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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 1953 ..

MR SMYTH

The only offences that may be detected by the cameras are speeding, red light violations, and permitting an unregistered or uninsured vehicle to be used on a public street. Vehicle owners are responsible for these offences but they may avoid the penalty by providing the name and address of the actual driver at the time of the offence. Of course this will require all vehicle owners, particularly corporate owners, to maintain accurate vehicle and driver records.

Camera site selection and review will be carried out by a Camera Enforcement Safety Management Committee, comprising experts from Urban Services, the AFP and NRMA. Proposed speed camera sites will be assessed against the following criteria: crash history, evidence of a history of speeding, and potential hazards to camera operators.

Legislation

� The Bill provides for the introduction of speed and red light cameras, and creates a new infringements part in the Motor Traffic Act 1936.

� The legislation also sets out the evidentiary requirements for infringements detected by speed cameras. Existing provisions in the Act on amphometers are being removed, and those on radar speed measuring devices have been incorporated in the new provisions.

� For offences detected by cameras, officers authorised by the Chief Police Officer or the Registrar of Motor Vehicles will issue infringement and reminder notices. Under delegation from the Chief Police Officer, they will also consider applications for further time to pay. The Police will process disputed notices and applications for withdrawal as they currently do with other traffic infringements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, jurisdictions which have introduced speed and red light cameras consider them to be an effective method of enforcement and a valuable tool in reducing road trauma. The ACT Road Safety Forum endorsed that by the end of 2003, the five-year moving average for ACT road crashes should be below 15 for fatalities; and below 160 for hospitalisation injuries. Speed and red light cameras will be crucial elements in a strategy to achieve these targets. Therefore I believe speed and red light cameras should be introduced into the ACT.

Debate (on motion by Mr Hargreaves ) adjourned.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (11.06): Mr Speaker, on behalf of Mr Stefaniak, I present the Children and Young People Bill 1999, together with its explanatory memorandum.

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