Speeding is a serious problem on the ACT's high quality roads, with excessive speed being a significant factor in over half Canberra's road crashes. Given the proven record of speed cameras as a road safety measure in other Australian jurisdictions, the ACT Government introduced speed cameras in October 1999. This paper outlines the rationale, processes and results of the speed camera program since then, in terms of 'four Cs': Control - the research-based rationale for introduction, relevant legislation, and the best practice implementation; Co-operation - a partnership of the regulator (ACT Department of Urban Services), enforcer (Australian Federal Police) and the community advocate (NRMA); Communication - a very thorough and open public education campaign to ensure strong community support for cameras as a road safety measure; and Continuation - independent evaluation of the operational and road safety outcomes being used to expand and refine the speed camera program in a best practice context. Results after six months have been very promising, with a 26 percent reduction in the proportion of vehicles speeding; a 63 percent decrease in vehicles exceeding the limit by over 10 km/h in speed camera zones; and a 'halo effect' speed reduction of 15 percent on roads outside the declared speed camera network. Given this success and strong public acceptance, the speed camera program was expanded in August 2000. Mobile camera vans were increased from two to four, with the declared network going from 22 to 52 roads, mainly in residential areas. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E202589.
Abstract