Our speed cameras reap
millions from road where there are no deaths
From The West Australian
By Ben Harvey
April, 2004
THE Gallop Government's claim that speed
cameras were not revenue-raising tools was in tatters last night after
damning figures proved that Multanovas had littered roads where there
were no fatal crashes.
The statistics also revealed that nearly half of the
road black spots had not had a speed camera at any time last year.
And further questions have been raised about camera
placements with evidence that operators have been ignoring guidelines
on where Multanovas are allowed.
Statistics tabled in State Parliament show that of
179 fatal crash sites last year, 86 did not have a Multanova anywhere
near them - before or after the crash.
Authorities also failed to place cameras at or near
many black spots even after multiple deaths in the area.
Four deaths in Albany could not convince operators
to move one of the State's 13 cameras there, despite two deaths occurring
on the same stretch of road.
Two deaths each in Port Hedland and Boddington did
not result in Multanovas being placed in or near those towns.
But while motorists were dying on country roads, fatality-free
city streets were riddled with cameras. Canning Highway in Como, Railway
Parade in Karrakatta and Wanneroo Road in Tuart Hill each had cameras
on them between 93 and 124 days.
Shadow transport minister Katie Hodson-Thomas said
the statistics proved authorities were happier to catch people doing
a few kilometres an hour over the limit in the city than catch hundreds
of people seriously speeding in the country.
It is positive to see fewer deaths on roads
where there are Multanovas but if there are deaths in other areas
surely the cameras should be moved,' she said.
The State Opposition claimed
the figures were the smoking gun in the debate over whether Multanovas
were more about raising revenue than saving lives.
Multanovas and red light cameras bolstered treasury
coffers by $42,177,000 in 2001-02 and $46,779,000 in 2000-01.
Among many inconsistencies:_
Cameras were set up on 255 days on the blackspot-free
stretch of West Coast Highway between Trigg and City Beach but were
not placed once on nearby West Coast Drive, where a person was killed.
Two road deaths on the freeway system - totalling
136km - were used to justify hundreds of Multanova placements last
year and a blitz in May this year.
A spokesman for Police Minister Michelle Roberts said
Multanovas were placed at the discretion of police. A police spokesman
said public complaints could trigger a Multanova being set up on a
crash-free road.
Ms Hodson-Thomas also accused
camera operators of breaching an informal arrangement not to hide
cameras, place them at the base of hills or within 100m of a change
of speed sign.
