“In the context of a rising road toll, now is the time to trial these cameras for light vehicles and understand if we can keep more people safe on the road more of the time.
“All other mainland Australian states and countries like the UK, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands have found average speed cameras to be effective and we aim to be as rigorous as possible to be sure they will also reduce road trauma in NSW.”
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said they would work with the government to review the speeding data at the trial locations to ensure it actually changed driver behaviour.
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“We don’t just want to fine people, we want to slow them down… It is a fact finding mission to see if these cameras work,” he said.
However, Khoury said while the cameras might be a cost-effective way for the government to detect and reduce speeding, he said there was no substitute for having more police on roads and federal and state government investment in improving the road network, particularly outside Sydney.
“You’ve got to make the police the tip of the spear, enforcement which costs money is crucial. Police are not only able to target speeding, they also stop people drinking, taking drugs while driving and driving with fatigue,” he said.
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