RUN WHAT YA BRUNG
I recently read with interest an article in a local Queensland paper relating to speed cameras and the fact that the local council/government will be able to retain more of the revenue. As I’m sure many motorists will agree, the issue of speed cameras and their contribution to road safety as opposed to a revenue generator is certainly questionable. Of course, I agree that speed cameras have a certain role to play on our roads, such as in proven accident black spots as well as at school locations. However, I very much doubt that these are the only areas where they are utilized and then the question must be asked, ‘are they all being used for road safety?’ If safety on our roads is really high on the agenda, then rather than deploying speed cameras everywhere, how about looking at the actual safety of the vehicles on the road in the first place? My understanding is that a road worthiness certificate is not necessary here in Queensland unless selling a vehicle, transferring to a Queensland registration or when re-registering an expired vehicle. This means that a vehicle can be used on the road in an unroadworthy condition. A car could be 10 or 20 years old, having never had a maintenance check, the brakes could be faulty, the tyres could be worn, the seat belts may be unsafe; the list goes on.
The rules are different across the country; in some States, vehicles have to be tested regularly (similar to most other Western countries). Why not in Queensland? Shouldn’t this be more of a concern to the ‘powers that be’, not to mention other drivers who share the road with these unmaintained vehicles?
If road safety really is a genuine concern, then surely this is an area which should be looked at with the highest of priorities, certainly above the deployment of speed cameras? Steve Manley, via email
We completely agree, Steve. However, Queensland is not alone in having no requirement for older vehicles to undergo an annual safety inspection. Victoria is another state that doesn’t seem to think it’s important for vehicles to meet basic safety standards, preferring instead to take a draconian, zero-tolerance enforcement of speed limits, and camera proliferation. – Ed