Fears freeway speed cameras could pose crash risk
Fears freeway speed cameras could pose crash risk
Some Adelaide Hills motorists fear new fixed speed cameras on the South Eastern Freeway could end up causing crashes.
The cameras near the Mt Osmond overpass and at Crafers West will begin operating on Monday and the South Australian Government predicts they will nab about 400 speeding drivers every day.
That means they could rake in $8 million over three years, but police said speed cameras are a proven life-saver.
“Ten years ago when this fixed camera technology was first introduced, 156 (people) had died on SA roads – in 2012, 94 people died on SA roads,” Superintendent Bob Fauser said.
The government insists revenue will go back into road safety, and it makes no apologies to speedy tourists.
“It would come as no surprise to anybody from the eastern seaboard that we are employing this technology on the approach to Adelaide,” Road Safety Minister Michael O’Brien said.
But Mt Barker mayor Ann Ferguson said her council did not even get a say in the matter.
“We’re never consulted, we’re informed,” she said.
The cameras are able to distinguish between cars and trucks and variable speed limits - with some heavy vehicles limited to 60kph on the downtrack.
While Mayor Ferguson suggested there was potential for a rise in the cost of freight to combat fines incurred, others have predicted the cameras will create a hazard with drivers slamming on brakes to avoid being caught.
“They’re going to be so cautious watching their speed limit rather than concentrating on driving down the freeway,” one motorist said.
