In 1999, new speed enforcement initiatives were planned for introduction in Victoria. In order to assess public response to these initiatives, a baseline telephone survey, was conducted in order to record related attitudes and behaviours under the speed camera program. Since then several new speed camera technologies have been introduced, the number of camera hours per month has also been increased, and both the speed camera tolerance and the residential speed limit have been lowered. A revised survey to address these changes was conducted in Melbourne in October 2002, with quotas specified to match the demographics of the 1999 sample. The aim was both to ascertain any changes in self-reported attitudes and behaviours in the period following the introduction of the new initiatives and assess specific perceptions of these new initiatives with additional items. Respondents reported greater awareness of speed enforcement in general and of speed cameras in particular in 2002. Overall the innovative efforts of Victoria Police and the changes in speed camera technology are appearing to be effective in changing people's attitudes towards speeding and self-reported speeding behaviour. (Author/publisher)
Abstract