New data from the Victorian government suggests that drivers have identified and memorised the locations of fixed-position speed and red light cameras near where they live, making sure they drive more slowly and carefully close to home.
However, away from the neighbourhood it is a different story, and drivers unaware of the location of safety cameras are reported to be more likely to speed and run red lights.
According to an analysis of the top 15 suburbs for infringements from fixed cameras, non-local drivers were detected seven times more frequently than their local counterparts for both speed and red light offences – showing some drivers are still taking dangerous risks when they think no one is watching.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines says non-local drivers received more than 88 per cent of fixed camera infringements issued across the top 15 suburbs, with locals accounting for nearly 12 per cent – clocking up 186,419 and 24,827 fines respectively.
Heidelberg, Melbourne, Avondale Heights, Frankston, Moorooduc, Rowville, West Melbourne, Footscray, Sunshine West, St Kilda, Chadstone, Keysborough, Southbank, Oakleigh East and Bundoora recorded the most infringements, accounting for almost half of all fixed camera infringements across the state.
"In the top 15 suburbs for mobile road safety cameras which regularly rotate locations, non-local drivers account for more than 57 per cent of infringements, while local drivers accounted for 42 per cent – a total of 41,881 and 30,592 fines respectively," the Minister says.
"This shows that local drivers have a greater awareness of fixed camera locations in their area and modify their behaviour accordingly, resulting in fewer infringements.
"But when both groups are equally unaware of camera locations, they commit a similar number of offences – showing that drivers continue to speed in areas where they think they won’t be caught and demonstrating the importance of mobile cameras."
BICYCLE NETWORK COMMENT:
Speed remains a major factor in fatal collisions, despite research that shows that reducing speed by just five km/h in a 60 km/h zone can decrease crashes by up to 15 per cent.
There is a curious paradox in play with this data.
Research over the years has indicated that drivers generally support lower speed limits in their local area, but oppose them when they are proposed for more distant places.
They want safe streets for their children, the elderly and their neighbours.
So, if given the choice, drivers will opt for lower speed limits close to home in their own suburbs.
Thinking this through, if we gave all localities the choice of reducing speed limits just in their local area, they would take it.
And the result would then be ... lower speed limits everywhere with everybody in favour.
Maybe reducing speed on local streets is not so hard as politicians think.
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