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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 1952 ..

MR SMYTH

Since both speed limits and actual speed tend to be higher on arterial roads in the ACT, this category of road offers the most potential to reduce deaths and serious injuries.

For speed cameras to be fully effective, enforcement also needs to be linked to public education campaigns. The success of speed cameras elsewhere has been attributed to public education programs, which have focussed heavily on the safety benefits and the role speed plays in crashes.

Red Light Cameras

The Bill also provides for the introduction of red light cameras.

Most of the crashes that occur at intersections with traffic lights happen during the critical period when the signal changes. A driver who is approaching an intersection during the amber phase, must decide whether to stop, or to continue through the intersection. A poor decision may lead to a rear-end collision between stopping vehicles or a right-angled collision with a vehicle that is entering the intersection from another direction.

Studies show that red light cameras reduce right angle crashes by 50%. This is an important reduction because right angle crashes often result in very serious injuries.

The ACT traffic light system works well when drivers obey the signal facing them. However, it cannot stop crashes if drivers deliberately run red lights. Red light cameras can catch, and therefore deter, these red light runners.

The ACT Road Safety Strategy

Speed and red light cameras will be a vital part of the new ACT Road Safety Strategy which will be released later in 1999. They will also complement the Australian Federal Police's ACT Region Traffic Law Enforcement Plan, which was released in February 1999. Speed and red light cameras will provide new ways to target infringers, without making onerous demands on Police resources

Camera Enforcement

So how will speed and red light cameras be used in the ACT?

The cameras will be introduced in two stages. The speed camera program will begin in July 1999 with a community awareness and education campaign, and actual camera operation beginning in October 1999. The second stage, commencing in July 2000, will feature the introduction of red light cameras.

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