QLD Police Union Opposes Covert Speed Cameras

[gtc]

Six mobile speed camera units will begin operating state-wide in NSW from July 19th. The NSW government says it will make the possible locations of its roadside cameras known via the RTA website, but "hopes motorists will slow down regardless of whether a camera is present or not".

While we haven't yet reached the stage of hidden speed cameras, it's very interesting to read what the QLD cops have to say about them:

Could it really be? An Australian Police Union actually publicly stating that covert speed cameras don’t save lives?  Years of “every K over is a killer” ads and speed-cameras save lives propaganda has taken its toll on everyone’s sanity. A generation brainswashed by the government’s addiction to revenue raising cameras may soon hear the voice of reason from the most unlikely source.

Queensland’s police union president Ian Leavers told reporters yesterday that recently introduced covert speed cameras are “poker machines on wheels“. We couldn’t have picked better words ourselves.

Embattled QLD Premier Anna Bligh (who has recently suffered a massive nose-dive in popularity) was quick to dismiss the claim, insisting they are helping reduce the State’s road toll.  

Mr Leavers was quick to respond, providing figures that show the State’s road toll has actually increased since covert speed cameras came into operation two months ago.  According to official records, the road toll has increased from 3.7 deaths a week to 5.1 deaths a week since covert speed cameras were introduced. Going by those figures and using the government’s own methods of logical-reasoning, it’s fair to say that cover speed cameras are actually killing motorists.    

“I fear that the Bligh government is becoming addicted to the revenue of speed cameras, sure they rake in the dollars, however, the deterrent effect for speedsters is non-existent.” Leavers said.  

Of course Mr Levers doesn’t believe that normal (police-operated) speed camera units are also ineffective, his argument is that speed-cameras need to be visible to act as a deterrent as well as punishing those that break the law.

Covert cameras do little to actually enforce the speed limit until the culprit receives a bill in the mail.      

“There is not a shred of evidence that they have had any positive impact in reducing fatalities on our roads,” Mr Leavers said.  

Police Minister Neil Roberts also joined in on the debate, telling AAP that although covert cameras are yet to show a reduction in the road toll, they do change driver behaviour.      

“I’ve never made the claim that covert cameras are actually reducing the toll at this stage, but over time when people get tickets in the mail it will dawn on them you don’t always know where speed cameras are,” Mr Roberts said.  

Have you slowed down because you believe every K over is a killer? Or because you’re sick of paying the camera-tax?

http://www.caradvice.com.au/69647/qld-police-oppose-covert-speed-cameras/

[bootlegger]

Imover this Big Brother crap. I drive over a 1000km per week. having recently lost my licence I am freaked out about losing it again. I am a worse driver now that Im so paranoid than when I drove to the conditions.
If I had the money Id move to another country. When I drove around Europe I had a ball. I passed a cop car on the freeway at 160 (the speed limit is 130) and he didnt even blink an eye.

[69 DIRTY RAT]

I lived in the States(LA) for a while and the police were great!
On the freeways if you are travel with the traffic even at speed the police are ok with that because the traffic is moving steadily! I remember frequently traveling at speeds of 80-mph in 65-mph zones next to or passing a highway patrol! Occasionally the CHP would come out and weave across the traffic to slow people down but rarely did they pull people over and book them!
WE have definitely become a money hungry,granny country and become extremely conservative. For a Western country which preaches "Freedom" we have lost most of our freedoms, we are going backwards. Soon it will be faster to ride horses again!:soap:

[gtc]

Soon it will be faster to ride horses again!

Well, as you know, you can't have too many horses!