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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 10 Hansard (18 October) . . Page.. 3230 ..
ACT Urban Services Minister Brendan Smyth will today unveil the first of 62 signs being erected on speed camera approach routes and release the list and map of approved sites throughout Canberra where speed cameras will be used.
"Speed camera operations begin on Wednesday 6 October 1999 and we have begun installing prominent warning signs on the approach routes to the 27 locations selected for speed camera operations. The 54 site signs are progressively being installed over the next three weeks and are located at each end of the speed camera area and appear in the direction of the traffic. These signs advise motorists that speed cameras are used in the area," Mr Smyth said.
"We have already installed boarder signs at eight entry roads into Canberra including the Federal, Barton and Monaro Highways, Sutton Road, Pialligo and Canberra Avenues and Lanyon Drive. The boarder signs advise motorists upon entering the ACT that speed cameras are used in the ACT.
"Additional signs will be positioned near the cameras when they are operating, and the cameras themselves will be placed in the open so they will be clearly visible to passing motorists. The total cost of the signs including installation is $35,000.
"A committee of road safety experts from Urban Services, Australian Federal Police and NRMA, selected the camera locations, based on crash histories over the past two years and current speed surveys. They also evaluated the sites for public and operator safety as well as the suitability for camera operations, such as line of sight, hills and curves of the roads. See attachment for list of speed camera locations and individual crash histories.
"As part of the camera location approval process, the speed limit was reviewed in accordance with national and ACT speed limit standards to ensure it was at an appropriate limit. The locations are also checked to make sure they are safe and suitable for speed camera operations."We will regularly review the site locations and add or change them as necessary to ensure the cameras clearly target road safety enforcement in current problem areas. The public will also be notified of any changes.
"The effectiveness of speed cameras in reducing both speeding and crashes has been well documented, and they are an effective way to improve road safety in addition to education campaigns, police radars and other methods currently used to help stop speeding on our roads.
"A comprehensive public education campaign to inform motorists of the introduction of speed cameras will begin soon and includes the distribution of an information pamphlet to all Canberra households.
"We are determined to stop the speeding culture among ACT drivers. Speed is by far the major contributing factor in serious road crashes. We want to reduce our road trauma.
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