New South Wales drivers should be ready for increased mobile speed camera enforcement hours as of next month. The state government have promised to increase the current 900 hours per month to 7000 hours per 10,000 people.
Authorities have reiterated that they want to see a marked improvement in road safety and the number of vehicles speeding in order to reduce crashes and ultimately fatalities.
NSW makes use of mobile speed cameras more than any other state and according to the GM for the NSW Centre for Road Safety, this strategy is working. The road toll has declined by 19 per cent, as this excerpt from an article on https://www.ownerdriver.com.au. explains:
Mobile speed cameras are used far more extensively in NSW than in Victoria (16.8 hours per 10,000 people) and Queensland (14.9 hours per 10,000 people).
NSW Centre for Road Safety General Manager Marg Prendergast says the road toll has fallen by 19 per cent during the first year of mobile speed enforcement, with speeding reducing by six per cent in most speed zones.
“We don’t want to catch motorists speeding, we want them to slow down,” Prendergast says.
“This is what reduces crashes, deaths and injuries.”
Source: https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1311/increase-in-mobile-speed-cameras-from-december.
Prendergast goes on to explain that most drivers are doing the right thing and sticking to the speed limit but a tiny percentage is still speeding, risking their life and the lives of other innocent road users in the process. She goes on to explain:
Prendergast says the majority of drivers obey speed limits. She says more than 99 per cent of vehicles passing speed cameras do not receive an infringement.
“For those that speed, you are putting your life and the lives of other road users at risk, and these cameras are being increased to reduce risks,” Prendergast says.
Source: https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1311/increase-in-mobile-speed-cameras-from-december.
When it comes to heavy vehicles, drivers play an important role in ensuring that the vehicle is not caught speeding and that speed limiters are not tampered with. Operators need to ensure that speed limiters are in place and working efficiently and that drivers aren’t put under additional stress to deliver loads in unrealistic timeframes which would require them to speed.
Shockingly despite all of NSW road authorities’ efforts, this month has yielded the worst road safety results this year in the state. Police conducted a 3 day blitz last week in an effort to root out drunk drivers after 40 people lost their lives in October on NSW roads. Most of the road fatalities occurred on the Labour day weekend when roads were busy and many people were partying, presumably drink driving played some role in the high death toll over this weekend.
Police are warning drivers in the state that as we approach Christmas and New Year’s, blitzes are going to get more common and if you drink and drive, you will be caught. Highway Patrol commander Superintendent Stuart Smith said,
“…people need reminding of the risks of drink-driving, particularly in the weeks before Christmas holidays.”
“We’re entering that period where people start to drink more,” he said.
“What we’re saying is, ‘Stay off the roads if your judgment is impaired’.”
Source: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/deadly-month-leads-to-nsw-road-blitz
“The message is very clear – if you drink, don’t drive. Chances are you’ll be caught.”
