More want speed cameras
Nearly 40 per cent of West Australian road users want more speed cameras as part of an improved speed enforcement strategy, according to new research.
The Austroads report found WA drivers led the nation in calling for better enforcement of speed limits.
Ten years ago, a similar study found WA residents were the least likely to want to see an increase in speed enforcement. Road safety expert Professor Max Cameron, of Monash University's accident research centre, said he found the results surprising given WA's less than impressive record on speeding but hoped the report demonstrated a shift towards better driver attitudes.
"I think it's a very positive sign that people are starting to see that something more needs to be done," Professor Cameron said.
"My general impression is that WA has the worst speeding problem in Australia."
"One would think that because speeding is such a problem in WA there wouldn't be much support for enforcement but that loses sight of the idea that there's lots of rational people out there that aren't necessarily speeding criminals that we have on the road and that's good to see they represent a good proportion."
Nationally, 51 per cent of people thought speed enforcement should remain the same and 14 per cent thought it should be decreased.
Only 43 per cent of WA road users thought enforcement should stay the same and 16 per cent thought it should be decreased.
Half the WA respondents believed revenue raising was the main intention of speeding fines.
WA is the only State where low-level speeding does not attract a demerit point but a $75 fine.
Professor Cameron said it was time WA came into line with the rest of the country.
"One of the things we think is really important in speed enforcement is the accumulation of demerit points because it starts to threaten your licence, if you don't have that you can just pay your way out of it," he said.
Acting Road Safety Minister Michael Mischin said there were no plans to introduce a demerit point for low-level speeding.
