80 replies to this topic

[Dr Terry]

No, the problem with the red light/speed camera combo is now two fold. We have had red light cameras for years.

 

The rules are simple:- if you go over the start line 0.4 secs after the lights turn red, you get booked for running the red light. In NSW this is around $500 & 3 demerit points (double this for long weekends). Given that most of us can't afford the $500 jab or lose our license, if you get a very late yellow light, we do one of 2 things. We accelerate slightly over the speed limit (so we don't trigger the red light camera) or slam on the brakes.

 

Under the old rules we would more likely go slightly over the limit to miss the red, rather than slam on the brakes & risk getting rear ended. Now, with the speed camera element added, you're more likely to slam on the brakes & get rear ended. It doesn't matter because the guy behind (or his insurance company) will pay for all of the damage. Your daily driver has copped some rear end damage & you might get a sore neck or back, but your wallet & license are still intact.

 

This is why the incidence of minor collisions has risen at traffic light intersection in Sydney. Extra accidents don't matter as long as the revenue stream is still good.

 

Dr Terry

[Dr Terry]

Why doesn't the cars with radar cameras on them that sit on the footpath or on the coiuncil verge NOT get booked for parking illegally

 

These are not Police or emergency vehicles, they are contractors

 

Barry

Hi Barry.

 

I think that these things got banned in Sydney for that very reason. These speed camera revenue cars were parking in some really dangerous positions, some where even the Police themselves were taking issue with.

 

I haven't seen one operating in the whole Sydney metro area for well over 18 months. Are they still ?

 

Dr Terry

[TerrA LX]

IMO IF the rate of minor incidents have risen lately it is due to the fact that less people are driving to the road conditions and nothing to do with people stopping for red lights.

[Dr Terry]

IMO IF the rate of minor incidents have risen lately it is due to the fact that less people are driving to the road conditions and nothing to do with people stopping for red lights.

The rate of minor prangs has only risen dramatically at traffic lights, in other areas they haven't changed much at all.

 

This is not only anecdotal (I have 3 major intersections near work) I know of several people in the insurance game who can back it up with real numbers.

 

Dr Terry

[S pack]

Same deal here John, you run up the back of someone you are at fault.

Probably get charged with following too close and driving with undue care and attention if the cops attend the crash.

[TerrA LX]

This is not only anecdotal (I have 3 major intersections near work) I know of several people in the insurance game who can back it up with real numbers.

 

Dr Terry

Numbers increasing is one thing, blaming red light cameras over peoples poor judgement is another storey.

[Dr Terry]

Numbers increasing is one thing, blaming red light cameras over peoples poor judgement is another storey.

I think you've got me wrong. I'm not blaming the red light cameras, I'm all for them, anyone causing an accident by going thru a red light should be jailed.

 

What I'm talking about is the adding of the speed camera at traffic lights, when it's so obviously a revenue raising thing. I cannot see any safety benefit by charging people money because they go a few km over some type of arbitrary speed limit, which has probably been reduced in recent years for the same revenue raising reasons.

 

My whole point was that these double barrel cameras are labelled 'safe-t-cameras' when in fact they increase (not decrease) the accident rate.

 

Red light cameras are a step in the right direction. Speed/revenue cameras are placed for maximum revenue, not road safety !!

 

Dr Terry

[StephenSLR]

Same deal here John, you run up the back of someone you are at fault.

 

Correct, however it's not the issue if the other person is at fault .... who on earth wants their classic to be rear ended?

 

Not me.

 

s

[TerrA LX]

My whole point was that these double barrel cameras are labelled 'safe-t-cameras' when in fact they increase (not decrease) the accident rate.

 

Red light cameras are a step in the right direction. Speed/revenue cameras are placed for maximum revenue, not road safety !!

 

Dr Terry

 

I think we have to agree to agree to disagree, while I am sure we both feel the same way about this it may take some time to filter the idiot drivers out of the equation, that's why we get 13 points...

 

I have to agree, one of my worst fears of driving on Sydney roads is being rear ended.

[S pack]

I think you've got me wrong. I'm not blaming the red light cameras, I'm all for them, anyone causing an accident by going thru a red light should be jailed.

 

What I'm talking about is the adding of the speed camera at traffic lights, when it's so obviously a revenue raising thing. I cannot see any safety benefit by charging people money because they go a few km over some type of arbitrary speed limit, which has probably been reduced in recent years for the same revenue raising reasons.

 

My whole point was that these double barrel cameras are labelled 'safe-t-cameras' when in fact they increase (not decrease) the accident rate.

 

Red light cameras are a step in the right direction. Speed/revenue cameras are placed for maximum revenue, not road safety !!

 

Dr Terry

Agree, running red lights is a deadly practice.

 

I wouldn't have an issue with any speed cameras if they were set to only catch the drivers doing excessive speeds (say 5 kph or more over the posted limit) not just a couple of K's.

 

I suppose at the end of the day the claimed purpose of speed cameras at black spot intersections would be  to slow drivers down so they do have a better chance of stopping safely in time for an amber and subsequent red light.

 

Ultimately it boils down to the ability and attitude of the driver. I've had occasions where I've stopped for an amber light and the car in the lane next to me has accelerated and gone through when there was clearly enough time for the driver to stop safely.

 

Then there are those times when I could have stopped safely for the amber light  but for some reason I chose not to, then you look in the rear vision mirror to find the vehicle behind had sped up, followed me through and was now tailgating me. Easy to figure what may have happened if I had stopped for the light.

[wot179]

How many blokes on here have put their foot down in the past to scoot through on the amber?

I know I have.

The speed cameras in place with the red light cameras are a double incentive not to blow through the amber.

I haven't done it now for many years, and the fines and cameras have been a big part of the reason.

That said, Im not a big fan of fines as they tend to fleece the poor and only be a minor nuisance to the wealthy,

so their deterrent value across all demographics is questionable.

And if you run into the back of somebody when they brake in an emergency then its your fault.

You are either travelling too close to stop in an emergency situation or you are travelling to quick for the conditions.

No excuses.

[S pack]

How many blokes on here have put their foot down in the past to scoot through on the amber?

I know I have.

I'm guilty as charged!

[Pop's-SS]

Hi Barry.

 

I think that these things got banned in Sydney for that very reason. These speed camera revenue cars were parking in some really dangerous positions, some where even the Police themselves were taking issue with.

 

I haven't seen one operating in the whole Sydney metro area for well over 18 months. Are they still ?

 

Dr Terry

 

 

G'dya Dr Terry

 

I don't live in Sidineeee but have seem them on the telly when some fella stopped, reversed back then got out of his car and abused the operator who wouldn't get out of his car, then the operator drove off.

Not sure if that story was from Sydney but was from the Channel 7 Sydney news.

 

There is one that parks on the side of the road near Wagga and again at a little village called Bethungra but both times they were legally parked.

 

Was a story on the one parked at Forest Hill and when was left unattended, had the gear on top smashed.

 

Back to red light cameras, many years ago in Wollongong I was booked for doing 90 in an 80 zone but my speedo was reading 85 so I didn't contest it, however after he left me I observed him going through the next lights intersection when it turned amber/red.

 

I then found out what patrol he was from and confronted the sargent, he said "if the officer had braked hard to try and stop, he may have had an accident"

 

So on him saying that, why not fight the charge of running the red light with that same argument ?????

 

Barry

[TerrA LX]

G'dya Dr Terry

 

I don't live in Sidineeee but have seem them on the telly when some fella stopped...

 

Barry, I believe the term is Syd 'n' knee (ala Juan Antonio Samaranch, announcing Sydney winning the 2000 Olympics "and the winner is...). hahaha

[enderwigginau]

Every red light camera in Darwin is a speed camera.

[Uncle Chop Chop]

Info from Melbourne Herald Sun, Thursday October 11th 2012

 

But what does the law say?

[S pack]

Even a 3 second delay on activating the camera after the lights turn red is generous. Drivers shouldn't be entering the intersection on the red and if you can't stop at the stop line before the light turns red then you were probably going too fast and/or weren't paying attention to the traffic signals.

[Potta]

Even a 3 second delay on activating the camera after the lights turn red is generous. Drivers shouldn't be entering the intersection on the red and if you can't stop at the stop line before the light turns red then you were probably going too fast and/or weren't paying attention to the traffic signals.

 

Dave, Other Dave said Its 3 seconds after amber.

 

I would have thought it should take a pic when the light turns red?

 

A millisecond after it goes red, its red. You should be stopped or clear of the line, no excuses.

[StephenSLR]

I have to agree, one of my worst fears of driving on Sydney roads is being rear ended.

 

It's happened to me a few times.

 

s

[StephenSLR]

Barry, I believe the term is Syd 'n' knee (ala Juan Antonio Samaranch, announcing Sydney winning the 2000 Olympics "and the winner is...). hahaha

 

 

It’s actually from The Late Show, Rob Sitch did a piss-take prior to the announcement saying the winner will be Sydney because Juan Antonio Samaranch got Atlanta wrong pronouncing it At-a-lanta and he won’t be able to mis-pronounce Melboure and he’ll announce it as Syd-a-ney.

 

Oddly enough Juan Antonio Samaranch did mispronounce Sydney and The Late Show repeated the prediction, it got a good audience laugh so they milked it to death and the viewers spread Rob Sitch’s imitation.

 

However …  

 

What Juan Antonio Samaranch actually said was ‘The winner is Siddy'.

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 29 July 2013 - 09:09 AM.

[TerrA LX]

Do you google all this stuff Steve or are you a walking encyclopaedia??? (hahaha).