NCJ Number
144602
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
In response to a rising road death toll, government officials in Victoria, Australia, announced a new road safety strategy in September 1989 that included a large increase in the level of red light and speed camera enforcement.
Abstract
This strategy required the development of new processing technologies and a new Traffic Camera Office to view the photographic evidence, issue penalty notices, and handle related inquiries and administrative support activities. The strategy involved the progressive introduction of 60 speed cameras between December 1989 and August 1990, fitted on vehicles or on tripods and capable of being moved quickly to any site. Accompanied by bold advertisements and additional enforcement of drunk driver laws, the speed camera program reduced road traffic collisions by more than 25 percent between 1989 and 1992. Injuries from motor vehicle accidents were down 40 percent, and fatalities were reduced by over 45 percent. Speed camera technology produced an increase in infringement notices from about 20,000 to over 600,000 per year. Reduced accidents and fatalities translated into a savings of more than $800 million to the Victorian government and dramatically reduced the risk of injury on Victoria's roads. 13 references, 1 table, and 5 figures