Should motorists be notified of SA speed camera locations?

Posted 12 March, 2020 Lauren Ferrone

Whether you see them on TV, hear about them on the radio or spot them on roadside warning signs, there are many ways motorists in South Australia find out about speed camera locations. But does revealing this information actually improve road safety, or does it encourage speeding motorists looking to flout the law? According to RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, South Australia’s safety camera network needs to remain transparent. That includes notifying motorists of speed camera locations. “Warning signs should serve as a reminder to check your speed,” he says. Unlike all fixed and mobile safety devices installed in other parts of the country, South Australian motorists are privy to the location of cameras.

But that’s no reason to evade the law by speeding when signs aren’t present.

In 2019, Victoria and, more recently, Western Australia this year, no longer use signs to warn motorists of mobile speed camera locations. From the start of 2020, the West Australian Government scrapped the regular updates it provided to the public on exactly where police installed mobile speed cameras. Instead, the WA Government now only offers a list of 1800 locations around the state where speed cameras might be located. While South Australia no longer has signs at mobile locations, the government installed large speed camera alert signs at the end of last year as a reminder for drivers to check their speed when approaching all fixed camera locations. Motorists in South Australia can also access information about fixed and mobile speed locations for free, including weekly updates on the South Australian Police (SAPOL) website. According to SAPOL, the purpose of mobile and fixed safety camera programs is to reduce the risk of road trauma by slowing traffic, improving compliance at traffic lights and changing driver behaviour. “Fixed and mobile safety cameras are installed strategically across the state in locations of known traffic hazards,” a SAPOL spokesperson says. “We recognise that the deployment of safety cameras can be contentious and we’re committed to transparency in their operation.” According to SAPOL, notifying the public of safety camera locations:

• Educates and reminds motorists that police are deployed every day to actively monitor their speed and driving behaviour.
• Provides motorists an opportunity to be pre-warned and modify their own behaviour before incurring a fine.
• Demonstrates that camera deployment is not for revenue-raising.

Aside from weekly SAPOL alerts, a new online speed camera website was also launched last year by the SA Government divulging up-to-date locations of fixed and mobile speed cameras. It also explains why safety devices are installed at certain intersections and how they work.