It may come as a shock to learn that Hunter speed cameras earn the state government about $10,000 each day, according to new Office of State Revenue figures.
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While cameras in Newcastle appear to be raking in the most cash for the government, out of all those across the Hunter, the speed camera on the New England Highway at Lochinvar has also been a valuable contributor.
The camera, outside All Saints College St Joseph’s campus, has generated $299,815 in fines so far this financial year – which still has another three months remaining.
It might seem like a small amount compared with Newcastle’s top earner, a Pacific Highway camera at Gateshead which has raised almost $1 million this financial year, but the Lochinvar tally is still significant.
The issue has raised the well worn debate about whether speed cameras are safety instruments or revenue raisers for governments.
Given the latest figures, there’s no doubt speed cameras in the Hunter have raised significant revenue for the state.
But the high work rate of the Hunter’s speed cameras shows that many people don’t appear to be getting the message when it comes to safe driving.
It’s not so much a case of the government ripping people off to make money – people keep acting in a dangerous way on the roads.
Some drivers might question the seriousness of travelling slightly faster than the speed limit in a 50km/h or 60km/h zone.
But that attitude shows a lack of understanding of responsible driving. Speed limits are there for a reason.
According to Roads and Maritime Services, there is “overwhelming evidence” that reducing speed can decrease the likelihood and severity of crashes on the road.
The RMS believes low level speeding is a particularly serious problem because a lot of people do it, so it has a cumulative effect.
In its fact sheet about the dangers of speeding, the RMS highlights a University of Adelaide study that found exceeding the speed limit by 5km/h doubled the likelihood of a crash that would result in a casualty.
It also found that every 5km/h increase beyond that would further double the risk of a casualty crash.
This issue shouldn’t become a debate about whether the government is revenue raising. The simple fact is that if motorists didn’t drive faster than the speed limit, they would not get fined for speeding.
