A HAMILTON red light speed camera site has dropped its number of crashes and injuries to zero over five years, new state government data shows.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The camera at the intersection of Tudor and Beaumont Streets had not recorded a single crash in the five years to 2017 in the state government's annual speed camera review.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said the review overall found fewer fatalities and injuries despite an overall traffic bump.
"Last year we lost 347 lives on our state's roads, and this year's toll is already at 292," Mr Constance said.
"Speeding is the biggest killer. We know speed cameras in the right locations slow drivers down and save lives."
The Hamilton camera is flagged to be watched closely over the next review period.
Conversely, a Rankin Park fixed speed camera that recorded almost twice as many injuries, 233 per cent more casualty crashes and a far higher total casualty cost than in the five years before its installation will not be reviewed.
The Rankin Park fixed camera on McCaffrey Drive between Duval Street and Orara Street recovered 15 crashes in the five years covered in the latest state government speed camera review.
That compares to eight in the five years to 2003, ending three months before the camera was installed.
Similarly, there have been 10 casualty crashes with a total cost of $3.18 million compared to three crashes and a cost of $1.69 million.
The Rankin Park camera has been earmarked for retention despite the review noting the crash increase as statistically significant.
"This location was reviewed in 2013 due to concerns about the increase in casualties in recent years," the audit states.
"It was recommended retaining the speed camera at this location following the comprehensive review."
At Hamilton East, the Pacific Highway red light camera at Parry Street has noted twice as many moderate injuries and an increase in pedestrian casualties, with a single death recorded.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the only aim of the program was to save lives.
"Speed cameras are in place to improve road safety, for all road users," he said. "That's why the revenue collected from them goes right back into the Community Road Safety Fund, to help fund other programs to save lives on our roads."
Red light cameras at Hamilton and Mayfield West are also earmarked for monitoring. The Mayfield West camera, at the corner of Maud Street and the Pacific Highway, was one of 18 to record increased fatal and serious injury crashes. The review recommends monitoring the cameras in future reviews as the increases were "not statistically significant".
Fixed speed cameras in place for less than five years were not reviewed based on a lack of data. They included the Gateshead camera between Sydney Street and Macquarie Avenue.
Red light speed cameras at Park Avenue in Adamstown, the Pacific Highway at Parry Street in Hamilton East and Griffiths Road Lambton have been flagged for retention while Wallsend's Thomas Street camera had insufficient data.
Fixed cameras at Lochinvar, Mayfield West, Nords Wharf, Ourimbah and Sandgate were listed for retention alongside Rankin Park.
At Nords Wharf, both total injuries and casualty cost rose compared to the five years prior to installation, while casualty crashes remained static last year.
Data for the Lochinvar camera, which was reviewed in 2012 after casualties slightly increase found a rise in total injuries in the five years since 2017 compared to the four years before installation but a significant drop in the number and cost of those crashes.
"Given the increase in traffic volume, the adjusted casualty rate indicated that the speed camera has been effective in reducing casualties," the report states. "Further, there was strong community support for the retention of the speed camera due to its location in a school zone where safety is a high priority."
Injuries had similarly dropped at Mayfield West camera between Werribee Street and Tourle Street. Installed in 2002, there were 52 injuries in the five years before installation and 25 in the five years ending in 2017.
The casualty cost rose 17 per cent from $11.01 million to $12.89 million over the same period.
At Ourimbah and Sandgate costs, injuries and crashes had all decreased compared to the five years before installation.
While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here.
