The NSW government will begin setting up a network of point-to-point speed cameras across its highways, largely to combat road deaths caused by speeding trucks.
Twenty stretches of road have been selected to receive the cameras, with length varying from 2km to 80km. All of the camera sites have been selected due to their high traffic and history of road accidents according to New South Wales’ Minister for Roads Michael Daley.
While point-to-point cameras are presently used in Victoria to catch all speeding vehicles, Mr Daley says those in NSW will only be used to target heavy commercial vehicles.
“Heavy vehicles are over represented in fatal crashes and speed is all too often the cause,” Mr Daley said in a statement issued yesterday.
“This new technology will help slow these drivers down and make our highways and country roads safer for everyone to use.
“In 2008 heavy vehicles made up about 2.6 per cent of all registered vehicles in NSW, but were involved in almost 20 per cent of the state’s road fatalities.
“And on the 20 stretches that have been selected for point-to-point cameras, heavy vehicles have been involved in 35 per cent of fatal crashes.”
The New England Highway, the Newell Highway, the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and Mount Ousley Road will be among the routes targeted, with all 20 locations expected to be operational within two years.
Surveyss conducted by the RTA found 51 percent of truckers drove over the speed limit on the state’s major highways in 2005, while almost seven percent exceeded 115km/h.
Aside from giving assurance that the cameras would produce a measurable reduction in the highway road toll, Mr Daley also stressed that the cameras were not a revenue-raising scheme.
“The new system is expected to cost the government up to $5 million a year to run, even after the costs are offset by the fines,” Daley said.
Point-to-point speed cameras are currently used in Victoria and overseas, with the ACT also expected to introduce them in the near future.
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So we can give it a few years until these things get activated for private cars too? Nice strategy by the NSW Government, get the things installed under the monkier of ’stoping big bad truckies’, and then a few years down the road once they are accepted ‘flick the switch’ and target cars too.
Speeding doesn’t kill people. Bad driving does.
You are partially correct… Speed doesn’t kill people. People’s inability to handle split second reflexes based on their driving skill levels, the Cars not being setup to handle rapid changes in input (grip levels etc in road cars aren’t really that high), the lack of run off on a public road AND the sudden deceleration is what kills people… Its obviously got nothing to do with the Initial speed just prior to all those things going wrong… Maybe a basic lesson in High School level Physics are in order for you - that way you may understand what DOES kill someone in an accident Concentrate on Energy Conservation and what factors can increase energy levels.
“In 2008 heavy vehicles made up about 2.6 per cent of all registered vehicles in NSW, but were involved in almost 20 per cent of the state’s road fatalities”.
How many of these fatalities were not caused by heavy vehicles but by morons in cars and on bikes cutting them off and not allowing any braking room? But then again, does it really matter as the Government will just twist the statistics in another direction to give credence to their justification for these camera’s.
What a crock, as a truck driver I am more than prepared every day to put my life and vehicle on the line to save someone who has just cut me off, or jumped on the brakes after overtaking me only to slow down to 95km/h in a 100 km/h zone. We dont need this rubbish, as it is just that which causes accidents. The headlines read; “Another smash involving a heavy vehicle”. Without questioning why. Have a look what is causing these accidents before truck drivers take the rap AGAIN.