TAS Facebook speed camera alerts

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/08/18/254071_tasmania-news.html

Facebook speed camera alerts

TASMANIAN motorists have started using social media to alert other drivers to the location of speed cameras.

A new Facebook page, Tassie Spotted Speed Cameras, encourages drivers to post the known positions of speed cameras and the colour and make of any unmarked police cars.

Already almost 1500 Tasmanians have flagged that they "like" the site -- and Tasmania Police has no objection to this early-warning system.

However, drivers who flash their lights to warn of speed cameras still risk a fine -- not for the warning but for using headlights in a manner likely to dazzle another driver.

Yesterday, drivers posted warnings to slow down when travelling through Mornington, on Hobart's Eastern Shore, and at Don, on the North-West Coast. Others reported that the "coast was clear" on the Bass Highway between Deloraine and Launceston.

Over the years, other media such as commercial radio has been used to give motorists a heads-up on where they might get nabbed.

The RACT, which has long campaigned for Tasmania Police to make its crackdown on speeding motorists more visible, welcomed the new Facebook page, which was set up in July.

RACT public policy manager Vince Taskunas said social media could play a part in making Tasmanian roads safer.

"If motorists slow down in the face of information that speed cameras are about, that is a good thing," Mr Taskunas said.

However, he urged people not to tap into social media sites while driving.

Tasmanian motorists are already being given more warning by police that speed cameras are being used than they have in the past.

Under road safety camera operating criteria adopted last year, Tasmania Police pledged to deploy "Speed Camera in Operation" signs on the approach to and departure from 50 per cent of its camera deployments.

Tasmania Police also pledged to use cameras to target higher speed zones.

Under the new rules, 50 per cent of all cameras should now be set up in speed limit zones of 90km/h or more.

Speed camera notices have already dropped off considerably, from 62,316 in 2009-10 to 35,194 to the end of May 2011.

The only fixed speed camera in Tasmania is located on Hobart's Tasman Bridge.