CAMERAS = REVENUE + ?

54% OF RESPONDENTS TO THIS VIC SURVEY THINK ROAD CAMERAS DO MORE THAN JUST MAKE MONEY. BUT WHAT?

In our system, road cameras and road repairs are in two different cash flows. One works. One does not. 

Cameras certainly generate revenue and that revenue is used for stuff. What stuff is a bit fuzzy but we can be fairly sure it does not go to road repairs. More cameras maybe.

Our taxes from sources other than speed cameras, go to keeping our roads in tip top condition. But they don't. If you look when driving, a new concept for some drivers, you can see that a lot of money is being spent on a few show roads while way too many roads are neglected and dangerous.

When someone crashes on a neglected road, authorities immediatel-y blame the victim and call for changes to driver/rider behaviour. This diverts attention from the road authorities neglect and creates a plausible excuse for more cameras and show roads. 

Police crash investigations are often inadequate and police opinions too often taken as fact by Coroners and Courts. Loved ones are often too shattered to fight for justice and hold the road authority to account. Speed and drugs do contribute to crashes but so do neglected roads.

If the two cash flows were not different and these huge amounts of money used efficiently to keep Victorian roads in safe condition and justice was done for crash victims, fewer people would die or be horribly injured on our neglected roads.

Speed and drugs do contribute to our road toll but so do pot holes, broken edges, road debris, damaged/inappropriate signage and barriers of the wrong type, in the wrong place.

Australian roads would be a safer place for our families if more road authorities were held to account in front of objective Judges with impartial, expert advisors.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders Group 
Melbourne