Cameras Cut Crashes :(

When is a safety camera not a safety camera?

When the bloody lot are not turned on!!!

 Here’s the PDF, print it out and share it with everyone
                 PDF – precommissioned_cameras_ccc 

Straight from the GovInc’s own PR website http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/CCC/ccc/home (catchy name huh? they should have gone for….) we get this speil;

Locations of precommissioned cameras
July 7, 2010
locations+of+precommissioned+cameras

You can now find out the locations of precommissioned fixed digital safety cameras which are awaiting implementation.
While in precommissioned status the cameras are put through stringent testing. These cameras may flash and look as though they are operating, but this is merely part of the testing; they are not recording infringements yet. Visit the Camera Information page for more details about precommissioned cameras, camera testing, and to download the list of locations.

And if we venture there today we get this file Current Precommissioned Camera Locations (Excel, 27KB).
We have saved a copy here – precommissioned_cameras.xls

or http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/d3175c00430c1b9d8f4ddf4f501887b2/precommissioned_cameras_20100714.xls
which ever works,

the full list is after the jump (please read more)

Remember now, thats nearly 80 (Eighty) sites that are not live.
Think of how many lives these cameras would have saved, think of the roadtoll that would have been lowered, think of the money rolling into the GovInc with these fair road taxes. (We’ll talk about faulty cameras elsewhere.)

Now from what we can see these camera sites were budgeted over the last few years and previous media releases stated they were active and adding to the network of scams they already run. Right?

Wrong.

Here are previous media PR statemements 2008, 2009 and 2010

TOUGH NEW MEASURES TO FIGHT THE ROAD TOLL
From the Minister for Roads & Ports
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/5372.html

As part of the on-going fight against the road toll, the Brumby Government is introducing a range of tough, new measures to reduce speed and cut the road toll. 
Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said that while Victoria had recorded its five lowest road tolls in the last five years, 332 lives were lost on Victorian roads last year and 272 people had already lost their lives this year.
“As we approach the summer months, which are traditionally the most dangerous months on our roads, we are seeking to introduce measures for tougher enforcement to crack down on those motorists who are still disobeying the road rules,” Mr Pallas said.
“More than 30 per cent of fatal accidents on our roads are caused by speed – that’s around 100 lives lost on our roads each year.
“The risk of involvement in a casualty crash doubles with every 5 km/h motorists travel over the limit in a 60 km/h speed zone. Speed kills and exceeding the speed limit puts lives at risk.
“Victoria Police are doing their bit by dedicating more resources than ever before to fight the road toll over the coming Christmas and New Year period. 
“We are supporting Victoria Police in the fight against the road toll with a number of initiatives to help enforce our road rules.
“We will increase the effectiveness of the current mobile camera program through additional operating hours and better location targeting at high-risk crash sites.
“We will also increase the use of Moving Mode Radars, which are primarily used in high speed zones in country areas.
“We will also be accelerating the program of upgrading the technology used for red light intersection cameras from wet-film to digital. Manufacturers are already phasing out wet-film so it is necessary to update our cameras to current day technology.”
Mr Pallas said that the Brumby Government would be happy to receive no revenue from speed cameras if it meant motorists were no longer speeding.
“Speed cameras have significant road safety benefits and are an important part of our road safety strategy. If motorists do not want to lose money to speed cameras, the message is simple, ‘slow down,’” Mr Pallas said.
…snip…
“These enforcement initiatives will help Victoria Police keep our roads safe, and save lives.”

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CAMERAS TARGET SPEEDING DRIVERS TO REDUCE ROAD TOLL
From the Minister for Roads & Ports
Saturday, 11 July 2009
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/7504.html

Police will target speeding drivers in local hot spots and at major events as the state’s road safety camera network expands to reduce deaths and injuries on Victorian roads.
Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said Victoria has one of the best road safety records in the country due to a broad package of speed enforcement measures that included fixed and mobile road safety cameras.
Works are planned to begin on Monday to install digital speed and red light cameras at 53 intersections across Victoria, including six in rural areas.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to reduce the road toll and providing important safety benefits for our communities while improving Victoria’s road network,” Mr Pallas said.
“We are committed to road safety, setting an ambitious goal to cut the road toll and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2017 as part of the arrive alive strategy.
“Under the strategy we have seen tougher enforcement, strong public education campaigns, a new Graduated Licensing System for young drivers and additional road infrastructure that has contributed to reduce the impact of road trauma on the Victorian community.
“The increased use of road safety cameras will provide continuous coverage at a large number of sites across the state. Victorians can be sure that people who put others at risk by speeding or running red lights will be caught.
“This is yet another way we are supporting Victoria Police in the fight against the road toll and to help enforce our road rules. We would be happy to receive no revenue from speed cameras if it meant motorists were no longer speeding and putting lives at risk.”
Twenty-two existing wet film camera sites will be upgraded with digital technology during the works. The remaining 31 sites will have cameras installed for the first time.
The roll out also includes a 3000 hour boost to mobile speed camera hours, with Victoria Police announcing 1000 of these hours will be dedicated to specialist operations to tackle known hotspots, particularly in rural and regional Victoria, or specific high-risk periods.
Deputy Commissioner for Road Policing Ken Lay said drivers who obeyed the speed limit had nothing to worry about.
“Those people who run red lights and exceed speed limits deserve to be caught and fined. Road safety cameras play a vital role in driving down our road toll,” Mr Lay said.
The network upgrade and expansion was announced last November with the fixed camera sites selected on research from the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) as well as local intelligence from police, councils and members of the public.
For full list of fixed camera locations log onto: www.justice.vic.gov.au/camerascutcrashes

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CAMERAS HELP CLOSE THE NET ON RECKLESS SPEEDSTERS
From the Minister for Police & Emergency Services
Saturday, 12 June 2010
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/10841.html

The number of drivers caught for red-light offences fell almost 10 per cent in the March quarter as the State Government’s rollout of new and upgraded digital speed red-light cameras gathered pace.
“The cameras are having an impact in improving driver behaviour which is vital if we are to keep striving to drive down the road toll, but Victoria Police will continue targeting dangerous drivers until the message sinks in,” Mr Cameron said.
Mr Cameron said work was continuing to install speed and red-light cameras at 53 intersections across Victoria, including six in regional areas.
Twenty-two existing wet film camera sites are being upgraded with digital technology. The remaining 31 sites will have cameras installed for the first time.
“As we broaden the state’s road-safety camera network, the number of excessive speeders is falling, and we are committed to driving this number down even further,” Mr Cameron said 

.

C’mon, 2 years later and 80 (EIGHTY) cameras still not on the job.
Surely there is either a flaw in the system (myki anyone) or they really just dont care about us on the roads.

While we are at it, here is the guys hard at work installing and testing these safety devices.
Good work knowing that they aren’t live and just  bludge around all day.

 handheld radio whilst driving.

 slacking off, lucky the sign is holding him up.

  parked on roadway centre median strip, generally doing U turns over the gutters rather than roadway.