ACT Responds To Critical Speed Camera Report: More Cameras

The Australian Capital Territory Government will increase the number of speed cameras monitoring Canberra’s streets,  inject more cash into the program and increase their operating hours.

An extra $1.3 million will be allocated to speed cameras in next month’s ACT Budget, and new laws will be proposed to allow the cameras to operate on any ACT road.

Currently, a list of all potential speed camera locations is available to the public online, but this could soon change if the Labor minority government can attract the support of Green Legislative Assembly member, Shane Rattenbury.

Mr Rattenbury declared his support for the Labor Party which enabled them to form government, after the 2012 ACT Election resulted in a hung parliament and left the sole Greens member with the balance of power.

And as Mr Rattenbury is currently in control of three ministerial portfolios relating to the speed camera program, his support for the bill seems likely.

The increase in spending and program expansion come despite a report into ACT speed cameras by the University of New South Wales finding drivers barely react to the cameras.

The report’s findings were finally released this week following its completion in July last year.

Fairfax reports the University of NSW found speeding was reduced by between 6-8 percent from 1999 to 2002; a change which remained in place until 2004.

But as drivers became more aware of the cameras and their locations, speeding returned to pre-camera levels by 2006 and has trended upwards since.

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