MEDIA RELEASE

Senator The Hon Ron Boswell

Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Transport and Regional Services

The Australian Coat of Arms

22 April 2003
B38/2003

SPEED CAMERAS MORE POPULAR THAN WE THOUGHT

Forty per cent of Australians would like to see more speed cameras on the roads and 23 per cent want tougher speeding penalties. Only about 12 per cent want fewer cameras or lighter penalties.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Senator Ron Boswell, said a national survey on speeding and enforcement commissioned by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) had uncovered some surprising results that are encouraging for the future reduction of road fatalities.

"We often hear negative comments about the policing of speed limits, but the ATSB study shows that these views dont reflect mainstream opinion," Senator Boswell said.

"Not only is there widespread support for existing speed enforcement measures, but a surprisingly large proportion of people would like to see an increase in enforcement activity."

The survey also revealed broad support for quite strict enforcement of speed limits.

"A majority of people are saying that drivers really should be booked if they are travelling more than 5 km/h above the speed limit.

"When it comes to urban 60 km/h roads the preference for strict enforcement is especially strong and three in ten people favour a zero tolerance approach," Senator Boswell said.

The ATSB survey was conducted in the five mainland states of Australia and involved telephone interviews with 2,543 residents aged 15 years or older. Findings include:

  • 42 per cent support an increase in the level of speed enforcement activity, compared with 7 per cent supporting a decrease
  • 40 per cent support an increase in the number of speed cameras, compared with 13 per cent supporting a decrease
  • 23 per cent support an increase in the severity of speeding penalties, compared with 12 per cent supporting a decrease
  • 78 per cent support an enforcement tolerance of 5 km/h or less in 60 km/h urban speed zones (including 29 per cent supporting zero tolerance)
  • 53 per cent support an enforcement tolerance of 5 km/h or less in 100 km/h rural speed zones (including 24 per cent supporting zero tolerance).

The full report, Survey on Speeding and Enforcement (CR 214), is available at: www.atsb.gov.au/road/res-exec/cr214ex.cfm.

Media Contacts

Leah Nicoll ( Senator Boswell's office ) 0407 132 284

 

 

URL: http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/rb/releases/2003/April/b38_2003.htm