Accelerating Change: NSW Point-to-Point Speed Camera Trial
Accelerating Change: NSW Point-to-Point Speed Camera Trial
The recent initiative by the NSW government to trial point-to-point speed cameras in regional areas marks a courageous step towards addressing the state's road safety crisis. The trial, which calculates a vehicle's average speed over a distance, aims to ensure that drivers maintain safe speeds—a move that has been long-awaited by road safety advocates and is crucial given the rising road toll.
While this decision may face opposition from various quarters, the government's commitment to trial this technology is commendable. It demonstrates a willingness to tackle the complex issue of road safety. This initiative is particularly significant as it reflects an understanding that effective road safety measures are often met with resistance yet are essential for long-term benefits.
The Road Trauma Support Group NSW (RTSG), through its comprehensive report "The Enduring Impact of Criminal Road Trauma in NSW" developed with FiftyFive5, highlights that the vast majority of road tragedies are preventable. With 351 fatalities recorded in 2023, showing a 25% increase from the previous year, and a troubling statistic that 280,657 adults personally know someone killed due to road violations, there is a dire need for impactful change. These figures align poorly with Australia’s goal of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030, further emphasising the need for immediate action.
The trial's initial approach of issuing warning letters instead of fines in the first 60 days is a strategic move. It helps mitigate perceptions of the initiative as a revenue-raising exercise, focusing instead on its primary goal of behaviour modification. This phase is crucial for gradually acclimating the community to new regulations and underscores the government’s intent to prioritise safety over penalties.
However, to maximize the trial’s effectiveness and gather comprehensive data, RTSG advocates for expanding the scope and reducing the timeline. Learning from global successes in countries like the UK, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands—where average speed cameras have significantly curtailed road deaths—can guide NSW to refine its approach. Expanding the trial to cover more high-risk areas and compressing the assessment periods can provide quicker, more decisive insights into the program's effectiveness.
Acknowledging the government’s proactive step in initiating this trial, it is imperative that we build on this momentum. By broadening the scope and intensifying the measures, NSW can significantly alter its current trajectory of increasing road fatalities. This approach is not merely about reducing statistics but fundamentally about saving lives and enhancing community well-being. The government's courageous step forward, coupled with strategic expansions and community-focused initiatives, can set a new benchmark in road safety for NSW.
David Vidal
RTSG Founding Member
23 September, 2024