A future Liberal National Party Government will ensure Queensland’s speed camera program is focused on road safety, not treating motorists as cash cows.
Dr Christian Rowan MP, the State Member for Moggill and Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage Protection and Shadow Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef, said the LNP would reintroduce “speed camera in use” signs for all mobile speed camera units across the state to remind motorists to drive safely.
“The Labor Government removed the requirement for mobile speed camera units to display ‘speed camera in use’ signs to alert motorists to the camera,” Dr Rowan said.
“Public attitudes towards speeding and road safety will be diminished if motorists feel that enforcement is an exercise in revenue raising, not road safety.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government is expecting a windfall 46 per cent increase in speed camera fines with revenue raised by speed cameras to reach $194 million but the road toll is sadly higher that the record low we saw in 2014.”
Dr Rowan said under the LNP there would be a requirement to display the “speed camera in use” sign in a prominent place that was visible to all motorists – not obstructed in anyway or placed in an area that was deceiving.
“Mobile speed cameras can be used effectively to encourage road safety and penalise dangerous behaviour,” Dr Rowan said.
“With fair enforcement, along with driver education campaigns and investment in safety infrastructure upgrades, the former LNP Government oversaw Queensland’s lowest road toll on record.
“Unfortunately, many motorists feel trapped or tricked by cameras when “speed camera in use” signs are not clearly displayed.”
Dr Rowan said it was important for motorists to be aware of mobile speed cameras.
“Road safety should not be about treating motorists as cash cows – that is why this policy will return the focus to saving lives, not revenue raising,” Dr Rowan said.
“In order to change behaviour on our roads we must educate drivers and make sure they are aware of the road rules.
“Making drivers feel like they have been trapped by a speed camera does nothing to achieve road safety outcomes.”
