If you thought speed camera and roadside police radar proliferation in your country was bad, spare a thought for the Aussies. More than 45,000 drivers in the Australian state of Victoria are on the verge of losing their licenses, with blame being centered on the number of speed cameras that dot the highways.Australian licenses use a points system where drivers lose a certain number of points for each speeding offense, up to a maximum of 12 before having their license suspended. The Victorian road agency VicRoads has revealed that there are 9,000 more drivers close to losing their licenses then at the same time in 2005, with 150 speed cameras and 83 traffic light cameras on hand to monitor the state's 3.6 million registered drivers.
Opponents of the system regard the installation of speed cameras as just the latest form of revenue-raising for the government. For the 2007-08 financial year, state government revenue collected from regulatory fees, including speed camera revenue, increased by 6.2%. Of course, the regulators will always cough up the defense that the system is saving lives. We'll let you decide for yourselves.
[Source: Drive.com.au]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Vinny @ Jun 25th 2007 5:46PM
"45,000 drivers... are on the verge of losing their licenses, with blame being centered on the number of speed cameras that dot the highways."
Wouldn't the blame be their own from speeding? The camera's just make it easier to be caught.
Either way, sucks to be an Aussie or U.K. motorist these days.
P to the C @ Jun 25th 2007 5:56PM
Always follow the money. ALWAYS. If these things didn't make money for the politicians they wouldn't exist.
It's your government, you tell them what to do. If enough people get burned by these tax generation devices then things will change. Until then, write your member of parliament.
JC3 @ Jun 25th 2007 6:01PM
Saves money on Police salaries and it's more effective than running a fleet of patrol cars.It also raises revenue.But yeah, it sucks.
Michael @ Jun 25th 2007 6:05PM
I don't know the precise situation for the State of Victoria, but living in the State of Queensland, the situation is very similar.
The reason why people think it is revenue raising is that fact that monies collected seem to go to general revenue instead of all the monies go back into road safety
In addition there are so many other factor that are dangerous that are seldom policed. The only police the things that are EASY to prove in a court of law: Speeding- Drink Driving- Seatbelt usage.
Example: Over hear people Tailgate to the extreme but I have NEVER seen anyone pulled up for that offence. It is also only 1 demert point.
So yes we believe it MOSTLY (not always) Revenue Raising!
Barney @ Jun 25th 2007 6:19PM
The point system gives you a chance to wise up. If you don't learn the first, second or third time, just what does it take?
In British Columbia the speed cameras were dropped by the newest government. To many politicans must have got a ticket. The Minister of highways (some years ago) was called flying Phil because of his habit of testing the highways for their speed capabilities.
grandJDM.com @ Jun 25th 2007 6:51PM
Yep, there's not much good about being an Aussie car enthusiast these days, that's for sure. Admittedly we have access to a wider ranger of Japanese cars than you guys in the US, but it's more than made up for by the ease with which we seem to keep getting in trouble with the cops!
Alessandro Merolla @ Jun 25th 2007 7:23PM
In Italy there are Tutor: particular speed cameras. But the fear will be end in few years, I say:
http://dallapartedichiguida.blogosfere.it/2007/06/il-tutor-un-viagra-che-dura-poco-come-la-patente-a-punti.html
daiblade @ Jun 25th 2007 7:35PM
What this article doesn't mention is that the tolerance for these cameras here in Victoria, Australia is 3 km/h, whether you are doing 43km/h in a 40 zone or 113km/h in a 110 zone. Most drivers here now spend a large proportion of their driving time watching the speedo, often oblivious to what is happening around them.
Jono @ Jun 25th 2007 9:15PM
"tolerance for these cameras here in Victoria, Australia is 3 km/h"
Also keep in mind that the legal requirement for the tolerance for the speedo is 10%, so while your speedo may say 100km you could be doing 110km and legally there is nothing wrong with your car. Of course that is no excuse as it is 'your responsibility' to keep in the speed limit.
kballs @ Jun 26th 2007 6:30PM
The other thing that can happen with this is if everybody actually did slow way down, their revenue would drop. If that happened, they would ratchet down the tolerance even more. After that they would start lowering the speed limits.
The "criminal" act of speeding wouldn't actually be rising so they have to meet you in the middle and make normal safe driving a criminal act so they can continue to make money off the citizens. It's just a tax, covered up by a big safety sign.
Rob @ Jun 25th 2007 9:36PM
considering people spend most their time commuting the same route day in day out, how dumb do you have to be to get caught by these things twice? You could just buy a plate cover that is clear when viewed from straight on but blurs when viewed from the side. They are illegal, at least here in california, but I have seen numerous cars with them.
MikeW @ Jun 25th 2007 10:38PM
It is definitely about the money. Just listen to the scumbag politicians from chicago.
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/digest/439230,221DIG1.article
Got to protect the cream.
paul34 @ Jun 26th 2007 12:20AM
Ahh, beautiful, fast cars, combined with wide, open roads.
And now, speed cameras.
What a sad day for the Aussies!
Crazy @ Jun 26th 2007 4:15AM
The Tolerances in Western Australia are worse.
Try 1km/h (0.62MPH) over and a $50 fine. No points deducted until your8km/h (5MPH) over.
The Government says "It's not revenue raising, it's for the saftey."
So they tell us where the mobile cameras are and in some cases put a sign in front of the things.
Yep it's nuts alright.
Paul @ Jun 26th 2007 8:35AM
Speed cameras were introduced in Australia by a corrupt and incompetent State Government in the 90s. The use of them for revenue looting was painfully obvious to everyone at the time. Once all other Australian governments realized how much money they could steal from their constituents the flood gates opened. Now Governments the world over have learnt how they can rob their own people blind just by flogging propaganda about road trauma while placing cameras on wide roads with unreasonably low speed limits.
mike k. @ Jun 26th 2007 9:38AM
Ouch that sucks. We're starting to get the speed cameras in the Washington DC area though the legal precedents in the US don't let a ticket from one of those cameras take any points off your license. Its counted as a non-moving violation. They can pin it on the car, and you're legally responsible for the fine, but they can't prove you were driving (at least not how these camera's work now). So since they can't prove you're driving they can't take points off your license or hold anything else but the fine against you. Least thats the way i understand it.
Barney @ Jun 26th 2007 6:27PM
It was the same in BC. The owner of the vehicle got a picture of his vehicle and a ticket. The owner could pass it on to the driver and have him or her pay it themselves. As an owner of the vehicle, it is your responsibility of whom drives and how they drive it. It was the car that got the ticket.