Skip to main content

Canberra's speed cameras to be reviewed

Road safety researchers from the University of New South Wales Transport and Road Safety Research are to review Canberra's speed cameras to determine how effective they are at preventing accidents. The capital's fixed-speed cameras have come under fire since it was revealed there has been an increase in accidents at intersections where the cameras are installed. The location of point-to-point cameras has also been criticised. The territory has 33 safety cameras, made up of fixed-speed cameras, red lig
March 11, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Road safety researchers from the University of New South Wales Transport and Road Safety Research are to review Canberra's speed cameras to determine how effective they are at preventing accidents.

The capital's fixed-speed cameras have come under fire since it was revealed there has been an increase in accidents at intersections where the cameras are installed. The location of point-to-point cameras has also been criticised.

The territory has 33 safety cameras, made up of fixed-speed cameras, red light/speed cameras, mobile camera vans and two point-to-point units.

The researchers will undertake a broad evaluation of the program including its impact on crashes and speeding, as well as how it is governed. Professor Ann Williamson says the study will consider how the system can be improved.

"Our brief is to look at the effectiveness of it. Obviously the most direct effect is to slow people down and the secondary effect therefore as a result of that, is reducing crashes and injury, which of course is the ultimate aim," she said.

"We will look at where they're deployed and whether the ACT is getting the most effective use out of the technology."

Attorney-General Simon Corbell says the cameras have been in use for more than ten years and this is the first large-scale review of the system.  "As part of the evaluation, the University of New South Wales will review existing Australian and international research as well as evaluations of other road safety camera programs to assist in identifying opportunities for improved strategic and operational management of the ACT program," he said.

Related Content

  • Island Radar: safely crossing continents
    August 6, 2020
    There is a safety flashpoint wherever roads cross over railways. Island Radar is using well-established traffic technology to keep all parties safe from harm.
  • Connected citizens boosts Boston’s traffic management
    March 30, 2017
    Data-derived traffic management is starting to show benefits as David Crawford discovers. The city of Boston has been facing growing congestion problems in its Seaport regeneration district, with the rate of commercial and residential growth threatening to overtake the capacity of the road network to respond.
  • Average speed cameras ‘cut worst crashes by more than a third’
    September 30, 2016
    The use of average speed cameras has been found, on average, to cut the number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury by more than a third, according to research for the RAC Foundation by Road Safety Analysis. Researchers found that on average, having allowed for natural variation and overall trends, the number of fatal and serious collisions decreases by 36 per cent after average speed cameras are introduced. By the end of 2015 there were at least 50 stretches of road in Great Britain permanen
  • Are e-scooters safe for cities?
    November 6, 2019
    Electric scooters are promoted as both a lifestyle choice and an environmentally friendly means of solving first- and last-mile challenges.