It screams ‘revenue raiser’ but I may have found the true cause of this pesky speed camera

Mobile speed camera 1, journalist 0.

It seems I’ll have to concede defeat in my fight to remove a mobile speed detector planted at the bottom of a street where even Lewis Hamilton would find it impossible to manoeuvre past the parked cars, boats and trailers in order to threaten the 50km/ h limit

This contraption just screams “revenue raiser.”

There appears no other justification for it.

As I’ve previously written, this road — just around the corner from my place — is not a known accident hot spot or a hoon’s paradise.

I’m yet to meet a local who knows why it’s been targeted, especially when there’s a main road 200m away that can resemble Conrod Straight on Bathurst 1000 weekend.

Yet, there it was again this week – the pesky mobile speed camera. Still, presumably, catching no one out.

Except maybe me.

Because according to Transport NSW, I’m completely missing the point.

Much like RBTs, it says many of these mobile cameras are set up to send a very important road safety message. They are not there to tug at our wallets.

Mobile speed cameras designed to prevent road fatalities

A Transport NSW spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia: “The intention of the Mobile Speed ​​Camera (MSC) Program is to provide ‘Anywhere, Anytime’ speeding detection.”

“A crash at any speed can have dire consequences and most fatalities occur at a speed up to 10 km/h over the speed limit.

“During the five years between 2019 and 2023, there have been 1,953 serious pedestrian crashes reported (164 fatal crashes, 1,789 serious injury crashes) on NSW roads within the speed zones of 60km/h and below.

“These crashes resulted in 170 fatalities and 1,863 serious injuries.

“Mobile speed cameras in NSW are among the most clearly marked in the world, with every active site having two portable warning signs before the vehicle enforcement and one after it, as well as rooftop signage.

“All approved sites have undergone an analysis which considered a number of criteria including crash history and assessments of WHS and technical requirements.”

Camera’s position seems unjustified

The mobile speed camera in my hood is one of 2900 operating in NSW.

This one has spent plenty of time on either side of the road in recent weeks.

Its presence ate away at me so much I channeled my inner Mrs Mangel and took a stroll down to watch it in action. Or non-action as it turned out as car after car went by doing 20kms below the speed limit.

Not only due to the fact there was a speed camera there, but because that’s about as fast as you can go.

You sure it isn’t a revenue raiser, Transport NSW? Okay, okay. I’ll get back in my box.

It may have been locals that campaigned for the camera

Then I did more digging and discovered some of my fellow residents may not be as on board with my campaign as I thought.

Local residents can anonymously campaign online for a speed camera in their area.

Transport NSW will then gather crash data and other road safety information before deciding if such a step is warranted.

Maybe concerned locals brought this on themselves while nodding their heads in mock outrage?

And here’s me thinking I was the voice of the people, alerting them to a government money making racket devoid of commonsense and fairness.

Mobile speed camera 2, journalist 0.

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