Random Ramblings

Say what you want about speed cameras and whether they are actually effective or just around for revenue raising, but along with the news about the Clem7 speed cameras recently, I’ve noticed first hand a way to get around one of the other new camera sets.

DISCLAIMER: I do not condone speeding in any way, shape or form. If you do speed, you deserve to be caught before you hurt somebody else.

One of the newly talked about camera systems that is expected to reduce the number of deaths on Queensland roads is the “point-to-point” camera set up on the Bruce Highway on the way to Caloundra.  The premise is that the cameras will measure the average speed over approximately 13km of highway (the current limit is 110km/h) and if the average speed is over, you will be booked.  They also work in the same way as a regular speed camera, so if you are over the limit as you pass either camera, you’ll be booked as normal.

The problem with this is the first camera is set up under a bridge at the Johnston Road/Wild Horse Mountain exit.  The only way to be detected and therefore start this measurement is to travel on the highway under this bridge.  Those joining the highway after this point won’t have the average speed measurement taken, since the first camera can’t detect your start time.  Fair enough, the second camera can’t possibly know when you joined the highway so it can’t work out the time it took you to travel the distance it’s recording.

Theoretically you could exit at this point and re-enter the highway and speed all you want and so long as you don’t hit the second camera over the limit, you’re home and hosed!  I’ll admit this thought didn’t enter my mind until I saw someone doing exactly what I described over the weekend.  The driver was even speeding all the way up the off-ramp and back down the on-ramp.

To be truly effective, shouldn’t both cameras be in a position to detect all possible infringements? Was there any consideration to this raised or is it just a half-baked attempt at putting in some new revenue raising kit to look like the government is getting serious?  With the revelation today of the Clem7 cameras not being tested adequately I seem to think that the second point is ringing true.

Note: I am emailing the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) department with my concerns, and will update this post if and when I get a response. (Update @18.05: Response received from TMR – It has been passed on to the ‘relevant area’ within the department for consideration and they are to reply to me directly by 02.06)

Update @07.06 – response from TMR received and my thoughts are here.