It seems to be becoming an almost "inevitability "that the average driver will receive a speeding fine in the post. Travel just a fraction above the posted limit and you will fall victim to one of the mobile speed cameras that are hidden amongst the cars parked at the kerb. Avoiding a fine requires a driver to be meticulously checking what the speedo has to say about the rate of travel, and mentally adjusting that to the ever changing posted speed limits. Many consider this in itself as a huge risk as it takes driver's eyes off observing road and traffic conditions.
The number of fixed and mobile speed cameras - and their impact on "revenue raising "- is hotly debated by all the factors contributing to road safety, but in recent times one change has gone unnoticed. The operating hours of mobile speed cameras in New South Wales increased from 930 hours per month - to 7,000 hours, and consequently there has been a 42% increase in traffic speed fine revenue since July 1 of this year.
It has not been a matter of an increasing number of new speed cameras. The times they operate have been extended in a deliberate move to increase revenue under the guise of making our roads safer - and that certainly can be challenged on a variety of different grounds. In peak hours the posted speed limit is usually something only possible as a utopian dream, but when the traffic is flowing the rate is dictated by what could be called a "herd mentality ". Any driver who consistently falls below the flow speed is a constant irritant, making lane changes and overtaking necessary to go with the flow.
Then there are the ever present "Road Work "signs with a consequent speed reduction - that seem to go on forever - and in many cases remain for days or even weeks without any sign of either workmen or machinery present. In particular, a return to normal road speed sign is often entirely missing where these occur in the country road system.
Each new car model from the car manufacturers seem to take a quantum leap in the benefits both the computer and the electronic age deliver to road safety. Reversing cameras seem about to become a necessity on all new cars and self parking is fast taking hold. The cost of an electronic navigation instrument has dropped to the point that they are automatically included in even the lowest base priced car - and yet the ultimate safety option - remaining within the speed limit is only available as a driver optional device to be constantly reset to correspond with the ever changing posted limits.
We are assured that the "driverless "car is an emerging marvel, and yet it would seem technology already exists that could automatically adjust the maximum speed of every vehicle on every road and street in this country to the legal speed required by law. Technically, it would be impossible to exceed the speed limit.
The combination of an electronic "reader "in each car receiving a signal from a coder which signified each change of the legal limit that applies to govern the vehicle speed would not be a huge challenge to the electronics industry, but it would deprive the government of a vital source of revenue - and it would probably make the task of driving a car a matter of sheer misery for each driver.
Take away the "control factor " and the joy of driving evaporates. We have this strange "love "and "hate " relationships with our vehicles. We hate the conditions which impose "stop and start " crawling speeds to get to our destination - and we love the thrill of being in control of an exhilarating machine when the conditions allow us to indulge our whims. Unfortunately, we are also risk takers - and this is reflected in road safety statistics.
It seems that those unexpected speeding fines arriving in the post - are just part of the price we pay for our love of the automobile !
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