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1305/12 Glen St, 0434 715.861 3 September 2017
Mr. Mick Fuller Dear Mr. Fuller
1. Four YouTube's of motor bikers (listed further below) on the Old Pacific Highway (north of Cowan) evidence that police patrols are ineffective in deterring - * dangerous motor bike driving; and * some motor bikes breaching exhaust noise emission levels
2. The NSW policy of providing
overt warning signs of an upcoming speed detection camera conveys a subliminal
message to a not insignificant number of motorists: 3. The annual cost of road accidents in Australia equates to a $1,095 impost upon each Australian; presently not distributed on a risk-weighted basis according to the propensity for individual drivers to cause motor vehicle accidents 4. The NSW Roads Minister, Melinda Pavey, should obtain approval for the NSW Police Commissioner to embark on a programme to reduce the state’s annual road toll by say 5% within 12 months by following the lead of Vic, Qld, SA and WA (and most of the Western world) and - * deploy discrete/hidden mobile speed cameras in unmarked cars, or in nearby bushland, with operators dressed in plain clothes; and * not display any warning signs at fixed speed cameras, except in school zones 1. Current policy of regular police car patrols do not deter dangerous motor bike riding on the Old Pacific Highway The Writer, Philip Johnston, relies upon the following website page that provides for NSW residents to ask the Police Commissioner a question: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/contact_us I heard on the ABC Radio News on 28 August 17 that the NSW Police has the most onerous per capita responsibilities than any state or territory in Australia. Ipso facto, each NSW Police Officer is responsible for more New South Welshmen than their counterparts in other Australian states or territories. Hence, is each NSW Police Officer’s vital time being maximised in the tools used to reduce the NSW road toll? I have administered a road cycle group, Muggaccinos, which had provided a 95km (ave) on-road bicycle ride on the perimeter of Greater Sydney each Sunday for 21 years. Over 150 different road cyclists have cycled on Muggs' rides over the last 21 years. We visit over 30 different Nosh Stop each year. The Pie in the Sky Café (former clientele) at North Cowan has been a regular Nosh Stop for Muggs' cyclists as evidenced in our PitS webpage. Alas, increasingly over the last few years, more and more motor bike riders have used Pie in the Sky Café (current clientele) as a temporary base camp to “ride loops” down to Brooklyn Rd, pause for up to a few mins until any motor bike riders ahead have commenced their return leg and then ascend back to PitS. These ascents are regularly at high speed through the bends, and higher speed along the straights up to 130km p/h, often in close proximity to fellow motor bike riders, and occasionally bellowing loud exhaust noise due to illegal exhaust system modification as evidenced in the following four YouTube's:
1. Old Pacific Highway - Cheap Thrills edition 2. Police Chase, Fast Riders and a crash. Old Pacific Highway – 6-11-16 3. ‘Sunday Therapy’ - RAW Onboard - Old Pacific Highway 4. Riding with Subscribers: with a Crash and a Police Encounter On Sunday 6th August around 11am, I was approached by another road cyclist, Russell Garstang, at Pie in the Sky Café who had just cycled up the 3.85km road section from Brooklyn Rd. Russell told me that 15 mins earlier that he had come very close to being seriously injured (or possibly killed) when a motor biker braked at a corner (almost half way up the 3.85km ascent) and came off, whereupon –
because the motor biker had panicked after a police car that was descending from PitS did a rapid 'Uie' (in front of him near the Helipad), whereupon the police car then chased a 'P Plater' motor biker (that was travelling at high speed) up the Old Pacific Highway towards PitS. Russell was cycling with his teenage daughter who fortunately was also not struck. I had cycled up to PitS five mins earlier and saw the police car chasing the ‘P Plater’. In late July, on a Sunday approaching midday, I was standing on the food queue at PitS waiting to buy a meat pie. It was a particularly long queue, so I was standing behind two young motor bike riders who were waiting immediately in front of me, who were in full leathers with bulging knee cap guards. They were ‘chuffed’ that they had reduced their ascent times during their nine ascents so far that morning. They accepted that they would not break their ‘loops’ record of 16 ascents on that day. During that queue wait two other motor bike riders, known to them, discussed with them the bends that they could readily “make sparks fly’’. 2. Motor vehicle related fatalities have fallen dramatically since 1970, yet almost three times the number of vehicles are now registered in NSW
The five year average of motorist fatalities for Victoria is 262. The population of – · NSW is 7.544 million – 1 motor vehicle fatality for every 21,544 residents. · Victoria is 5.791 million – 1 motor vehicle fatality for every 22,103 residents.
“List of motor vehicle deaths in Australia by year” evidences that since 1970 the annual fatality rate per 100,000 of population has fallen from 26.8 to 5.3 deaths. The current annual fatality rate is amazingly less than one fifth of the 1970 fatalities. There were 3,798 deaths from motor vehicle accidents in 1970 and only 1,290 fatalities in 2016. Breathalyzers, better roads, better motor vehicles have no doubt contribute, but ‘prima facie’ speed and red light cameras appear the ‘standout’ contributor to such a material reduction in loss of human life. Perhaps due to better ambulance services, better medical treatments etc more lives are saved, but too many of these lives are materially impaired and no longer tax payers, but receive social services welfare payments. ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA AND RATES: Australia, States and Territories - 1925 to 1981 3. The economic cost of road accidents in Australia
Below is an extract from Reference 2 below which asserts that ‘The significance of road crash costs in Australia has been consistently underestimated”:
The key conclusions from this review are: • The significance of road crash costs in Australia has been consistently underestimated, both in terms of the overall cost and the extent to which these costs are incorporated (i.e. internalised) in road-users’ decisions. • Based on recent research, the total road crash costs in Australia are more than what has been commonly reported. This increase relates to costs of loss of life and quality of life, much of which is not borne by the road-users responsible. Below is an extract from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development webpage Road Safety: “The annual economic cost of road crashes in Australia is enormous—estimated at $27 billion per annum—and the social impacts are devastating.” With the Australian population standing at 24.641 million, that equates to an annual cost per capita of $1,095 which should be recouped on a ‘risk weighted basis’ according to the possibility of each Australian causing, or contributing to, a road accident. Government estimates road crashes costing the Australian economy $27 billion a year – SMH – 2 Jan 17 I understand that the unusual decision to provide overt warning signs in NSW may have been the result of a political deal to win over the votes of some independents in the NSW Parliament in order to obtain required votes to pass a bill for the cost of the fixed speed camera program back in 1999. There is empirical evidence that young drivers and Old Codgers like me cause more accidents on a pro-rata basis. Should young drivers and very old drivers pay a higher annual license fee? On a ‘risk-weighted basis the answer is: Yes. 4. Four Authoritative Reports on Motor Vehicle Accidents
I have read a few reports on motor vehicle accidents, not limited to the below Four References: 1. THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPEED CAMERA USE by MONASH UNIVERSITY ACCIDENT RESEARCH CENTRE - September, 2005 2. The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues - Dr Richard Tooth - 2010 3. The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, May 2015 by U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 4. SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS OF THE SAFETY CAMERA PROGRAM IN VICTORIA - MONASH UNI ACCIDENT RESEARCH CENTRE - June 2003
5. New South Wales
· 'Speed camera 24 hours' · 'Speed camera ahead'; and or 'speed camera in use' · 'Heavy fines loss of license'. The majority of motorists have GPS tracking equipment in their motor vehicle/s that alerts them of an upcoming fixed speed camera. Below is an extract from the Transport for NSW website page Mobile Speed cameras - 4. Are there signs to warn motorists approaching the cameras?
"An initiative of the NSW Speed Camera Strategy is to enhance warning signs for mobile speed camera vehicles to ensure motorists see and recognise the enforcement activity. Mobile speed camera signage is overt; mobile speed camera vehicles are marked, and operators place portable warning signs approximately 50 metres before and after the vehicle. In addition, a further warning is provided up to 250 metres before the vehicle. The use of overt enforcement ensures all motorists see and recognise the enforcement activity and is an obvious reminder that enforcement represents a threat to those breaking the law."
Below is an extract from Reference 1 THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPEED CAMERA USE by the Monash University Accident Research Centre Sept., 2005: 3.2. NEW SOUTH WALES “The fixed digital speed camera program was first introduced in NSW in 1999. Prior to that however, mobile speed cameras had been in operation since 1991. The aim of the fixed camera program was to target crash risk and crash severity at black spot locations. Therefore, the positioning of the fixed speed cameras was focused on locations where there had previously been a high incidence of casualty crashes or a number of particularly severe crashes. Signs indicating the presence of speed cameras are located throughout the state indicating the operation of speed cameras.” Millions spent on point-to-point cameras in NSW we don't use – SMH Nov 16NSW road toll 42 deaths higher than at the same time last year – SMH Nov 16 6. Victoria
Below is a further extract from reference 1 above regarding Victoria: Following the evaluation of the initial trial, a new program of speed camera enforcement was introduced in December 1989 that involved the use of covert speed cameras operated from unmarked cars and without warning signs. At this time, strong public statements asserting that widespread use of numerous cameras would occur were made. In April 1990, a high-profile publicity campaign was launched that related to speeding and the speed camera enforcement program. However, it was not until the Traffic Camera Office was established in June of the same year that the increasing number of cameras were used extensively. It is noted that the establishment of the Traffic Camera Office corresponded with a rapid increase in the number of traffic infringement notices issued per month. The full complement of 54 new slant radar cameras came into operation in January 1991. More recently, in November 1998, the operation of the speed camera program was outsourced to LMT Australia (now Tenix Solutions). At that time, the enforcement program involved the use of 54 speed cameras and aimed to achieve 4,200 hours of enforcement per month. Albeit now 17 years ago, that equates to only 17.95 enforcement hours per mobile speed camera p/w or 2.56 enforcement hours per day. Mindful that fixed speed cameras operate 24 * 7, is there a practical reason why with Vic Police likely running three x 8 hour shifts per day, that back in 1998 their 54 slant radar cameras were detecting law-breakers for only 2½ hours per 24 hours day? Victoria State Govt ‘Cameras Save Lives – Fixed Digital camera locations informs that:
“There are 281 Fixed Speed and Red Light cameras in Victoria.”
Victoria State Govt ‘Cameras Save Lives – Mobile informs that:
* more than 100 mobile road safety cameras,
Mobile cameras are used in unmarked vehicles parked on the side of the road. They operate at approximately 2,000 locations across the state’s road network.
Victoria State Govt, ‘cameras save lives’ Infringement statistics webpage informs that the – · top 10 cameras for issuing Infringement Notices are all Speed Cameras (none Red light cameras); and · the number of Infringement Notices for the Jan-March Qtr. appear surprisingly high. The Victorian Road Safety Camera Commissioner, John Voyage, “…reviews complaints, and investigates issues related to the integrity of Victoria's camera systems, and is able to provide information to the public following a direct request.” I have emailed the Vic. Road Safety Commissioner seeking details of the number of fixed (Speeding & School Zones) and mobile speed cameras in Vic.
Unlike Victoria and some other Australian states and territories (and seemingly the entire USA), NSW opted to provide – · three warning signs (for its Fixed Camera Program); and · two warning signs (for its Mobile Camera Program), that inform that a speed detection camera is approaching and display the actual speed that the motorist should reduce to. I ponder the economic logic of incurring the not immaterial cost of installing a speed detection camera and then warning people to slow their speed to a prescribed speed, so as not to get an infringement notice because they were speeding? That appears illogical and irresponsible use of the public purse. Seemingly the Victoria Government and most other Australia State and Territory Govt’s agree. I understand that the unusual concession to warn speeding motorists to slow down to avoid being fined was at the behest of a few minor parties in the NSW Parliament back in 1999 whose votes were required to pass the budget bill.
Below is a further extract from Reference 1 re Victoria: • The use of covert (hidden) cameras is perceived mobile cameras are used in unmarked vehicles parked on the side of the road. They operate at approximately 2,000 locations across the state’s road network.
I ponder that NSW providing such overt warning signage (3 signs for Fixed Cameras and at least 2 signs for Mobile Cameras) delivers a subliminal message that drivers can drive beyond the speed limit, because RMS or the Police will alert the speeding driver what to reduce their speed to when a speed camera is ahead. Below are extracts from Herald Sun article dated 15 Oct 2013 “New rules allow speed cameras to be concealed (in Victoria), but police say it's OK to flash lights and warn others”:"Supt McWhirter also defended rule changes, revealed in the Herald Sun today, which allow the hiding of speed cameras behind bushes and road signs." "It was done to make sure that there was some protection in relation to the mobile speed camera operators," he said. "To make sure the risk to them is mitigated. "Unfortunately, what we know is that there have been a number of incidents where mobile speed camera vehicles have been swerved at. "In the last 12 months there have been 247 incidents of threats in relation to mobile speed camera operators. "And of those 247 incidents, 110 of those have been swerving at mobile speed cameras." Supt McWhirter confirmed there would be occasions that operators would be concealed by bushes or signs to protect them. 7. Queensland The following Courier Mail article dated 12 July 2015 is self-explanatory:“Queensland mobile speed camera warning signs to be removed”Below are extracts from the Brisbane Times article dated 13 Oct 2015 “Queensland Police criticised for not using hidden speed cameras enough”:“Queensland Police should be using more hidden speed cameras to catch dangerous drivers, the state's audit office says. In a scathing report tabled in state parliament on Tuesday, the Queensland Audit Office accused the QPS of not using their full quota of hidden camera hours because it "wants to avoid perceptions of revenue raising".
8. Western Australia Below is an extensive extract from 3.3. WESTERN AUSTRALIA from Reference 1 which evidence that education campaigns facilitated speed camera hours increasing by 580 percent and the number of infringement notices issued increasing by 360 percent during the five years to 2003:
9. USA
Annexure A is an extract from Reference 3 above which evidences that the economic cost of motor vehicle crashes in the USA are exceedingly high. The 1st below bullet point equates the annual liability on a resident basis to be $784 per head of population which is 1.6% of the U.S. annual GDP: I have travelled to the Northern America on about a dozen occasions and has several friends mainly on the western side. California and Nevada do not have any speed cameras. Up north, British Columbia, Canada, had them, but subsequently banned them. Arizona has speed cameras, but no warning signs. There does not appear to be any warning signs that alert of an upcoming speed camera in the USA states that do deploy speed detection cameras.
My opening comments (at the top of this letter) mentioned that ABC Radio News reported on 28 August 2017 that each NSW Police Officer is responsible for more New South Welshman than their counterparts in other Australian states or territories. Hence, maximising the utility of each NSW Police Officer is an economic necessity.
Section 2 above informs that the Depart of Infrastructure and Regional Development reports that: “The annual economic cost of road crashes in Australia is enormous—estimated at $27 billion per annum—and the social impacts are devastating” which equates to an annual cost per capita of $1,095 which should be recouped on a ‘risk weighted basis’ according to the possibility of each Australian causing, or contributing to, a road accident/s.
Reference 2 notes Below is an extract from the Executive Summary in Reference 1:
Section 7 above notes that education campaigns by the Western Australian Govt. facilitated speed camera hours increasing by 580% and the number of infringement notices issued increasing by 360% during the five years to 2003.
The annual NSW road toll could be 5% lower within 12 months if – a) the overt three warning signs were removed from the 70 fixed digital speed camera that are not in school zones; b) the overt two warning signs were not displayed for the 100+ mobile digital speed cameras; c) the NSW embarked on a ‘high personality profile Launch Campaign’ (as Victoria did in 1991 and as WA embarked on road accident education campaigns between 1998 and 2003) to educate New South Welshman of the -
i) inordinately high
annual costs of road accidents on a per capita basis (Section 3 above); d) NSW Government instigates a robust, covert mobile speed camera programme with more mobile speed cameras detecting more speeding motorists more hours per mobile camera per week; and e) RMS displayed ‘speed and penalty warning signs’, but not overtly placed prior to a speed camera. Why would a 5% reduction in the annual NSW road toll within 12 months be possible? Because all NSW drivers would know that the RMS and the NSW Police would no longer be "flagging" the presence of speed cameras and informing the speed to reduce to. Rather an infringement notice, delivered Snail Mail, may only be two days away? So better to slow down and remain focused. ================================ Six questions to the NSW Police Commissioner Question 1: Does the Police Commissioner have any historical information on the rationale of why NSW’s fixed speed camera program is not in lock-step with Victoria and some other Australians states or the USA? In particular, was any deal done with a minor party/ies which required warning signage in order to approve a new fixed camera or mobile camera speed detection programme? Question 2: Is NSW Police –
Question 3: Was a successful high-profile publicity campaign in April 1990, which heralded the speed camera enforcement program, the reason that Victorians accept discrete speed cameras and no warning signs without the level of haggling about speed cameras being a ‘cash-grab’, usually by citizens who “want smaller government”, but cannot cite where and how? Question 4: Re ‘6. Victoria‘ above, what would be the target enforcement hours per covert mobile speed camera per day?
Question 5: In order to minimise public backlash, would there be any policy to avoid fining motorists for minor speed limit breaches on relatively safe road sections? Question 6: Re Section 1 on my opening page, will the NSW Police arrange for two non police personnel to assemble (on a fine weather Sunday) between 9am and 3pm, dressed in motor bike leathers, preferably over-weight with a long beard, positioned at the longest straight road section (where it passes over the M1) [ for say 10 mins each hour so as not to appear obvious] on the 3.85km road section south of Brooklyn Rd with a discrete radar speed gun and discrete sound volume measurement equipment in order to gain empirical evidence of the magnitude of these road traffic discretions? ================================ I welcome meeting with any representative of the NSW Police or the Minister for Roads regarding the contents of my above letter, because road cyclists that used to frequent The Pie in the Sky Cafe whilst riding to and from Mt, White are by necessity staying away in droves for fear of life. Present remedies to address this dangerous behaviour by some motor bikers that station themselves at PitS to "ride loops", are ‘police-resource costly’ and not achieving results.
10. Footnote: The demerit point limit (accrued within a three-year period) to impose a ‘driving disqualification’ for an ‘Unrestricted license’ was set at 12 demerit points in the late ‘70s when there were no speed or red light cameras. That 12 demerit points limit was introduced after similar initiatives were introduced in Germany and the USA. It was increased to 13 point in NSW a few years ago. Either the current limit of 13 points (for NSW) for an ‘Unrestricted license’ suggest that the authorities were far too generous to motorists in the late ‘70s. Or that Australian motor traffic regulators are now materially behind the times. In light of the high number of fixed and mobile speed cameras now in NSW (Section 4 above), the demerit point limit should be increased from 13 points (in NSW) to say 24 points. If the NSW Police Commissioner favours not providing overt warning signs (in step with Victoria ‘et al’), and also utilizing covert mobile speed cameras, even hidden in adjoining bushland, such a material increase in the demerit points limit would facilitate the RMS and the NSW Police successfully implement the no warning signs policy of Victoria, Qld, SA, WA and most of the Western World. Agreeing not to increase any ‘existing’ traffic fine amounts for say five years would also ‘soften the blow’ to many NSW motorists of there not being any overt warning signs in the future (except in school zones). This would not preclude the RMS introducing new fines such as a $100 on the spot fine for any pedestrian who was looking at his/her mobile phone whilst crossing at a traffic light or at a pedestrian crossing or where there is no designated pedestrian road crossing. Road users in motor vehicles are not allowed to check SMS or email whilst traversing on NSW roads, so why should pedestrian road users not be similarly regulated? c.c. NSW Roads Minister, Melinda Pavey, GPO Box 5341. SYDNEY NSW 2001 (02) 8574 7300 Yours sincerely Philip Johnston aka Bank Teller |
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