http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2012/05/25/328711_news.html
A SPEED camera operator will be slapped with a fine after parking illegally to catch speeding motorists in Belmont.
But despite doing the wrong thing, speeding fines will still be issued to anyone nabbed by the vehicle.
Ross Kroger snapped the snapper after coming across the vehicle in Roslyn Rd last week, parked so far out from the kerb it was blocking the bicycle lane.
An avid cyclist, Mr Kroger said the car's position would have forced riders to pedal into the path of vehicles on the busy road.
"Is the benefit of catching someone speeding worth the danger to a cyclist or even another car coming along?" he said.
Mr Kroger said he was "assisting the public and road safety" by stopping and taking photos of the vehicle.
Your Say
"Maybe if speed camera cars are allowed to park illegally, perhaps we should go around and place an A-Frame advertising board in front of them, joking, if you speed you deserve to get caught."
Rob
The photographs were referred by the Geelong Advertiser to the Victoria Police traffic camera office for review.
The office found the operator had parked the car out from the kerb to avoid reflections, which can distort speed camera results, but admitted the car contravened the road rules and issued a $73 parking infringement notice to the operator.
Anyone caught by the camera doing less than 10km/h over the speed limit can expect to be fined more than twice that amount.
Victoria Police senior media officer Catherine Allen said no speeding infringements issued by the speed camera would be withdrawn.
"The parking of the car was illegal but the actual set up of the physical camera was in accordance with the requirements," Ms Allen said.
Despite contravening Victoria Police's own policy and operations manual for mobile speed cameras, high-profile motor traffic law barrister Sean Hardy said it was not a defence to a speeding fine.
"The validity of the ticket doesn't hinge on the police doing everything correctly," he said.
Senior Sergeant Shane Coles of Geelong Highway Patrol admitted the camera operator was in the wrong.
"It looks a bit ordinary," he said.
Sen-Sgt Coles, who delegates where and when the camera cars operate, said officers underwent strict training procedures.
"We have set criteria in regards to how we operate the radar when you have reflective issues," he said.
"There's a guide they have to follow. They cannot shoot where there's a reflective background and if you have billboards, parked cars or mirrors, because it can distort the radar.
"The operator has to assess the site and a lot of sites have become unsuitable over the years because at times it (the radar) can give ghost readings.
"We've had situations where a car is clearly travelling at 60km/h but the radar clocks them at 120km/h because of the reflection."
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Speed cameras for suburban streets
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13801488/speed-cameras-for-suburban-streets/
Speed cameras could be used on suburban streets in a joint effort by police and local councils to target hoons who terrorise Perth neighbourhoods.
WA Local Government Association president Troy Pickard said the new strategy would involve councils giving police local area traffic data so speed cameras could be put in streets most plagued by reckless drivers.
Police currently put cameras mainly on busy roads and highways but its collaboration with councils could result in cameras being used more in suburbs.
Mr Pickard said councils would be encouraged from the second half of this year to send data on vehicle speeds to police traffic intelligence services.
The police could then analyse the data to identify problem areas.
The list of streets with the worst speeding would be passed to the State traffic enforcement group, which conducts mobile patrols, or to State traffic operations for "speed camera deployment to be considered".
Speed cameras are rarely used in suburban streets because they do not fit the police force's criteria for placement. These are for school zones, roads with high levels of hoon driving, roads where more than 20 per cent of drivers speed and in areas and at the times linked to speed-related crashes.
Mr Pickard, who previously complained about the lack of speed enforcement on suburban streets, said the data from councils would come from vehicle count monitors.
The strips, which are laid across the road, record the volume and speed of traffic.
"We anticipate that this data will help the State in its allocation of resources to combat speeding on the local road network," he said.
The strategy was a key recommendation of a report from Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre on how WALGA could best work with police to reduce speeding on local streets.
Police Minister Rob Johnson said he hoped many councils would take part in the plan.
"Road safety is a shared responsibility and I welcome any initiative between police and local government that will reduce speed on our roads," he said.
Police would not comment on the strategy.
Speed cameras could be used on suburban streets in a joint effort by police and local councils to target hoons who terrorise Perth neighbourhoods.
WA Local Government Association president Troy Pickard said the new strategy would involve councils giving police local area traffic data so speed cameras could be put in streets most plagued by reckless drivers.
Police currently put cameras mainly on busy roads and highways but its collaboration with councils could result in cameras being used more in suburbs.
Mr Pickard said councils would be encouraged from the second half of this year to send data on vehicle speeds to police traffic intelligence services.
The police could then analyse the data to identify problem areas.
The list of streets with the worst speeding would be passed to the State traffic enforcement group, which conducts mobile patrols, or to State traffic operations for "speed camera deployment to be considered".
Speed cameras are rarely used in suburban streets because they do not fit the police force's criteria for placement. These are for school zones, roads with high levels of hoon driving, roads where more than 20 per cent of drivers speed and in areas and at the times linked to speed-related crashes.
Mr Pickard, who previously complained about the lack of speed enforcement on suburban streets, said the data from councils would come from vehicle count monitors.
The strips, which are laid across the road, record the volume and speed of traffic.
"We anticipate that this data will help the State in its allocation of resources to combat speeding on the local road network," he said.
The strategy was a key recommendation of a report from Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre on how WALGA could best work with police to reduce speeding on local streets.
Police Minister Rob Johnson said he hoped many councils would take part in the plan.
"Road safety is a shared responsibility and I welcome any initiative between police and local government that will reduce speed on our roads," he said.
Police would not comment on the strategy.
No
more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your
driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding. www.speedalertlive.com
Found this Blog interesting? Please consider sharing.Arsonists torch Tassie speed camera car
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13801488/speed-cameras-for-suburban-streets/
A police speed camera vehicle has been torched in Launceston.
The Subaru Forrester was parked on Hobart Road, just north of Breadalbane, when it was set alight about 7pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Police say the car was destroyed.
It had been parked to operate a speed camera and was unattended.
A police speed camera vehicle has been torched in Launceston.
The Subaru Forrester was parked on Hobart Road, just north of Breadalbane, when it was set alight about 7pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Police say the car was destroyed.
It had been parked to operate a speed camera and was unattended.
Promotion of reckless speed sparks inquiry into car ads
http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/promotion-of-reckless-speed-sparks-inquiry-into-car-ads-20120531-1zjx1.html
The federal government has launched an inquiry into car advertising, prompted by concerns about ads that could promote dangerous driving and other unsafe or illegal behaviour.
The inquiry comes in the wake of several car ads falling foul of the advertising watchdog, including an ad for the Volvo V60 which was this month ruled to give an impression of "reckless speed" and "unsafe driving".
Volvo agreed to pull the ad from TV after the Advertising Standards Board ruled that the it should be modified or withdrawn. Last month, a Suzuki ad was changed after the board determined it promoted reckless driving. The six-month government inquiry, launched by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, will look at the effectiveness of the current voluntary code on car ads and seek the views of those in both road safety and advertising.
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The briefing notes for the inquiry reveal that road safety organisations have strong concerns about the board's handling of complaints about car ads and the overall system of advertising industry self-regulation.
The board investigates all complaints about ads for cars, with the ads subject to the Voluntary Code of Practice for Motor Vehicle Advertising. If an ad breaches the code the most the board can do is ask an advertiser to change or withdraw it.
The inquiry will also seek advice on how the National Road Safety Council might effectively influence the process.
The federal government has launched an inquiry into car advertising, prompted by concerns about ads that could promote dangerous driving and other unsafe or illegal behaviour.
The inquiry comes in the wake of several car ads falling foul of the advertising watchdog, including an ad for the Volvo V60 which was this month ruled to give an impression of "reckless speed" and "unsafe driving".
Volvo agreed to pull the ad from TV after the Advertising Standards Board ruled that the it should be modified or withdrawn. Last month, a Suzuki ad was changed after the board determined it promoted reckless driving. The six-month government inquiry, launched by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, will look at the effectiveness of the current voluntary code on car ads and seek the views of those in both road safety and advertising.
Advertisement: Story continues below
The briefing notes for the inquiry reveal that road safety organisations have strong concerns about the board's handling of complaints about car ads and the overall system of advertising industry self-regulation.
The board investigates all complaints about ads for cars, with the ads subject to the Voluntary Code of Practice for Motor Vehicle Advertising. If an ad breaches the code the most the board can do is ask an advertiser to change or withdraw it.
The inquiry will also seek advice on how the National Road Safety Council might effectively influence the process.
No
more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your
driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding. www.speedalertlive.com
Found this Blog interesting? Please consider sharing.Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Push to lower speed limit to 30km/h near schools and homes
http://wotnews.com.au/view_email/8538728/d925d04f615c7cd23f45ff251582b216/
SPEED limits would be lowered to 30km/h in Victorian residential streets and school zones under a new parliamentary safety push.
Drivers would have to cut at least 10km/h, and up to 30km/h, off their speedometer under the proposed change aimed at slowing down motorists and encouraging more people to walk and cycle.
SPEED limits would be lowered to 30km/h in Victorian residential streets and school zones under a new parliamentary safety push.
Drivers would have to cut at least 10km/h, and up to 30km/h, off their speedometer under the proposed change aimed at slowing down motorists and encouraging more people to walk and cycle.
No
more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your
driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding. www.speedalertlive.com
Found this Blog interesting? Please consider sharing.Friday, May 25, 2012
Drivers urged to slow down to arrest road toll increase
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/logan/drivers-urged-to-slow-down-to-arrest-road-toll-increase/story-fn8m0u8i-1226365302371?from=public_rss
Police and Logan road safety advocates are reminding drivers to slow down and be patient on the road, with the state's road toll already at 103.
Nine people, two more than this time last year, have lost their lives on Logan's roads this year, and police are campaigning to keep Friday fatality free.
Logan District Traffic Branch Officer In Charge, Senior Sergeant Scott Lacey said last year's Fatality Free Friday was marred by five fatalities in Logan on the following Saturday and he did not want to see a repeat.
``I hope Friday and Saturday goes off without a hitch and after a review of last year's 22 fatalities in Logan, the fatal four still rings very true,'' he said.
``As well as drink-driving, speeding, no seatbelts and fatigue, we've had two fatals in the last 12 months involving mobile phone usage.''
Snr-Sgt Lacey said the SafeRoads4Logan campaign had been highly successful to date.
``Although fatal crashes are up, injury crashes and overall crashes are down,'' he said.
Brake Driver Awareness Program founder Rob Duncan said Fatality Free Friday made drivers conscious of how they behaved on the road.
``If drivers can do it one day, they should do it every day,'' he said.
``With fatalities on the rise, the ripple effect on the community is enormous. (When) young people... see older drivers with bad behaviour, they tend to copy.
``Safe driving is the responsibility of everyone.''
Logan City Council road safety advocate, Cr Russell Lutton, said there had been a 7.4 per cent decrease in crashes, and the SafeRoads4 Logan target was 10 per cent.
``Logan is heading in the right direction with the level of crashes reducing. SafeRoads4Logan will be ongoing and we'll work together with police,'' he said.
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Police and Logan road safety advocates are reminding drivers to slow down and be patient on the road, with the state's road toll already at 103.
Nine people, two more than this time last year, have lost their lives on Logan's roads this year, and police are campaigning to keep Friday fatality free.
Logan District Traffic Branch Officer In Charge, Senior Sergeant Scott Lacey said last year's Fatality Free Friday was marred by five fatalities in Logan on the following Saturday and he did not want to see a repeat.
``I hope Friday and Saturday goes off without a hitch and after a review of last year's 22 fatalities in Logan, the fatal four still rings very true,'' he said.
``As well as drink-driving, speeding, no seatbelts and fatigue, we've had two fatals in the last 12 months involving mobile phone usage.''
Snr-Sgt Lacey said the SafeRoads4Logan campaign had been highly successful to date.
``Although fatal crashes are up, injury crashes and overall crashes are down,'' he said.
Brake Driver Awareness Program founder Rob Duncan said Fatality Free Friday made drivers conscious of how they behaved on the road.
``If drivers can do it one day, they should do it every day,'' he said.
``With fatalities on the rise, the ripple effect on the community is enormous. (When) young people... see older drivers with bad behaviour, they tend to copy.
``Safe driving is the responsibility of everyone.''
Logan City Council road safety advocate, Cr Russell Lutton, said there had been a 7.4 per cent decrease in crashes, and the SafeRoads4 Logan target was 10 per cent.
``Logan is heading in the right direction with the level of crashes reducing. SafeRoads4Logan will be ongoing and we'll work together with police,'' he said.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Suncorp is a proud sponsor of the Fatality Free Friday Road Safety Foundation.
uncorp campaigns for road safety
22 May, 2012 0 comments
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Suncorp Insurance has launched an interactive YouTube video as part of its new 'Fatality free Friday' campaign.
The campaign is an annual initiative that began in 2007 and aims to have one day on record where there is not a single road death in Australia.
The campaign calls on viewers to pledge to drive safely on May 25 by clicking on the lit up word 'pledge' which appears on the video.
The video features a visual representation of Queensland's average annual road toll using 305 tea light candles positioned in the shape of the word pledge.
Senior marketing advisor for Suncorp Insurance, Natalie Choules said: “We wanted to do something that not only carried a strong message but would also inspire people to think about the rate of road fatalities in this country and pledge to make a difference.
“You-tube was an ideal platform to tap into the ever increasing digital audience and engage with them.
The campaign also uses social media and QR codes to distribute the clip.
22 May, 2012 0 comments
Share on email Share on print Share on facebook_like
Suncorp Insurance has launched an interactive YouTube video as part of its new 'Fatality free Friday' campaign.
The campaign is an annual initiative that began in 2007 and aims to have one day on record where there is not a single road death in Australia.
The campaign calls on viewers to pledge to drive safely on May 25 by clicking on the lit up word 'pledge' which appears on the video.
The video features a visual representation of Queensland's average annual road toll using 305 tea light candles positioned in the shape of the word pledge.
Senior marketing advisor for Suncorp Insurance, Natalie Choules said: “We wanted to do something that not only carried a strong message but would also inspire people to think about the rate of road fatalities in this country and pledge to make a difference.
“You-tube was an ideal platform to tap into the ever increasing digital audience and engage with them.
The campaign also uses social media and QR codes to distribute the clip.
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