Speeding vehicles through Paterson are causing noise problems in the otherwise quiet town, according to the Paterson Progress Association.
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Dungog Shire Council is in the early stages of trying to get a fixed speed camera installed in the town’s main street, after traffic studies revealed more than half the vehicles that travelled along the strip broke the 50km/h speed limit.
Traffic through Paterson has increased significantly in the past year because of trucks travelling to and from the nearby Martins Creek Quarry.
However, anecdotally, speeding drivers come from a range of demographics.
Aside from the potential threat to safety, Paterson Progress Association president John McNally said the constant speeding vehicles through the town created a noise problem in the village.
“Vehicle noise increases exponentially with speed,” he said.
“A vehicle travelling at 80km/h generates a much more threatening and intrusive noise than one travelling at 50km/h.
“It’s ironic that many of the offenders value the peace and quiet of their rural environment, but are quite happy to destroy the amenity of residents living along Maitland Road to save a few seconds on their daily commute.”
But community feedback was divided in response to a previous story about the issue published in the Mercury this week.
Some people wrote on the Mercury’s Facebook page that a permanent speed camera would help reduce the problem of speeding vehicles in Paterson, but others rejected the idea.
“This has to be a joke. Yes, people speed a little through town but there is a lot more we need before a money grabbing camera. Like possibly a local cop again,” Troy Iuliano posted to Facebook.
On the other hand, Kristy Buttsworth wrote: “Well if the existing speed signs are gathering data that indicate excessive speeding through the area, then perhaps more drastic measures are needed to ensure public safety.
“If you drive to the speed limit then you should have nothing to worry about! I say get the cameras rolling, this decision to act is long overdue!”
Other online comments:
Jak Stedman: “We don’t need speed cameras in Paterson. What we do need is the bloody potholes fixed.”
Adrien Svendsen: “Please keep speed cameras and traffic lights out of Dungog Shire.”
Jack Cowled: “People can’t even obey the traffic lights at Mindaribba so they are definitely not obeying speed limits. I say bring it on.”
Amanda Jenkins: “We need one in Weston! Thanks to the expressway and the bridge at Abermain being closed we’re living in a grand prix! Would catch at least 100 a day.”
Jack Burns: “The potholes do a good enough job.”
