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I must say I didn't expect the top red light speed camera in NSW for 2018/2019, when measured by the number of fines, would be located not in Sydney, but near Newcastle. The location for the top red light speed camera in NSW for 2018/2019 is at the intersection of Griffiths Road and Turton Road, Lambton. As I was reviewing the data for the Speed Cameras NSW / Red Light Camera NSW one thing stood out that I felt worth investigating. If you look at the top red light speed cameras for NSW by value of fines, the location in the 6th position has the most fines by number. It really stands out. I decided to review this camera and location to see why it possibly gets so many fines.To the credit of the NSW government the data provided is very good and quite detailed. Here's a summary for the 2018/2019 year for the camera at Lambton for the number of fines. Motor vehicle exceed speed limit - 10 km/h and under: 6,937 Motor vehicle exceed speed limit - over 10 km/h: 2,803 Motor vehicle exceed speed limit - over 20 km/h: 112 Motor vehicle exceed speed limit - over 30 km/h: 20 Motor vehicle exceed speed limit - over 45 km/h: 1 Proceed through red traffic arrow: 8 Proceed through red traffic light: 304 Total number of fines: 10,185 From the above we can see most of the fines were for speeding as opposed to going through the red light. Around 68% for under 10 km/h and 28% for over 10 km/h. As to why people were speeding I have some ideas, but really they're just my thoughts and not research based. Your opinion is just as valid so I'll leave it up to you to ponder. For those interested in this intersection and red light speed camera the following link is for a YouTube video. I start the video at the 13 minute mark near the roundabout at Newcastle Link Road and Transfield Avenue, Wallsend. The red light speed camera is around the 16 minute mark. This video is sped up so if you want to watch it in near real time I'd suggest changing the speed in the YouTube settings to 0.5 and muting your sound.
In the video you'll noticed at the 13:28 mark the speed limit changes from 90 to 60.
If you check Google maps and Street View, the view taken February 2017 the speed limit dropped to 70. In the view in May 2018 this had changed to 60. It is interesting to note in 2017 the speed limit for this red light speed camera was 70 km/h, although what the speed limit was a few years ago isn't really relevant, but I still find it interesting. The real result in terms of safety is when you take the change in speed limit and then check the corresponding road statistics for this section of road. Have the fatalities and injuries reduced, or have the fines simply increased with no corresponding benefit?
2016-2017 Fines: 1,872, Value of Fines: $443,896
2017-2018 Fines: 4,505, Value of Fines: $885,124
2018-2019 Fines: 10,185, Value of Fines: $1,898,150
For the section of road after the Main Road and Newcastle Road roundabout, heading east along Newcastle Road/Griffiths Road, to after the Griffiths Road and Turton Road intersection, the following are the crash statistics for 2014-2018.
2014 Non-casualty (towaway): 20, Minor: 4, Major: 19, Serious: 7, Fatal: 0, Total: 50
2015 Non-casualty (towaway): 10, Minor: 7, Major: 9, Serious: 5, Fatal: 0, Total: 31
2016 Non-casualty (towaway): 8, Minor: 5, Major: 7, Serious: 8, Fatal: 1, Total: 29
2017 Non-casualty (towaway): 6, Minor: 7, Major: 9, Serious: 0, Fatal: 0, Total: 22
2018 Non-casualty (towaway): 9, Minor: 5, Major: 7, Serious: 1, Fatal: 0, Total: 22
Keeping in mind the speed of the section of road was reduced in late 2017 from 70 to 60, the total number of accidents hasn't changed, there's an increase in non-casualty (towaway), an increase in serious, but there is a decrease in minor and major accidents. It would be interesting to know what happened in 2014-2015 as that was a period of significant change.
I hope others find this information interesting.
Kelvin Eldridge
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