Brisbane's new tunnel will open with eight speed cameras

[csv8]

This BLATANT revenue raising !!!

Brisbane's new tunnel will open with eight speed cameras
Article from: The Courier-Mail

*
By Patrick Lion

November 22, 2009 11:00pm

BRISBANE'S new cross-river tunnel will be lined with eight fixed speed cameras over its 6.8km length.

The tunnel will account for almost half of the fixed speed camera sites across the entire state once it is operational.

Motoring groups said it was a case of ''gross overkill'' and accused the State Government of contradicting its own camera policy, insisting locations were supposed to be chosen on historical crash data.

Police Minister Neil Roberts yesterday said the cameras would help enforce the 80km/h speed limit and reduce the significant speed-related crash risks a tunnel posed.

''Crashes in tunnels have the potential to be particularly hazardous due to the enclosed nature of the environment,'' Mr Roberts said. ''Fixed speed cameras have been proven to raise drivers' awareness of speed limits and ultimately slow motorists down.''

Editorial: Save lives first before issuing fines

However, RACQ spokeswoman Lynda Schekoske said the motoring group supported cameras only where there was a significant crash history.

''Eight cameras in six or so kilometres seems somewhat excessive,'' she said. ''We would certainly think that having cameras there for enforcement reasons from the outset would not be very appropriate.''

The move is likely to provide a new revenue bounty for the cash-strapped Government, with about 4000 drivers a month caught at the state's first three fixed camera sites last year.

Mr Roberts said the Clem7 cameras would be placed in four locations in pairs and on each side of the road and would be clearly signed, like the state's nine above-ground cameras. Only six of those above-ground cameras are operational but the other three will be brought online in coming weeks.

The tunnel cameras will be digital, unlike the previous wet film models.

Live traffic cameras

QUT Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety researcher Mark King yesterday said while the move was unusual, the cameras were appropriate given the unique nature of the tunnel.

''We have had some high-profile nasty crashes in tunnels and when it does happen, it can be quite bad,'' he said.

The tunnel, linking Bowen Hills north of the Brisbane CBD to Woolloongabba in the south, is expected to open in the first few months of next year.

The cameras will mean a driver could lose their licence and cop an $800 fine in a matter of minutes if they drove through the four sites at 93km/h.

National Motorists Association Australia (NMAA) spokesman Michael Lane, a fierce critic of speed cameras, said the tunnel plan was ridiculous.

''It's gross overkill,'' he said. ''I assume it's a reasonably straight tunnel. You don't need four in each direction. That is a ridiculous waste of money.

''What if someone goes through there and their speedometer is faulty, they get four tickets and they lose their licence?''

[Peuty]

Yeah cos crashes don't happen at 80km/h

[irlewy86]

You'll pass 5 in a 12k stretch heading north along the SE freeway. Or 2 if you use the story bridge.

[Peuty]

5? Have they set up more of them? I was only aware of the one at Tarragindi?

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

You'll pass 5 in a 12k stretch heading north along the SE freeway. Or 2 if you use the story bridge.

Are these new speed cameras like at Tarragindi, or just Queensland Transport monitoring cameras?

I havent seen any other speed cameras either?

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Peuty

5? Have they set up more of them? I was only aware of the one at Tarragindi?

Assuming they put the 4 in the tunnel each way and driving through the city. I usually use the M1/F3/ICB/Gympie rd as just like a bad case of swine flu its better than going on the gateway.

After the first accident they'll turn them into point to points, then with each fatility the speed limit will drop. Biggest waste of money ever and thats saying someting in Queensland.

edit* My original post didn't make much sense did it. I blame Mondayitis

[wados]

wow......even more reason not to use the tunnel. it will be to expensive to use and now if you do you will be more focused on your speed limit then on the road ahead.....

[Wally]

Not suprised. Last week they revealed the traffic was going to be far less than the hyper inflated "free flowing" E-toll numbers they used to justify the billions of dollars budget. Easy as just to make up the revenue by pinging evil doers (aka the tax paying public).

What I can't figure out is that I never speed, only ever had a warning for applying WA road rules in QLD and I still have a total distaste for speed traps and sneeky traffic cops. I think it might be my hatred of being fenced in and corralled because of a few bad eggs.

[Gaz]

I'd simply argue that you can't be penalised for the same crime more than once. By travelling that distance non stop and keeping you speed above the limit the whole way you've only committed one offence so can only be punished (fined) for it once...

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Yeah cos crashes don't happen at 80km/h

They dont :

[Racecraft]

it won't matter a pooop... like most of inner Brisbane roads you will only be able to reach the speed limit @ 2am when the traffic dies down :P

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

it won't matter a pooop... like most of inner Brisbane roads you will only be able to reach the speed limit @ 2am when the traffic dies down :P

Agreed lol!

[flappist]

This tunnel is obviously dangerous. If 80 is good then 20 must be better.

If everyone did 20 through the tunnel it would be much safer.....

[barbarian]

Thus why you should have a radar detector in your vehicle

[csv8]

Illegal in Queensland. Fined for having one !!!

[flappist]

Originally Posted by csv8

Illegal in Queensland. Fined for having one !!!

And the fixed cameras work on pressure strips not radar

[nick81xd]

i thought current radars werent allowed to be used in tunnels due to being unable to get a clear undisturbed reading due to enclosed area......

[flappist]

Originally Posted by nick81xd

i thought current radars werent allowed to be used in tunnels due to being unable to get a clear undisturbed reading due to enclosed area......

Read the post above yours

[Peuty]

You sure about them working on pressure strips flappist?

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by csv8

This BLATANT revenue raising !!!

No it isn't - Revenue raising is Toecutter and Cundalini on their white BMWs that hid in the scrub at the bottom of a steep hill in a 100 zone and booked me. And even that's borderline on the "revenue raising" tag - I was breaking the law and got caught. Boo hoo.

6 (presumably well signed) speed cameras in a tunnel, with warning months (years) in advance? If you get caught by that, it's not revenue raising, it's taxing idiots.

[Lukeyson]

Originally Posted by Peuty

You sure about them working on pressure strips flappist?

yes they have 3 strips across the lane, well all the ones in my area do anyhow.


Fixed speed camears causes crashes in my area IMO. Theres one just north of Coffs to catch northbound people speeding down a hill, it only works on the northbound lanes, people are so retarded in the southbound lanes when they see the "speed camera ahead 100kph" sign, but before you get to where you can see the camera, there is a "80kph ahead" sign, and people dive on the brakes. I have seen alot of rear enders there.

[XR6_661]

Don't speed....=S

Not hard.

[Peuty]

Good on ya.

[aualright]

What's the big deal? The Lane Cove tunnel in Sydney has several speed cameras dotted through it...I just put Cruise on and, well, enjoy the cruise.

Since everyone knows this (most anyway) you don't get the frustrated idiots weaving in and out of lanes trying to get past. Yes cameras can be used for revenue raising elsewhere, but they actually make tunnels safer imo.

****

[kyro_02]

qld is just trying to be victoria, now it's a race to see who wins :P

if it wasn't revenue raising, why don't they... ahhh make the fines so it is only maintaining the equipment/workers and not extra in their pockets? see, all they want is money money money, but im just jealous, I want money too :(

[Wally]

If I owned the tunnel I'd check people's speed and hit them up for an extra E-toll as they exit based on $/kph over the limit. A few direct debits should sort out the recidivists in quick time.

The truth is that you can't go anywhere in the civilised world and not see cameras in the tunnels. The London tunnels are 40 mph and the GPRS goes crazy with camera warnings. The really odd thing is that motorbikes actually speed up and go through around 70 mph, I assume because the camera isn't quick enough?

[blueoval]

fining someone going over the limit in 1 day isnt going to stop accidents that occur on the same day....I hope that makes sense.

[Chopped]

There would be more outcry if they didn't put in fixed cameras as the coppers can't use their own down there (no space).

The Courier Mail would have run a headline like "High Speed Hoons terrorize the Clem7 tunnel and cannot be caught".

[flappist]

How about some big electric signs that display your speed and if over 80 give you a couple of hundred metres to slow down rather than have people concentrating on their speedos rather than the traffic outside.

Tunnels are very "flowish" and it is easy to creep up over 80 without realising it unless of course you just watch your speedo so as to ensure that when you hit the back of the car in front of you you are safely only doing 79km/h

[SB076]

Cameras were supposed to stop accidents throught the Burnley tunnel unfortunately it didnt. Maybe there are other factors that cause accidents - but these wont be looked at because the government cant make money off them.