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

  • Minnesota study finds support for automated speed enforcement
    December 14, 2012
    A recent study by the University of Minnesota found strong support for automated speed enforcement, particularly in work zones and school zones and if revenues from fines are dedicated for road safety programs. Presenting the findings, Frank Douma, associate director of the State and Local Policy Program in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs said automated speed enforcement has been deployed in fourteen states and in many countries, especially in Europe. Automated speed enforcement is proven to be an ef
  • Mexico City seeks solutions to improve air quality
    December 6, 2017
    David Crawford ponders prospects for one of the world’s most congested and polluted cities. In 1992, the United Nations named Mexico City as the world’s most polluted urban centre. In the first half of 2016, following the updating of pollution alert limits to meet international standards, Mexico recorded 115 days where ozone concentrations exceeded the acute exposure health limit.
  • Trials of new technologies to counter age-old work zone challenges
    May 19, 2017
    New solutions are being used to improve the management and safety of work zones on roads both big and small, as Jon Masters discovers. The UK government has recently been going to some lengths to paint a picture of a nation embracing a future of digital technology – understandably given the economic concerns arising from exiting the European Union. In December last year, however, the UK National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) put down a somewhat different marker for where the UK is now in terms of mobile c
  • Traffic monitoring and hard shoulder running
    March 1, 2013
    Hard shoulder running is on the increase – and the detection and monitoring of incidents on affected roads is occupying the minds of experts across Europe and the US