NSW Mobile Speeding Cameras

[anthony_VWJET]

Hi All,

With the introduction of Mobile Speeding Cameras, would anyone have any info on it? I've had a look at the info posted on the RTA website, but there doesnt really seem to be much info besides how locations are selected. Does anyone know what these cameras look like? Are they positioned on unmarked or marked police cars?

Please no nannys saying 'dont speed and you wouldnt have to worry about it'...

[noone]

There was an article in the Sunday Telegraph, they look to be mounted on top of Ford Territory 4wd's apparently white.

There is supposed to 6 of these coming. Locations are to be available on the RTA website.

There will be no signage on the approach, only a small 'Safe Speed Check' labeling on the door of the car and a sign afterwards to tell you your speed has been checked (and you may be up s^^t creek).

Gotta love the RTA and their revenue raising tactics...

[anthony_VWJET]

There was an article in the Sunday Telegraph, they look to be mounted on top of Ford Territory 4wd's apparently white.

There is supposed to 6 of these coming. Locations are to be available on the RTA website.

There will be no signage on the approach, only a small 'Safe Speed Check' labeling on the door of the car and a sign afterwards to tell you your speed has been checked (and you may be up s^^t creek).

Gotta love the RTA and their revenue raising tactics...

Thanks noone!

Damn, must of missed it.. bloody bustards... I wonder where they'll be placed...

[The_Hawk]

Gotta love the RTA and their revenue raising tactics...

It's not revenue raising... it's about safety...

I'm still amazed at how many people get done by fixed speed camera's which are stupidly well marked, these things are going to drag in a fortune. I wonder what a unit costs. I'm thinking $40k for a Territory + software + camera + gear, lets say another $40k + a dude to sit in it 8 hours a day at $100k a year... so at $180k in the first year lets do some numbers:

48 working weeks in a year (since the guy will have 4 weeks off)
Assuming a 5 day working week, thats 240 days
Assuming 8 hours a day, thats 1920 hours
Now 180,000 / 1920 = $93.75

Now considering the fines laid out here: Speeding penalties

These cars need to get just over ONE person with a minimum fine, per working hour to 100% pay for itself in the first 12 months. Everything after that is just gravey... erm I mean safety.

While the working hours in a year might be wrong, the equipment costs might be wrong etc etc etc you see how it adds up VERY quickly. So how long will we only have six cars again? Maybe it's time to buy into the "safety cam" business...

[Leagle]

Must say I am concerned about these mobile speed cameras. You won't know about them till you are pinged. Since you won't be pulled over, you may fail to see the alert telling you that you have been booked. Apparently infra red technology means you won't even see a flash when you are booked. Also, I think that these will be operated by independent contractors.

If so, that may mean that:
1. You may get booked in the same location more than once when you fail to realise you got booked.
2. It certainly means you won't have the chance to modify your driving behaviour.
3. What guarantee is there that the operators are calibrating these mobile cameras properly?
4. How do you prove that that the camera "pinged" you correctly rather than the speeder in close proximity to your car?
5. If you receive the notice in the mail after 2 weeks, do you really think you will have the recollection to prove that you did not speed otherwise as stated in the notice?

[Rocket36]

You can choose not to make it revenue raising simply by NOT SPEEDING. I don't know why so many people seem to think it's a proiblem that governments book/fine people for breaking the law.

[team_v]

You can choose not to make it revenue raising simply by NOT SPEEDING. I don't know why so many people seem to think it's a proiblem that governments book/fine people for breaking the law.

I do agree that we shouldn't be speeding.

But i believe that the speed limits do not necessarily reflect the capability of the road/vehicles in about 50% of the circumstances.
I.e. most of the highways could easily the support a 120km limit which most people do anyway yet they are 110 for a limited sdistance and then back to 100 for the majority of the road, even though it is 2 or 3 lane highway.

So there are arguments for both sides and until these issues are addressed then people will continue to speed.

[PassatB6]

This will really boost the popularity of the NSW Govt.

[The_Hawk]

1. You may get booked in the same location more than once when you fail to realise you got booked.
2. It certainly means you won't have the chance to modify your driving behaviour.
3. What guarantee is there that the operators are calibrating these mobile cameras properly?
4. How do you prove that that the camera "pinged" you correctly rather than the speeder in close proximity to your car?
5. If you receive the notice in the mail after 2 weeks, do you really think you will have the recollection to prove that you did not speed otherwise as stated in the notice?

Some interesting points. I know that where I know there is a speed camera I carefully watch the speedo, ie devotings not 100% of my attention to driving, not that it's a major issue, but I know I do it.

If speed camera's are designed to change people's behaviour, your right that not knowing about it till weeks and weeks later won't help.
As for calibration, I'm sure there will be similar requirements to what there is now, so not really a concern. Considering the revenue these things generate, it's not like the operators have to cheat, it's far better for them to not cheat so they retain the contract.
Proving you weren't speeding... good luck with that, even with a known camera or a cop in a car your chances aren't great. It will be your word against a photo.

I'm sure it's something we will all get used to, but then I'm afraid of all the drivers (of whom I personally know a few), that will drive around at 10km/h under the limit... just to be sure...

[Cossor]

Not practical in suburban driving.
But I love my cruise control on the highway, or even in 80KPH zones (For long 80KPH stretches)
(Cruise control in Corolla was aftermarket.)
Corolla speedo is dead accurate, pass under speed check on highway at 110, speed check says 110.
Not like Commodore where speed check says only 104~106. I understand similar problem with VW speedo.
So re speed in urban areas, if doing 62 indicated, probably you are doing 60. Call this a built in speed fine safety margin.
GOLDEN MOTTO. Better to be a few minutes late, than dead on time.
Drive carefully, the life you save might be mine!

[The_Hawk]

You can choose not to make it revenue raising simply by NOT SPEEDING. I don't know why so many people seem to think it's a proiblem that governments book/fine people for breaking the law.

I'm always amazed that so many people get booked at fixed speed camera's considering how well they are marked, but I've seen more than one person get done.

While I agree that people just shouldn't speed and it wouldn't be an issue, it's more a general concern that the restrictions/enforcement is getting too tight. We are moving closer and closer to a system where you car automatically issues you a fine after you hit 61 in a 60 zone.

Much like the hoon laws, I don't street race, I don't drift round corners, I generally don't speed. But knowing that someone has the power to take my car away because I hit it a little hard at the lights makes me nervous.

[2muchcoffeeman]

We'd be wrapped to have only 6 mobile speed cameras in Victoria

[Speed]

Maybe it's time to buy into the "safety cam" business...

Macquarie already have!

But i believe that the speed limits do not necessarily reflect the capability of the road/vehicles in about 50% of the circumstances.

x2. Further to that as cars improve, speed limits come down.

Eg 1. When the RTA did work on the section under the airport tunnel, the speed limit used to be 90.
Then dropped to 70 during road work, then has stayed at 70 for about tens years or more now!

Eg 2. Grand Parade, thru Brighton Le Sands, used to be 70 and has been 60 for almost ten years now.

Eg 3. Back streets used to be 60 and have been 50 for ages.

Main roads that have fences and overpasses, still attract a 40 zone in school times.
To steal a joke.. when I was young we had to be nimble. If you want to reduce child obesity, then increase the school zones to 140
and make the fatties run for there lives!

But seriously wouldn't the money be better spent on educating drivers.
I seriously wonder how some drivers get there licence.

Oh yeah and although the old rule of having to be more than 10% over before being hit with a camera
has been reduced to 4Kms regardless of speed you are travelling (in NSW anyways). So if your caught doing 114 in a 110 zone, your gone!

[Rocket36]

I do agree that we shouldn't be speeding.

But i believe that the speed limits do not necessarily reflect the capability of the road/vehicles in about 50% of the circumstances.
I.e. most of the highways could easily the support a 120km limit which most people do anyway yet they are 110 for a limited sdistance and then back to 100 for the majority of the road, even though it is 2 or 3 lane highway.

So there are arguments for both sides and until these issues are addressed then people will continue to speed.

You're leaving out one critical factor... DRIVERS!!! Most have absolutely ZERO car control training. They know how to operate a vehicle, but not how to drive one. And there is a big difference.

I know (because going back quite a few years now my Dad was involved in the project) that the Hume Hwy is rated safe at 130kph in the wet. So yes, I certainly believe roads and cars can easily cope with higher speeds. But I also know that the majority of people can't.

[schoona]

I'm doing Traffic Offenders atm. Had a senior constable last year say that they allow for +/- 10% when factoring speeding in (to account for speedo inaccuracy).

My assignment tonight is to qualify my views on cameras and "revenue raising".....Will be interesting to see what I come up with...

I'm thinking the program should be compulsory (I am finding it beneficial!) the fact that so little funding is directly re-employed to help educate, change and maintain attitudes of drivers of ALL ages.

Anyways....wish me luck haha