Digital speed cameras to target Queensland motorists

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Digital speed cameras to target Queensland motoristst
Michael Crutcher and Kristin Shorten
January 04, 2010 12:00am
QUEENSLAND motorists could be nabbed for going just a little over the speed limit as new digital speed cameras allow police to lower their margin of error.

The Courier-Mail has learnt that the introduction of digital speed cameras, which will replace outdated wet-film models from mid-year, will enable the "tolerance" figure applied in the policing of speed limits to be lowered.

That would result in tens of thousands more motorists being booked without any speed limits being changed. The tolerance, which acts as a legal buffer for inaccuracy, is the difference between the speed limit and the detection trigger on cameras and hand-held radars.


Road toll linked to prosperity
It is understood Queensland's figure cannot be lowered with wet-film cameras because the ageing system cannot process the extra fines that would be generated. But digital cameras would create an advanced fine-processing system.

The Courier-Mail has decided not to publish the tolerance figure for road safety reasons.

Police and the State Government will not publicly acknowledge a tolerance figure.

In 1988, the first full-year speed cameras operated in Queensland, the state's road toll was below 300 – the only time it has been so low since 1955.

Road safety authorities believe that was no coincidence and it has ensured lowering the tolerance will be discussed this year. Other states have gone public with their moves. In 2002, Victorian police lowered the threshold to 3km/h, meaning drivers could be fined for doing 63km/h in a 60 zone.

Victoria's top traffic officer Ken Lay said the reduction and the public debate it created was one of the main factors in that state's road toll dropping by almost 100 in the following two years.

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson would not comment on tolerance levels.

"What I'm asking people to do is actually not exceed the speed limit at all," Mr Atkinson said.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said: "The speed limit is the limit, not a guide. One 'k' over the limit is speeding under Queensland law".

Speedos err on safe side
DODGING a speeding fine won't be as simple as blaming a faulty speedometer if snapped by one of Queensland's new digital speeding cameras.

RACQ vehicle technologies manager Steve Spalding said speedo errors were usually on the safe side.

"The actual speed is less than the indicated speed in nearly every instance. It's very rare to see a speedometer where it's inaccurate the other way," Mr Spalding said.

He said it wasn't uncommon for drivers to have their speedometers checked after picking up a speeding fine but confirmation of faulty speedometers was rare.

Mr Spalding said drivers of ageing vehicles could rest assured their speedo was as trustworthy as the newest cars.

"There are no other mechanical reasons why speedometer accuracy should vary during the life of the vehicle," he said.

"But we do advise motorists to get the speedometer checked after buying a new or used car. If it's new they can have it checked under warranty."

It is the owner's responsibility to make sure that a vehicle's speedometer works properly.