes mask excessive speed, providing a visual cue by which to judge speed has increased driver awareness and resulted in an overall reduction of speed.

Expanding on this concept, by decreasing the distance between these lines, the researchers have been able to create an illusion of acceleration thereby causing driver’s to slow down. This would be especially useful in school zone applications.

Source

Speed Camera Madness

Paul Maric — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:20:03 +0000

Speed cameras – or cash cameras, as they’re more affectionately known – are meant to save lives, we all know that. Well I’ve found the proof – I really have!

Have a look at the photos below. It’s two times now – in the same week – that this stretch of road near Geelong, Victoria has taken me over 25 minutes to travel through. Normally, at the 70km/h speed limit, it shouldn’t take any longer than 45 seconds. The reason for the delays? Workers operating on the speed/red light camera located at this major intersection – during peak hour.

Don’t worry, you’re not seeing things. These morons (that’s the nicest and least offensive word I could think of to describe them) have blocked off the right hand turning lane, along with one of the two lanes on the opposite side of this major road.

Again, you’re not seeing things. That loaded truck is stuck in the middle of the intersection trying to turn right during a red light due to the blockage of the right hand turning lane – during peak hour.

Out of all the speed cameras in the world, this has to be one of the only ones saving lives. Why? Because traffic doesn’t actually have the chance to move above 20km/h, so the possibility of a death is nil – unless of course the worker falls off his/her ladder.

It’s nice to see that the Bracks Government has its priorities right. Forget fixing some of the appalling roads throughout Victoria and concentrate solely on fixing a speed camera which is bound to earn millions of dollars over its lifetime. Makes sense.

Paul Maric

Texas Bans Speed Cameras!

Alborz Fallah — Wed, 23 May 2007 01:11:36 +0000

Laws passed in the States have usually never made us sit up and take notice but when we heard the good news, we couldn’t help but to smile.

The people of Texas have finally stood up and had their way. The Texas state legislature gave final approval yesterday to a bill banning speed cameras and requiring red light camera warning signs.

The bill says

A municipality may not implement or operate an automated traffic control system with respect to a highway under its jurisdiction. The attorney general shall enforce this subsection.

And incase you think Automated Traffic Control means just fixed speed cameras, dont worry the Texans have made sure there are no loop holes in the legislation.

Automated traffic control system means a photographic device, radar device, laser device, or other electrical or mechanical device designed to record the speed of a motor vehicle; and obtain one or more photographs or other recorded images of

the vehicle
the license plate attached to the vehicle
or the operator of the vehicle.

As for red light cameras, the authorities have will invalidate any red light camera ticket if motorists do not have advance notice of the presence of a ticketing machine at least 100 feet before the intersection. Both laws are all but passed, only requiring the signature of Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Although we can’t be sure, this appears to be the first case (and hopefully not the last) whereby authorities have banned speed cameras!

Source : Texas Government Legislation – The speed camera ban, HB 922, on May 2 and the warning sign bill, HB 1052, on April 19

Motorcycles Defying Speed Cameras

Alborz Fallah — Mon, 14 May 2007 07:14:05 +0000

Whilst all of us at CarAdvice may not be the biggest fans of Speed Cameras, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we speed or drive recklessly on the road, quiet the contrary, we believe that Car Enthusiasts are the safest drivers on the road and are unfairly targetted by Police.

Nonetheless, there are some true idiots in this world, and Mr Christian Marchesani, 28, of Samson in Western Australia fits that category just fine, but he is only a small portion of a growing hatred for speed cameras which has led to some idiotic behaviour on the road.

Australian motorcyclists are taunting speed cameras in increasing numbers. West Australian police released photos of a pair of riders photographed on January 27 traveling at up to twice the speed limit, 130km/h in a 60km/h zone (80 MPH in a 37 MPH zone), on South Street in Samson at 6pm. The duo returned just 23 minutes later to salute the camera once more.

In WA, Speed cameras take frontal photographs of vehicles and since motorcycles do not use front license plates for safety reasons, the devices are unable to identify bike riders.

Nonetheless, since the story has gone public a member of the public has called police and identified Mr Marchesani who now faces court.

In the mean time as a temporary measure, police announced yesterday that they would use two speed cameras in every speed trap to photograph both the front and rear of vehicles.

Speed Camera Set On Fire

Alborz Fallah — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 03:59:45 +0000

Violence against Speed Camera’s continues to grow with another one set on fire in the UK. The so called vandals had put a tyre around the unit and the camera was set on fire.

“It’s a case of mindless vandalism again. Whether it’s someone with a grudge who has been caught or someone who just wants to take revenge against speed cameras, who knows? But, at the end of the day, that particular speed camera was put in that particular location for safety reasons.” Hednesford Councillor Chris Collis said:
He added: “

Over in the UK, Speed cameras are marked with big clear signs indicating their presence. However unlike Australia, the authorities in the UK seem to be a little fed up with the speed camera situation themselves:

“Some speed cameras do appear to have been put in locations to generate income but not that one, it’s for safety reasons, and to destroy it is ridiculous.” Mr Collis said.

Firefighter Steve Kenny, of Cannock Fire Station, said the speed camera equipment inside the unit was most likely destroyed but the structure would be fine after being re-painted. This isn’t the only case of Speed Camera’s being set alight with firefighters reporting that they are being sent to more and more fires involving speed cameras.

Recently, two men fired shots at a Speed Camera in Melbourne.

Source : expressandstar

Anti Speed Camera Voilence Grows

Alborz Fallah — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 02:48:23 +0000

Speed Camera’s Don’t Save Lives. All they actually do is raise revenue and increase driver stress and frustration. Some drivers however, have had about enough.

In the UK and Australia Anti-Camera Violence is on the rise. Last week a third letter bomb was sent to the UK agency that issues speed camera penalty points, whilst here in Melbourne more and more speed cameras are damaged by gunfire!

Two men in Melbourne were seen yesterday at 11:45pm shooting a speed camera in Blackburn North with a pistol. The attack broke the device’s lens, but did not penetrate further and do any damage to the electronics. Melbourne Police failed to find the individuals despite searching with a helicopter and dogs. The Criminal Investigation Unit will now consider anyone who received a red light camera ticket as a suspect!

A tip for fellow Speed Camera haters: don’t go shooting them right after you get a ticket! More importantly, read why speed camera’s don’t save lives.

Speed Camera Say Cheese!

Alborz Fallah — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 05:15:22 +0000

Audi probably have some stats on how many of their RS series owners get speeding tickets, or maybe they just like to have some fun. Either way, someone in South Africa had the time to take this photo for everyone to see!

A new RS6 hasn’t come out in Australia since the old one (2004) stopped selling, but even that was around $220,000!

Induction: Twin Turbo intercooled
Power: 331kW @ 5700rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 1950rpm-5600rpm
Acceleration 0-100Km/h: 4.7 secs

Speed Camera Insurance

Alborz Fallah — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 08:39:08 +0000

Sick of speed cameras? Can’t afford to lose your license as a result of speeding tickets? No problem! Move to the UK! An insurance company will now pay for your transport for a whole year if you lose your license as a result of speeding fines!

For a yearly premium, LicenceGuard, underwritten by Isle of Man Assurance, will reimburse you for travel costs each month for an entire year if you lose your driving licence through points which have totted up because of speeding.

How great is that! I am not sure of the premium but one could imagine it is rather high, but the fact that an insurance company has gone so far just shows how ineffective speed camera’s are in the public eye! In the UK one in 4 households have one person with a speeding ticket and nearly 1 million brits are one point away from losing their license!

You can read more about the story at Financial Times