Skip to main content

Speed cameras - road safety benefits

The 2014 speed camera review by the New South Wales Centre for Road Safety shows that speed cameras continue to deliver positive road safety benefits. A total of 95 fixed speed camera locations were reviewed, with 93 locations shown to be effective from the initial analysis. This positive result shows the review, now in its third year, has systematically identified ineffective fixed speed cameras for decommissioning. Overall at these fixed speed camera locations, there was a 42 per cent reduction in the
October 17, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
The 2014 speed camera review by the New South Wales Centre for Road Safety shows that speed cameras continue to deliver positive road safety benefits.

A total of 95 fixed speed camera locations were reviewed, with 93 locations shown to be effective from the initial analysis. This positive result shows the review, now in its third year, has systematically identified ineffective fixed speed cameras for decommissioning. Overall at these fixed speed camera locations, there was a 42 per cent reduction in the number of crashes; 90 per cent reduction in deaths; and 40 per cent reduction in injuries. This reduction in casualties represents a saving of US$391.5 million to the community.

Speed cameras were not as effective at two locations and field inspections will be carried out prior to a decision on camera effectiveness and alternative options to improve safety.

Overall, the trend in road fatalities and annual speed surveys demonstrates that the mobile speed camera program is delivering positive road safety benefits, compared with results before the reintroduction of the mobile speed camera program in 2010. The ongoing impact of the mobile speed camera program is reflected in NSW’s provisional 2013 road toll of 339 fatalities. This result is the lowest annual figure since 1924, when there were 309 fatalities.

Results from the 2013 speed surveys show speeding continues to remain below the level of 2009, before the reintroduction of the mobile speed camera program in 2010. The percentage of light vehicles exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 km/h in 2013 was lower when comparing 2013 results to those from 2009 to 2011. The comparisons of the 2013 results with those from 2012 were more mixed, with further reductions in most speed zones, but slight increases in some zones.

Significant gains were achieved in reducing heavy vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 km/h, with the lowest percentages achieved over the entire five-year review period across most zones.

More than 99 per cent of vehicles passing mobile speed cameras were not infringed for speeding.  This high rate of compliance has remained consistent since 2010 when the program was reintroduced.

The red-light speed camera program shows encouraging results in changing driver behaviour. Overall, at the 125 intersections with red-light speed cameras there was a: 24 per cent reduction in crashes; 49 per cent reduction in pedestrian casualties; and 36 per cent reduction in all casualties.

This reduction in casualties represents a saving of US$61.7 million to the community.

There were no fatalities at signalised intersections with red-light speed camera enforcement in 2013.

Early analysis of point-to-point enforcement lengths shows that there was a low number of heavy vehicle crashes since camera operations began. There has also been a high level of compliance with speed limits on the point-to-point lengths, with low numbers of heavy vehicles detected speeding by point-to-point enforcement. It is too early to evaluate the program as only 21 out of 25 lengths were rolled out by the end of 2013.

Related Content

  • July 20, 2016
    Positive results for New South Wales camera enforcement
    The New South Wales government’s 2015 speed camera review shows that speed cameras continue to deliver positive road safety benefits, say the report’s authors. Overall, the trend in road fatalities and annual speed surveys shows that the mobile speed camera program continues to deliver positive road safety benefits, compared with results before the reintroduction of the mobile speed camera program in 2010. The 2014 road toll of 307 fatalities on NSW roads is the lowest annual figure since 1923. This i
  • October 3, 2014
    New South Wales removes speed cameras
    New South Wales Minister for Roads and Freight, Duncan Gay, has announced that speed cameras in ten locations across NSW are to be removed as soon as any safety works such as additional signage, barriers and markings and that work has been finished. Gay said in a statement that the government is keeping to a statement that it made while in opposition, and removing any speed cameras that did not add a proven safety benefit. The 2014 Speed Camera Review of the state’s cameras indicates that early result
  • October 26, 2016
    Building the case for photo enforcement
    As red light enforcement is returning to some intersections and being shut down at others, new evidence has been released backing the safety campaigners, reports Jon Masters. In 2014, 709 Americans were killed in red-light-running crashes and an estimated 126,000 were injured according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
  • September 2, 2015
    Speed cameras yield long-term safety benefits, IIHS study shows
    A speed-camera program in a large community near Washington, DC, has led to long-term changes in driver behaviour and substantial reductions in deaths and injuries, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows. Automated speed enforcement is gradually becoming more common around the country but remains relatively rare, with only 138 jurisdictions operating such programs as of last month. According to IIHS, if all US communities had speed-camera programs like the one IIHS studied in