Last week as the Easter weekend drew to a close, this site published an article about speed cameras and the Easter Weekend road toll, “Click go the cameras as 2007 Easter road toll climbs”.

The article questioned the legitimacy of speed cameras and their role in helping to reduce the road toll and concluded that they are really just another source of revenue for our various state governments.

Laughing all the way to the bank?

This article was linked to by a site called RoadWatch. I have to confess that despite my interest in cars I had not heard of or come across RoadWatch before. RoadWatch is most definitely a site that you should check out if you want to be aware of the location of the different types of fixed revenue cameras in your area or where you plan on driving.

RoadWatch uses impressive technology to provide detailed maps of your chosen area specifying known revenue camera locations. RoadWatch has managed to map the locations of the following types of cameras;

• Dual Fixed Speed/Red Light cameras;
• 24 hour permanent speed cameras;
• Red Light cameras;
• Toll Booth cameras;
• Safe-T-Cam cameras; and
• General traffic cameras

RoadWatch provides this information free of charge. Their site also includes a forum where revenue camera issues can be discussed.

For the record, I will state that I do endorse the use of red light cameras. Running a red-light is plainly dangerous and I believe a camera can help reduce the incidence of accidents caused by red-light runners, provided its location is known and obvious. Speed cameras are a different story altogether.

So, keep the politician’s out of your back pocket and wallet. Make them work harder for our money and check out RoadWatch. One day our Governments will take saving lives seriously and spend our money on producing safer drivers rather than fancy ad campaigns.