Page 337 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 12 May 1992
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MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO 36
Red Light Cameras
Mr Cornwell - asked the Minister for Urban Services:
Has the Government assessed the installation of red light cameras, similar to those operating in Victoria, to photograph motorists running red lights; if so what is the result of the assessment; if not, why not.
Mr Connolly - the answer to the Members question is as follows:
Red light cameras are used at traffic lights to detect drivers travelling through red lights by photographing the offending vehicle and number plate.
Red light cameras are currently operating in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia with Victoria having used the system the longest.
The latest report assessing the feasibility of installing red light cameras in the ACT was prepared for the then Traffic and Transport Branch, Department of Territories, by Paul Kesby in May 1987. While this report is some five years old, more recent interstate experience does not suggest its conclusions are invalid.
In his report Mr Kesby indicated that, based on Victorian experience, although red light cameras reduce the number of right-angle accidents they in fact increase the number of rear-end accidents. The increase in rear-end accidents results from severe braking by drivers eager to obey the red signal.
Although there is an increase in rear-end collisions with red light cameras, a Victorian study of its red light camera program showed a substantial reduction of 41% in right-angle accidents. It was concluded that the benefits from reduced right-angle accidents far outweighed any increase in yearend accidents.
In the ACT the majority of controlled intersections with a high proportion of turning vehicles use right arrow controlled turning. The proportion of intersections with controlled right turning in the ACT is much higher than other capital cities. Accordingly this has led to a lower proportion of right-hand turning accidents in the ACT, thus limiting the beneficial effect that red light cameras could have.
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