❓ A parliamentary question regarding the placement and effectiveness of speed cameras in Western Australia, and the Minister's response citing police advice and research supporting their use in unexpected locations to deter speeding.
AnsweredQoN 113Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SPEED CAMERAS —
LOCATION
113. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the PerthNow news article
titled, ''Police Minister's push for secret speed camera
locations''.
(1) Why are speed
cameras and radars often placed behind obstacles so that motorists cannot see
them on approach?
(2) Is there any
substantive evidence which shows hidden speed cameras reduce accidents?
LOCATION
113. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the PerthNow news article
titled, ''Police Minister's push for secret speed camera
locations''.
(1) Why are speed
cameras and radars often placed behind obstacles so that motorists cannot see
them on approach?
(2) Is there any
substantive evidence which shows hidden speed cameras reduce accidents?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police, who had the information provided to her by the Western
Australia Police Force.
(1) The WA Police
Force advises that speed cameras must have at least 70 metres of clear space
for vehicle detections, and that mobile speed cameras are deployed in a manner
that is safe and secure for both the camera operator and equipment. Speed
cameras are placed in locations based on various information, such as traffic
volume, speeding motorists, complaints from the public, antisocial driver
behaviour and known black spots for serious crashes. All traffic enforcement
efforts are targeted to reduce road trauma and to detect priority traffic
offences, such as speeding.
(2) The WA Police
Force advises that contemporary research and review has identified that the use
of mobile speed cameras in unexpected locations would likely have a direct link
to modifying driver behaviour and reducing road trauma. A report by the New
South Wales Auditor General from 18 October 2018 identified that an effective
general network deterrence is created by a perception that speeding can be
enforced anywhere, at any time. The NSW Auditor General concluded that warning
signs at MSC locations reduced the likelihood of achieving a general network
deterrence. The awareness of speed camera sites reduces the perceived risk of
detection, thereby limiting the ability of MSCs to moderate driver behaviour at
other locations. The Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre in September 2006
assessed that the use of covert MSCs would enhance the existing WA Police Force
speed camera program.
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police, who had the information provided to her by the Western
Australia Police Force.
(1) The WA Police
Force advises that speed cameras must have at least 70 metres of clear space
for vehicle detections, and that mobile speed cameras are deployed in a manner
that is safe and secure for both the camera operator and equipment. Speed
cameras are placed in locations based on various information, such as traffic
volume, speeding motorists, complaints from the public, antisocial driver
behaviour and known black spots for serious crashes. All traffic enforcement
efforts are targeted to reduce road trauma and to detect priority traffic
offences, such as speeding.
(2) The WA Police
Force advises that contemporary research and review has identified that the use
of mobile speed cameras in unexpected locations would likely have a direct link
to modifying driver behaviour and reducing road trauma. A report by the New
South Wales Auditor General from 18 October 2018 identified that an effective
general network deterrence is created by a perception that speeding can be
enforced anywhere, at any time. The NSW Auditor General concluded that warning
signs at MSC locations reduced the likelihood of achieving a general network
deterrence. The awareness of speed camera sites reduces the perceived risk of
detection, thereby limiting the ability of MSCs to moderate driver behaviour at
other locations. The Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre in September 2006
assessed that the use of covert MSCs would enhance the existing WA Police Force
speed camera program.
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