No driver has been unfairly penalised by speed cameras on Melbourne's EastLink, study finds
By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | July 16, 2013
No driver has been unfairly penalised despite more than 50 complaints made about speed cameras on Melbourne’s EastLink, a report shows.
Victoria’s Road Safety Commissioner Gordon Lewis has analysed more than 60 million speed measurements between July 2011 and June 2012 in an independent review.
After reviewing the technical accuracy and reliability of cameras and the secondary speed verification systems at six locations on EastLink, Lewis says he’s confident about the detectors’ accuracy but says the effect of speed cameras is “diminishing” with drivers slowing down before approaching them.
Almost 9,000 drivers were caught speeding near the Wellington Road and Dandenong Bypass bridges, with most of them doing so in the overtaking lanes during the afternoon peak hour.
The study shows most of them sped up at the first temporary device but slowed down when approaching cameras.
“The results of this experiment suggest that motorists are aware that the road safety camera systems are actually installed under the Wellington Road Bridge and not on the tolling gantries,” Lewis says.
“This diminished effect of the road safety camera system in promoting safer driving practices is of concern to me,” Lewis says.
There are six cameras on EastLink: two in Donvale at the Mullum Mullum and Melba Tunnels, two in Rowville on the southbound and northbound lanes near Wellington Road Bridge, and two on the Dandenong Bypass Bridge in Keysborough in each direction.
The speed of each vehicle is measured twice and if the results do not compare they are automatically rejected by the camera system.
“Vehicle speed is not solely measured by road safety cameras but also by a secondary detection device – an effective safeguard that is designed to deal with any anomalies that could otherwise impact the accuracy of speed detection,” Lewis says.
He says each camera has an independent secondary speed verification device.
“I am confident that the secondary device within the camera system is an effective safeguard against anomalies that could affect the accuracy and reliability of speed detectors,” Lewis says.
“If anything, the system gives the motorists the benefit of any doubt.”
