Of 97 NSW fixed speed cameras reviewed, 92 to stay and 5 to go

Roads Minister Duncan Gay announced yesterday that of the state's 97 fixed speed cameras which were reviewed, 92 would stay and only five might be removed.

The 92 were found to have reduced deaths by 87 per cent, crashes by 38 per cent and injuries by 37 per cent.

Deaths at red light cameras were down 26 per cent, and down 21 per cent in mobile speed camera zones.

The government arrived at the figures by adding all the deaths, crashes and injuries at all speed camera locations in the five years before cameras were installed, and comparing it to the same data in the past five years.

Telegraph writes "Camera backflip catches Roads Minister Duncan Gay"

http://bit.ly/Lxme7t

There were 61 deaths at these locations in the five years before cameras were introduced, and eight deaths in the past five years.

The number of crashes was down from 3959 to 2451 and injuries from 2124 to 1344.

In vastly different rhetoric from before last year's election, Mr Gay said speed cameras were not just cash cows.

"This has never been about raising revenue," Mr Gay said. "This has been about reducing accidents.

"We've never indicated that we were going to remove cameras in general."

Mr Gay said the five cameras found to be ineffective would be subject to a further review and "there may well be some . . . that ultimately

get removed".

Only one was in Sydney -- at New South Head Rd, Edgecliff -- with the other four at Northern Distributor, Corrimal; Pacific Highway, Hungry Head, North East Highway Kootingal; and North East Highway, Lochinvar.

But new figures tabled in Treasury documents have led to Opposition claims the cameras are about revenue.

More than 40 per cent of the $62.5 million collected from speeding fines in 2011-12 using mobile or static speed cameras were for driving 10km/h or less over the limit.

By contrast, just 5 per cent (or $2.94 million of $56 million) from police-issued speeding offences was for speeding 10km/h or less.

It shows a two-tier system in which more than $26 million in speeding fines is collected from camera readings for minor offences, while police go for those who commit higher speed offences.

The majority of police-issued speeding tickets were for speeding between 10km/h and 20km/h and 20km/h to 30 km/h over the limit.

Before last month's state budget, Mr Gay announced a sevenfold increase in mobile speed cameras and a doubling in the number of red-light speed cameras. The budget also increased speeding fines by 12.5 per cent.

Opposition Leader John Robertson said: "Before the election Barry O'Farrell promised to be the motorist's friend but these policies are nothing more than a straight out grab for cash."

No more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the FREE app that protects your driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding get it for FREE at  WWW.SPEEDALERT.ME