Police defend accuracy
of speed camera
From The West Australian
By Gareth Parker
May10, 2006
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner John
McRoberts leapt to the defence of Multanova speed cameras in the strongest
possible terms yesterday, saying he had “absolute confidence”
in the accuracy of the devices.
Mr McRoberts rejected strongly claims that Multanovas
or hand-held laser speed detectors were susceptible to “ghost
readings” – widely inaccurate speed readings caused by
rain, winde or other environmental factors.
He was responding to claims by South Australian crash-tester
Grad Zivkovic that up to 15 per cent of radar readings could be inaccurate.
Mr Zivkovic, an experienced automotive engineer, began
investigating the accuracy of speed cameras about five years ago after
discovering his own radar gun occasionally threw up radically inaccurate
results.
Mr McRoberts said the manufacturer of Mr Zivkovic’s
Stalker Pro radar gun recommended it only be used for sporting purposes,
like measuring the speed of baseballs or tennis balls, and not law
enforcement.
Mr McRoberts said WA Police’s Multanovas were
calibrated and maintained on a daily basis by accredited technicians
and operated by trained staff.
Operators performed checked over and above those recommended
in the Multanovas operating manual by checking speed readings with
a handheld laser speed detector.
If the two devices were more than 1kmh different,
the Multanova was withdrawn immediately from service and sent back
to the laboratory for testing, Mr McRoberts said.
“We have the most robust operating procedures
for this equipment for one reason – to give the motoring public
absolute and unequivocal confidence that our equipment is fit for
purpose,” he said.
Mr McRoberts admitted Multanovas could be inaccurate
in heavy rain or a dust storm, as claimed by Mr Zivkovic, but operators
were told to suspend the operation of speed cameras in those conditions.
“This is a recognised and documented part of
our training procedures,” Mr McRoberts said. “And let’s
face it, how often in the metropolitan area, which is where we predominantly
use speed cameras, do we get that very heavy rain or a severe dust
storm?”
There was no mention of ghost readings in the Multanova
manual.
Police still refuse to release the manual, quoting
a contract with the German manufacturer that cites commercial confidentially.
