South Australian Government dismisses Opposition's call for a review of speed cameras, saying it undermines road safety
By Brad Gardner | April 8, 2011
The South Australian Government has dismissed Opposition calls for a review of speed cameras, saying it undermines road safety.
Labor’s Lee Odenwalder has criticised Schubert MP Ivan Venning’s proposal for a parliamentary inquiry to investigate whether speed cameras save lives or simply act as revenue raisers.
Venning last month questioned the effectiveness of the detection devices in cutting the state’s road toll, claiming other safety measures have had a significant effect on improving safety.
“It is a political campaign which undermines the simple message that drivers need to slow down and drive safely,” Odenwalder says.
“It is fact that speed cameras save lives. This government has no intention to revisit the substantial body of science that supports this view.”
Odenwalder told Parliament the Government is committed to reducing the road toll and crash injuries by using speed cameras and running safety campaigns urging motorists to slow down.
He says speed cameras are deployed in areas with a crash history and safety risks. Odenwalder says police also use reports of dangerous driving incidents when determining where to locate the units.
“The Opposition also fails to acknowledge that all speeding fine revenue goes towards road safety programs through the community road safety fund,” Odenwalder says.
“Any campaign to discredit SAPOL’s [South Australia Police’s] speed detection regime is, I believe, irresponsible and undermines attempts to encourage a safer driving culture in our community.”
Venning claims 24-hour mobile random breath testing, anti-hoon legislation and immediate loss of licence for drink driving are responsible for a demonstrable decrease in the road toll.
He believes the speed cameras contributing most to government coffers are not in the worst places for speed related accidents.