Sign on a major Sydney motorway sparks debate as motorists complain about ‘revenue raising’ mobile speed cameras – so do you agree?
- Common sign on major Sydney road sparking outrage over speed cameras
- Reddit user posted image of ‘speed cameras save lives’ notice on freeway
- They say speed cameras are for revenue and don’t make a safety difference
A common sign on a major Sydney road has sparked outrage online as motorists complain that speed cameras are simply used for ‘revenue raising’.
A Reddit user posted the picture of a large notice on a Sydney freeway which read ‘speed cameras save lives’, referring to the messaging as ‘propaganda’ and claiming they’re in place for revenue.
‘Revenue propaganda. Decent driver training saves lives. Better testing would save lives. Not being an idiot saves lives,’ the user said.
A Reddit user posted the picture of a large notice on a Sydney freeway saying ‘speed cameras save lives’, referring to the messaging as ‘propaganda’
Criticism of speed cameras has mounted following the New South Wales government’s decision to lower the speed limit on busy inner-city Oxford Street from 50km/h to 40km/h.
The camera on that road raked in $1.5million in revenue in September 2020, including snapping 300 people in one day – with many unaware the limit had dropped.
The government say it was lowered ‘to provide a safer environment’ but residents instead believe it was a money-making scheme.
The camera was installed in June last year, seeing fines jump from 49 in June to an astounding 3,573 in July, 8,134 in August and 9,110 in September.
The head Western Australia Police Union said in 2016 that cameras were punishing drivers who were ‘going a couple of kilometres over the speed limit’ rather than improving safety.
The head Western Australia Police Union said in 2016 that cameras were punishing drivers who were ‘going a couple of kilometres over the speed limit’ rather than improving safety
‘The question we are asking the commissioner of police and WA government is why are they deploying cameras in locations that raise revenue, yes, but don’t make a difference saving people’s lives in this state,’ George Tilbury said.
‘If the government and commissioner were serious about addressing the road toll he would put cameras where it counts.’
Reddit users largely agreed with the post’s sentiment, saying that mobile speed cameras were an example of revenue-driven enforcement.
‘I’m for speed cameras because they incentivise people to slow down – but that’s also why I’m against mobile speed cameras, because people don’t have the incentive beforehand to slow down,’ one person commented.
‘I find most of the time they are not put in places for safety, i.e. where fatalities have occurred. This information is not brought up,’ another Reddit user said.
‘Or if there is a high number of speeding fine issued, why not put a permanent one up in the spot? Use the mobile camera to see if they are necessary in the area, would make it look less like revenue raising then.’
Another joked ‘getting a letter in the mail really reduces your speed a month ago’.