Thousands of NT motorists caught in new speed camera trials
Sep 22nd, 2009 by admin
Northern Territory motorists are running red lights and speeding through intersections in Darwin at an alarming rate.
Since the four latest speed and red light cameras were installed last month at intersections in Woolner, Coconut Grove and Berrimah an average of 337 people have been snapped either jumping red lights or speeding through the intersections each day.
The Department of Planning and Infrastructure statistics released yesterday revealed in the week ending Sunday September 13, 1762 people were detected speeding through the new cameras.
A further 599 were caught travelling through a red light.
Greater Darwin Regional Command Support Division Superintendent Bob Rennie said the stats were “appalling”.
“That is thousands of fatalities and injuries averted, purely down to dumb luck,” he said.
“I hope that some of these statistics get through to people, sending a clear and concise message that speeding and being careless on the roads, is completely unacceptable and life threatening.”
Supt Rennie said NT Police, Fire and Rescue and Emergency Services crews were sick and tired of attending crashes, knowing all too well that by simply paying more attention, the road users could have avoided the situation.
The new cameras are in a trial period, meaning no-one has copped a fine yet.
They will become operational next month.
I believe Red light cameras and speed traps are good ideas in theory, but not quite when put into practice. They have become a convenient and socially accepted way to fine drivers and increase local revenue while not actually enhancing road safety.
Hi,
Over the first five months of the program, accidents decreased citywide by 13 percent compared to the same period a year earlier without cameras. At intersections with cameras, however, the number of accidents more than doubled from six to fourteen. Contrary to claims that red light cameras decrease accident severity, the average police estimate of damage costs for each accident increased by twenty percent after cameras were installed.