NEW fixed speed cameras will be switched on at six accident blackspots by July as the Government tries to slow the soaring road death toll.
The new devices – two each on the Gold and Sunshine coasts and in Ipswich – will treble the number of fixed speed cameras in use.
The locations target the Sunshine Coast Motorway and Nicklin Way on the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast Highway at Labrador and Broadbeach and the Warrego Highway at Rosewood and Muirlea.
The sites all have tragic crash histories. In one four-year period, there were four fatals in 158 major accidents across the six locations.
Premier Anna Bligh said: "Too many lives are being lost on our roads because some motorists are choosing to put their lives – and the lives of others – in peril by speeding.
"Already this year, 138 people have lost their lives on Queensland's roads.
"That's 24 more than the same time last year.
"I am determined to take whatever action we can to reduce this carnage."
Ms Bligh said the sites were chosen using data on speed-related and non-intersection crashes.
Around 170 motorists a day are caught speeding at the three existing fixed camera sites – in Kangaroo Point, Tarragindi and the Bruce Highway at Burpengary.
But Police Minister Neil Roberts denies that proves they are failing as a deterrent.
RACQ traffic safety spokesman John Whitman said they supported the introduction of fixed cameras at the six new locations because they had "a proven crash history".
"But that's not a carte-blanche backing for the use of cameras. They need to be justified on a case-by-case basis," he added. And the RACQ would definitely be opposed to any "double-dipping" by using mobile speed guns near the fixed devices.
But Michael Lane, spokesman for the National Motorists Association of Australia, said the money would be better spent on other road safety measures.
"The problem with speed cameras – whether fixed or mobile – is they only target one thing, so other very dangerous driving can go undetected. Unlike real policemen, they don't pick up anything else," he said.
"Speed cameras tend to be put up in places where the speed limit is too low – that's why people speed and get caught. They are nothing more than revenue-raising devices."
The fixed cameras are part of a broader road safety crackdown by the Government which will see 106 new traffic branch police officers on duty – half within the next few weeks – 30 extra hand-held laser speed guns, 16 mobile radar speed detection devices, 12 micro-digicam speed devices, eight additional unmarked patrol cars and 12 more police motorbikes on traffic enforcement.
Good job UK
