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

  • Wavetronix radar-based traffic sensor cuts costs
    May 30, 2013
    While initial cost of radar based detection may be higher than that traditional loops, lower maintenance costs more than balance the books. Following successful field tests, the US city of Greenville, North Carolina, has recently agreed a new policy of phasing in Wavetronix traffic sensor technology’s radar-based SmartSensor Matrix system across its signalised traffic intersections. City traffic engineer Rik DiCesare expects the incremental implementation to deliver benefits to both the city’s taxpayers an
  • ATS study finds school bus stop arm cameras effective in reducing violations
    July 4, 2014
    Analysis carried out by American Traffic Systems (ATS) on routes where its CrossingGuard school bus stop arm cameras are installed found that, while the number of violations on those routes fell by more than 15 per cent during the school year, customers have reported stop arm running violation decreases fleet wide, on all buses. The analysis also finds that less than one per cent of drivers who receive one ticket get a second citation. Both results indicate the camera safety programs are off to a quick
  • Giving pedestrians more time at lights will reduce injuries: report
    July 28, 2025
    7-second 'head start' has significant impact, say Columbia University researchers
  • In-vehicle intersection violation Warning system
    January 31, 2012
    Mike Schagrin, ITS Joint Program Office, RITA, and John Harding, NHTSA, describe US progress towards an in-vehicle Intersection Violation Warning system. In 2008, there were 37,261 fatalities on US roadways. Of these, 7,772, some 20.8 per cent of the total, were defined as intersection crashes or intersection-related crashes. Through a multi-agency research initiative led by the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has developed a prototype In