Intranetics Motoring News Service

Speed camera problems down under

21st August 2007 | BACK     PRINT

The unpopularity of speed cameras, well-documented though it is, is morally unjustified, according to many police officers and government officials. Cameras are put in place to prevent accidents and protect human life, say speed camera partnerships, thus they have a place on today's roads.

However, their opponents suggest that they are merely a cash cow for councils, a means of generating extra funding by catching out ordinarily safer drivers erring over the limit, irrespective of traffic conditions. And their fiercest critics even claim that they cause accidents, by forcing drivers to slam on the brakes when the see a yellow box ahead of them.

However, for all the ambiguity surrounding design of purpose, they have attracted violent vigilantism across the UK, something which is perhaps less justified. It seems that at least one motorist in Australia, however, has taken things one step too far. Police officers in Perth, the largest city in Western Australia, are on the hunt for a driver who has allegedly swerved his vehicle directly at a speed camera operator at 08:30 local time.

Ironically, this came just after the end of a week in which the UK's Highways Agency attempted to reinforce the message that roadworkers are individuals operating in a dangerous environment with the sole intention of making the roads a safer place. Australia's drivers may also benefit from similar advice.

According to press reports, the driver was travelling along West Swan Road when he veered sharply towards the camera operator, pulling away at the last moment, narrowly missing the individual. Police are currently appealing for witnesses.

And elsewhere in Australia a driver actually fired a bullet into a speed camera, leaving live wires exposed, police believe. According to a report in local newspaper the Age, maintenance workers discovered the damaged equipment at around 10:00 local time.

Sergeant Creina O'Grady of the police media unit said: "Police have been told that the damage may have been caused by a bullet fired into the camera."

And while this may be shocking to UK motorists, it is worth noting that guns are far more commonplace in Australia, with some areas actually encouraging locals to carry them for practices such as culling kangaroos. It seems that some of the populace agrees with the mystery shooter's actions, too.

One contributor to a forum on Roadwatch.com.au suggested that the marksman be given a "gold medal".

Another remarked: "Dob him in? If I knew who did it (shot Prack's / Bumsy's greed cam), I'd buy him a bottle of French champagne!!"

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