NEWS: Radar detector, police speeding fine and laser jammer news 2005.

Speed camera "plague" still eroding driver confidence.

8th December 2005

British Institute of Advanced Motorists Chief thanks UK Road Safety Minister for halting the installation of more speed cameras.

In a press release dated 7 December 2005 the AIM had the following to say.

SPEED CAMERA “PLAGUE” STILL ERODING DRIVER CONFIDENCE, SAYS IAM CHIEF

The damaging effect on relations between the driver and the police caused by a "plague" of speed cameras, coupled with the "robotic issue of tough penalties" has continued to damage road safety, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) said today (Wednesday 7 December 2005).

Speaking at the IAM Annual Lunch in London, IAM Chairman John Maxwell told guests, including guest speaker, Road Safety Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman, that too many drivers and rider are still convinced that the safety camera regime is about income-generation, not road safety.

Mr Maxwell, said: "Speed limits must be worthy of respect, if they are not to be ignored, and that it is both essential and urgent that we settle on a sensible regime of limits and their enforcement."

The IAM welcomes the Road Safety Bill because it will enable the Minister to display in legislative terms what has been described as a "new deal" with drivers and riders, who should be seen as part of the solution, not just the problem.

"We are pleased that the Bill proposes graduated fixed penalties for speeding offences, which will, we're sure, go a long way to reassuring law-abiding drivers, who presently feel victimised when prosecuted for relatively minor infringements," said Mr Maxwell.

He went on to describe as entirely sensible the proposals relating to drinking and driving, driver fatigue, the re-training of seriously bad drivers and the better regulation of driving instructors.

Mr Maxwell thanked the Minister for halting the installation of more speed cameras until a thorough review of their road-safety value can be completed.

"But do please accept that in addition to the review of camera-use there needs to be a proper review of speed limits themselves – allowing for the possibility of raising limits under some circumstances, and looking to replace automatic, inflexible, indiscriminate detection and enforcement with discretion."

Mr Maxwell said that the IAM is marking its 50th year in 2006 and that following its own strategic review it is determined to be bigger, better and more influential in the cause of road safety.

Road fatalities leap 39% at camera sites.

5th August 2005

Roads fatalities leap 39% at camera sites.

An article from UK based Safe Speed provides overwhelming evidence of the tragic failure of speed cameras.

The article states. "According to official information obtained under the Freedom of Information act by a member of the public, fatalities have leapt by an average of almost 40% at speed camera sites in Cumbria since partnership operations commenced.

Figures obtained show fatal crashes at speed camera sites as follows:

Before Cumbria Camera Partnership:

year / deaths

2000 - 10
2001- 6
2002 - 8
2003 - 2 (first quarter)
Total: 26 deaths in 39 months
Average 8 deaths per year

After Cumbria Camera Partnership:

year / deaths

2003 - 10 (last three quarters)
2004 - 12
2005 - 5 (up to June 30th)
Total: 25 deaths in 27 months
Average 11.1 deaths per year

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign said: "The full horror of the speed camera program is gradually emerging. Far from saving lives, speed cameras are killing us. They are a deadly distraction away from the core values of safe driving."

"The government has not done their research properly - their claims are shot through with false assumptions and inadequate data. There's a lack of understanding of how road safety works at the highest level. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised when the Secretary of State for Transport does not hold a driving licence."

"The figures are even worse than they appear because we expect reductions at camera sites due a statistical bias known as regression to the mean."

"We must get these dangerous cameras off the roads right now. People are dying because of them. The term 'safety camera' will go down in history as a sick joke."

Paul Smith challenged Steve Callaghan, the manager of Cumbria Partnership to debate the issues on BBC Radio Cumbria. He declined. We assume that they don't have any worthwhile facts to contribute to the debate. However we would be delighted to be proved wrong and repeat the challenge - Won't you debate the issues in any national Mr Callaghan? If you think someone else can do better - nominate your champion! We'll meet any challenge.

Official materials released under the Freedom of Information Act here.
Correspondence regarding the Radio Cumbria debate challenge here.

About Safe Speed

The Safe Speed road safety campaign is primarily the work of engineer-turned road safety analyst Paul Smith. Since setting up Safe Speed in 2001, Paul Smith, 49, an advanced motorist and road safety enthusiast, and a professional engineer of 25 years UK experience, has carried out over 8,000 hours of research into the overall effects of speed camera policy on UK road safety. We believe that this is more work in more detail than anything carried out by any other organisation.

Paul's surprising conclusion is that overall speed cameras make our roads more dangerous. Paul has identified and reported a number of major flaws and false assumptions in the claims made for speed cameras, and the whole "speed kills" system of road safety.

The inescapable conclusion is that we should urgently return to the excellent road safety policies that gave us in the UK the safest roads in the World in the first place. Safe Speed does not campaign against speed limits or appropriate enforcement of motoring laws, but argues vigorously that automated speed enforcement is neither safe nor appropriate.

UK Study; Speed Cameras Increase Injury Accidents.

1st September 2005

Full text of suppressed UK government study shows speed cameras increase accidents 31 percent on freeways, 55 percent in work zones.

The UK Department for Transport funded, then suppressed, a study that shows a 55 percent increase in injury accidents when speed cameras are used on highway work zones and a 31 percent increase when used on freeways without construction projects. According to the Transport Research Laboratory, the "non-works [personal injury accident] rate is significantly higher for the sites with speed cameras than the rate for sites without."

An analysis of this data, buried on page 43 of the report, yields the following result:

Effect on Personal Injury Accidents
Enforcement Type Construction Zone No Construction

Conventional speed cameras 55% increase 31% increase
Speed-averaging cameras (SPECS) 4.5% increase 6.7% increase
Police patrols 27% reduction 10% reduction

Although the Department for Transport's Highways Agency funded the study, no information regarding these results was ever made public until a Freedom of Information Act request was honoured earlier this month. The Transport Research Laboratory attempted to suppress the UK taxpayer-funded study further by charging £40 (US $72) for access to the results. Moreover, the study's executive summary calculates only the aggregate accident rate including the benefit of manned police patrol cars in the work zones. The significant decrease in accidents from a human police presence was used to offset the increase in camera accidents.

"It is outrageous that this sort of information has been hidden from the public," said Safe Speed road safety campaign founder Paul Smith whose FOIA request uncovered the study's existence. "We have all seen strange driver behaviour where fixed speed cameras operate. This report highlights the dangers. We're not surprised to see this information -- we have know for years that speed cameras were the wrong road safety strategy, and it's a huge relief to see the truth coming out so clearly"

The TRL study compared accident reports covering 29 highway construction zone projects over 730km of road from November 2001 to July 2003 with an equivalent period without the construction zones, controlling for changes in traffic volume. In the US, the state of Illinois plans to implement a similar freeway work zone speed camera program within the next few months.

Police shocked by drop in the number of speeding motorists

From Policespeedcameras.info
By www.policespeedcameras.info
Year 2005

Police and the Road Safety Council are surprised and baffled at the sudden 20% drop in speed camera revenue this year it was reported on the Channel 7 News this week.

The government stands to lose 8 million dollars worth of income this financial year and the Road Safety Council is not amused. One third of all speed camera fines go to the Road Safety Council who are now worried about a drop in income a spokesman saying, "It takes money to be vigilant." (Strange, I thought it took motorists to be vigilant?)

Well now that so many people are now driving a lot slower, we must expect a considerable drop in the state road toll, right?

Wrong! Without a doubt there will no significant change in the road toll this year that in any way mirrors the large drop in speeding motorists.

Why? Because speed is only one factor affecting the road toll. If you have ever read the cause of a large number of road deaths as I have, you would come to the conclusion that a large number are caused by poor driving skills, drugs & alcohol and or carelessness and inattention.

You would be struck by the number of country road crashes that are just bad luck. Crashes that could catch anyone out.

When the road toll doesn't drop significantly this year, will we see an end to speed cameras on Western Australian roads. No, I think not!

How would the money hungry Road Safety Council survive?

Put all the money into young driver education programs we say. Physical hands on advanced driving skills courses and young driver education programmes.

The greatest threat to young drivers is their misguided thoughts of immortality, especially when showing off to their mates. Two or three young kids wrapped around a tree in what is left of a powerful V8 or turbo 6 is an all too often seen tragedy.

Today Tonight 7. Beating Speed Cameras

Another Channel 7 Today Tonight Story - Beating speed cameras
REPORTER: Glenn Connley
BROADCAST DATE: August 4, 2005

The story claimed there are an increasing number of victims of wrong camera readings who have proven big brother can be beaten.

Dr Wolf Garwoli, one of Australia's foremost radar experts said, "Police and private contractors are ignoring simple rules for operating speed cameras". "If you have multiple targets in the radar beam or if you set it up incorrectly whereby you bounce it off the road or you set it up looking into a bend then the radar fails," he said.

He also said, "Speed camera readings can be affected by other vehicles at intersections, tram and train lines, for sale signs and other real estate signs, traffic signs, bus shelters, phone boxes, letterboxes, metal garages, sheds, fences or parked trucks".

Jeff Bowtell is an experienced private contractor with Tenix, a company which had a contract to run mobile cameras in Victoria.

Dr Garwoli and Mr Bowtell have helped many motorists escape their fines but said if you are going to take on the system you have to get it right. They had this advice to give.

• Check the police photo and look for objects which could affect the radar.
• If you see a flash go back to the sight and take your own photos which prove the obstruction was there on the day.

There is also an issue with other moving vehicles in the photo. Retired Victorian politician Robyn Cooper exposed a flaw in the system when he challenged police over a second car in the camera's photo.

"The police officer assumed it was booking the car he noticed which was going the other way," Mr Cooper said.
To contact Dr Wolf Garwoli, they suggest you write care of your local (Channel 7) Today Tonight Office.

Onus on drivers over traffic fines
From The West Australian
By Ben Spencer
December 21, 2005

Long-awaited traffic fine owner-onus laws will finally come into effect on January 1, more than five years after they were passed through State Parliament.

Under the changes to road safety laws to be announced by Police Minister Michelle Roberts today, vehicle owners will be made liable for traffic fines if they do not report the driver.

Delays in the owner-onus legislation, which the Gallop Government passed through Parliament in 2000 but has never been proclaimed in the Government Gazette to allow enforcement, have cost the State millions of dollars in revenue by letting thousands of motorists flout road safety laws.

The Government had claimed the laws could not be proclaimed without Capspeed project - a $7 million upgrade of the fines management system that also enables improved drivers recognition.

Mrs Roberts said she had decided to push ahead with the owner-onus laws despite police saying Capspeed would not be operating until the middle of next year. WA Police had to write off $2.15 million in 2004 for motorists who slipped through the loophole. Motorcyclists have escaped about $14 million in fines since 2000.

Mrs Roberts said under the new laws the owner of a licensed vehicle would be deemed to the "person responsible" for the vehicle.

"If the vehicle is detected by a speed camera or by a camera at traffic lights, the owner will have to pay a fine unless they can identify who was driving the vehicle at the time," she said

Motoring body attacks double demerit policy

From The West Australian
By Daniel Emerson
December 20, 2005

A leading motoring body cast doubts over the effectiveness of double demerits yesterday as WA Police confirmed motorists would be slugged double points between December 22 and January 8.

RAC Queensland spokesman Gary Fites warned the Queensland Government not to copy NSW in imposing double demerit points during the Christmas and new year period.

"There is no evidence that doubling demerit points over holidays in NSW has contributed to any sustained and significant reduction in the road toll in that State," Mr Fites said.

He welcomed assurances from Queensland Premier Peter Beattie that doubling demerit points was not on the Government's agenda.

"Irresponsible and reckless driving needs to be countered with strong enforcement and penalties appropriate to the particular offence 365 days a year," Mr Fites said.

The WA Government brought in double demerits as a permanent measure on long weekends and holiday periods until the end of 2007 after a trial in 2003 and 2004 based on the NSW model.

RAC WA member advocacy executive manager David Moir said the body would not be making the same recommendation as the Queensland motoring organisation. "Our position is that we do support double demerit points and while it continues to work we are in favour of it," he said.

Speed gun jammers sold over internet

From The West Australian
By Rania Ghandour and Simon Penn
November 11, 2005

A 25-year-old Perth entrepreneur who sells an outlawed device which scrambles police hand-held laser speed guns says he is not doing anything wrong and is not responsible for people who use them illegally.

Sean Hettich, of Success, said he was filling a gap in the market by selling radar detectors, which are legal only in WA, and the just-released laser jammers, which are illegal to use throughout Australia.

"Eighty per cent of my business comes from the Eastern States, even though it's illegal and they are well aware of the risks and penalties," he said.

He said they were not illegal to sell yet and he would continue to sell them until the law changed.

The online store Mr. Hettich set up a web page, has sold more than 100 radar detectors since opening six months ago. Laser jammers have been on the market for a little over a week, with only one sold so far.

Insp. Neil Royle, operations manager of police traffic enforcement, said laser jammers worked by dispersing the laser beam on police hand-held speed guns, affecting the equipment and showing an error reading, alerting police to the use of the jammer.

"The user would be charged with hindering police and we would more than likely apply to the court to confiscate the jammer," he said.

Insp. Royle said the new jammer worked only with hand-held speed guns and no one had been charged with using one so far. They did not detect Multanovas.

"You've got to ask yourself why people would use them in the first place. It's to avoid detection of an offence and we'll act accordingly on that," he said.

Road Safety Council chairman Grant Dorrington said using any devices which helped avoid speeding tickets was totally irresponsible and called for a ban on all such devices.

"We're spending millions to educate drivers that speed kills," he said. "They're saying, 'Do what you want and if you buy this thing you can make sure you don't get caught'."

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the Government would move to change the law to make it clear the devices were illegal.

"As I understand it the laser technology is new technology and for the first time that's impacting on hand-held radar detectors so we need to move to ban that," she said. She admitted it was unlikely new laws could be introduced until next year.

GPS technology used to track stolen car

From The West Australian
By Luke Eliot
November 05, 2005

An alleged car thief has been outsmarted by advanced satellite tracking technology fitted to a stolen luxury car.

Police arrested Phillip Gerald Hart, of White Gum Valley, and retrieved an undamaged $55,000 Holden Calais from the front lawn of his home about 30 minutes after it was reported stolen from a Yangebup home.

Police will allege that Mr Hart, 20, broken into a home in Tindal Avenue, Yangebup, shortly after 2am yesterday and stole the owner’s handbag, mobile telephone and car keys, which he used to steal the car.

Car owner Judy De Gennaro said she initially thought the sounds of the garage door opening and her car driving down the street were made by her husband, who had been called to hospital several hours earlier after his father fell ill.

But, shortly after speaking to her husband about 2.20am, she realized the sounds had been made by a car thief and contacted police, who advised her to contact Holden Assist to activate the car’s global positioning system.

Melbourne-based operators used a satellite to locate the car as it drove along Lefroy Street, Beaconsfield, at 2.32am.

Sixteen minutes later, the operators used the technology to secure and immobilize the car but it had already stopped at Mr Hart’s Hope Street home. He was later charged with aggravated burglary and stealing a motor vehicle.

Ms De Gennaro was compiling a list of credit cards and other items stolen during the burglary about 3.45am when she got the good news.

“I almost fell on the floor – I didn’t think it would be so quick,” she said. She was relieved the car was not destroyed.

Ms De Gennaro praised the GPS system and said her next car would have a similar feature.

The GPS technology has been used in WA since 2001 and has been used to track stolen cars previously.

The system can be activated automatically if the car is broken into without the use of the car keys.

The car can be immobilized or locked by remote control. Operators are notified automatically after airbags are deployed in a crash.

Operators can also unlock the car by remote control if the occupants lock their keys in the car and their identity is confirmed.

The system can also be used to warn the owner if the car battery is running low, for example if the car headlights had been left on.
Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said technology that allowed authorities to track and disable stolen cars was a great crime prevention aid and hoped it was something all cars would be fitted with in the future.

Mr Hart was remanded in custody when he appeared in Fremantle Magistrate’s Court yesterday.


CAUGHT FROM A DISTANCE

Shortly after 2am: Burglar breaks into Judy De Gennaro’s home in Yangebup and takes personal items, including car keys, which he uses to steal Ms De Gennaro’s Holden Calais.
About 2.20am: Ms De Gennaro contacts police and Holden Assist.
2.32am: Melbourne-based operators used satellite tracking technology to detect the car driving on Lefroy Street, Beaconsfield. Operators advise WA police of the car’s movements through the southern Perth suburbs.
2.48am: Operators detect the Holden stopped in Hope Street, White Gum Valley. They immobilize the car by remote as police rush to the scene. Police arrest 20-year-old Phillip Gerald Hart and recover the undamaged car.
3.45am: Ms Gennaro is told that her car has been recovered and the alleged thief arrested.

Spotted

From The West Australian
November 03, 2005

This radar detector on the dash of Liberal member for Roe Graham Jacobs' parliamentary car..

It was a commendable spot of private-eye work by an IC spy.

While it's perfectly legal to use a radar detector, here in WA at least, it's not very community-minded, says Sen. Const. John Pintabona, from the police camera section.

"Yes, they are legal but it's much better to abide by the speed limit at all times in the first place," he tut-tutted. "From a traffic point of view, we don't like to see them because in essence they tell you when a radar is trained on your vehicle. He should know better."

"Put it this way, I still have plenty of demerit points left if that's what you mean," he said. "But I do travel enormous distances in my electorate, which is a third the size of Victoria, and I've passed through plenty of radars in my travels."

His son, who had been living in Beijing, had brought it back and asked him to try it out.

"He thought it might be handy," Dr Jacobs said. "The only problem is, the stupid thing doesn't seem to want to work. It goes off at every automatic sliding door but it doesn't seem to be triggered by radars."

Not being all that fussed about approaching doors, automatic or otherwise, the doctor said he had ended the trial with a "thanks, but no thanks".

4WDs tops for rear visibility

From The West Australian
By Steve Lague
October 25, 2005

Cameras can make cars safer while reversing, but the car industry says audible front parking and rear reversing sensors are better.

However, in a recent test of reversing visibility, two four-wheel-drives finished in the top five of the 222 vehicles tested.

Vehicles tested included 4WDs, people movers, utilities and sport, luxury, large, medium, medium-small and small sedans.

At the other end of the scale, Australia's number one selling car, the Holden Commodores, featured among the worst, along with the Holden Crewman. Only one 4WD featured in the bottom group.

SGIO operations manager Bruce Kendall said the average blind spot behind the cars tested was 14.7 square meters - plenty of room for a small child to be hidden from view.

"Contrary to popular belief, SGIO's research shows that 4WDs perform as well, if not better, when it comes to reversing visiblity compared to popular sedans," Mr Kendall said.

"Many 4WDs actually outperformed some of Australia's top-selling medium and large sedans. The


'Many 4WDs actually outperformed some of Australia's top-selling medium and large sedans'.

SGIO OPERATIONS MANAGER BRUCE KENDALL

Holden Commodores sedan, for example, fared badly with no stars and a 27sqm blind area".

Reversing cameras have been available as an option in some more expensive cars for a couple of years.

This month Ford launched its new Territory with a reverse camera as standard equipment in the top-of-the-range Ghia and as a $1000 option in the mid-range TS.

But industry experts do not believe the camera alone will prevent accidents such as that involving Andie Kearns.

Manufacturers which provide cameras in their cars say the camera should be used to survey the area behind the car before starting the manoeuvre. They say the camera view is far too narrow and once reversing, the driver should be looking either over the shoulder or in the side mirrors. If a child runs behind the car once it is moving, the chances of the driver seeing them in time on the screen are minimal.

Everyone spoken to yesterday agreed that audible forward parking and rear reversing sensors were a far more efficient warning mechanism.

The sensors pick up objects two or three metres from the car and trigger an alarm. The alarm gets louder as the vehicle moves closer to the object.

On some models there is also a graphic illustration of the car showing which corner of the car the object is closest to on a screen.

Research in Europe and the US has shown that drivers react more quickly to an audible alarm than a picture.

Most 4WDs sold in Australia today come with reversing sensors as either standard equipment or available as an option for between $500 and $1000.

WA drivers 'lack basic skills'

From The West Australian
By Tiffany Laurie
October 25, 2005

WA licence requirements do not equip drivers with the skills to avoid simple accidents, says the WA Motor Trade Association.

Association executive director Peter Fitzpatrick yesterday said WA's tests were an inadequate judge of drivers' skills and did not ensure drivers could cope with tragic accidents similar to one at the weekend where former Wallaby player Phil Kearns' daughter Andie was run over by a 4WD in the family driveway.

Mr Fitzpatrick called on all drivers to get involved in defensive driving courses and install safety devices such as reversing sensors, saying the devices would save lives.

His comments came after it emerged that Mr Kearns was moving forward in his Volkswagen Touareg, rather than backwards, when he accidentally hit his daughter on Saturday. The toddler is still in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of The Children's Hospital, Randwick.

About 30 toddlers died each year in driveways accidents, with 4WDs responsible for more than two-thirds of the accidents.

Mr Fitzpatrick said drivers were taught basic reversing skills when they first applied for their licence, but many drivers were unable to cope with emergencies and accidents.

Four-wheel-drive vehicles required more skill to be driven safely because their size, height and weight often limited visibility and made them more difficult to handle.

"Reverse sensors would certainly save lives if they were universally adopted, but the only way for it to become compulsory is to make it an Australian standard and I do not see that happening," Mr Fitzpatrick said.

RAC member advocacy executive director David Moir said reversing sensors gave drivers a false sense of security and should not be used as an substitute for driver awareness.

Sensors were designed to detect fixed objects such as poles, but would not necessarily detect a young child or pedestrian in time to prevent an accident.

"Most driving instructors do teach people the basics but a sense of complacency does tend to seep in when people get used to driving and get used to their cars," Mr Moir said.

"Visibility has more to do with the placement and shape of windows, the placement of the driver's seat, and even things like rear spoilers can cause problems."

Inside out - Laser camera errors

From London News Online
By Unknown
September 19, 2005


Speed Gun
- Inside Out investigates the reliability of mobile speed cameras, hidden on police motorcycles and cars.

Most motorists have a story to tell about getting a speeding fine. Every year across England and Wales over one and a half million people were convicted by speed cameras.

In the last year the numbers of mobile speed cameras hidden on police motorcycles, vans and cars have risen by more than a third meaning there are now over 3000 units in the country. These increases in mobile cameras will help raise over £20 million a year to the Chancellor. But how reliable are they?

Paul Cox got a speeding ticket whilst driving home. "I was driving a car with cruise control, set just under 70mph. I passed an unmarked police car that was doing checks. I was then pulled over and alleged to have been doing in excess of 90 mph".

Paul was convicted – but appealed and won. The court found there were discrepancies in the speed gun evidence used against him. "I was fortunate that as an ex-police officer, I was able to access information and to use my knowledge to know there was a discrepancy".

Paul Cox

There are several types of laser guns used in Britain; all work on the same principle. An operator targets the vehicle, fires the button and the machine sends out an infra red pulse which then works out the speed the vehicle was travelling at. It is however, crucial that the gun is held still whilst a reading is taken. If the operator moves the gun at the critical moment, some very strange readings are registered.

Dr Michael Clark, an expert in laser technology, demonstrates by pointing a laser speed meter at a stationary car. It registers a speed of 6mph. This is a process known as ‘slip effect’, caused by the laser beam accidentally moving sideways, in the split second it is fired. The gun is effectively tricked, interpreting the tiny movement of the beam as a speed.

In theory, if the gun moved along the side of a car during a reading, then this could add the length of the car to the distance travelled, adding up to 30mph to the speed recorded.

The manufacturer of the most commonly used gun in the UK, the LT1 20.20 says it is impossible to get a false reading on a moving vehicle. They are not alone in believing the guns can never be wrong, Inside Out discovered that the Home Office doesn't test speed guns for slip effect at all.

We decided we should see if the machine could be fooled. We used a truck fitted with the latest satellite technology, and 2 laser guns. On the 11th attempt we found a gun registering a slip problem, registering a much higher speed. This would put the driver at risk of loosing his licence. From a further 11 attempts, 6 wrong readings were recorded.

Police say their operators are trained to hold the guns steady. But the equipment is used without tripods at ranges of up to a kilometre.

Professor of engineering and author John Brignell explains it would be very difficult to keep the device steady. "If you get a pair of powerful binoculars, and try and focus on the number of a moving car 500 metres away – it’s quite difficult"

They also said "The Home Office Scientific Development Branch is of the opinion that the UK version will perform within permitted tolerances if used in accordance with the current published ACPO enforcement guidelines and will not replicate the errors shown by the American device".

Yet a report, obtained by Inside Out and written by Frank Garratt, Managing Director of Teletraffic suggests both versions of the LTi 20-20 are the same because the gun used by British Police is identical to the version used by NASA. And NASA then told Inside Out that the version they use is the American version. All of which seems to suggest that the UK and American speed guns are identical.

Dr Clarke believes the UK version is susceptible to error. "We used a US device for our tests; I can see no reason why the UK device should not suffer the same problems, both are based on the same technology and principles, with some minor variations".

Dr Clarke would welcome the opportunity to properly test an UK approved device so as to clear up any doubt about the reliability of the speed measurements made by this device.

The Home Office has declined all requests to do such testing. So, who is right? The Home Office or Dr Clark?

Statement

After transmission Meredydd Hughes of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (ACPO) gave this statement:

"I believe this programme will mislead the public by implying that speed detection devices used and approved in the UK may be inaccurate without the evidence necessary to back this up.

"The programme focuses on a LTI laser speedometer designed for the American market, which is not a Home Office type approved device. The American version of the LTI laser speedometer uses a different version of software to that approved for use in the UK. In particular, the Uk version has different error trapping software contained with it and it has been subjected to Home Office type approval testing, recognised as the most stringent in the world, to ensure its accuracy.

"The Home Office Scientific Development Branch is of the opinion that the UK version will perform within permitted tolerances if used in accordance with the current published ACPO enforcement guidelines and will not replicate the errors shown by the American.

"Offenders should be aware that if they decide to plead not guilty based on viewing this programme but are subsequently convicted, they are likely to get additional penalties imposed upon them by Courts in excess of the conditional penalty they would have received."

Victorian speed camera bungle

From Herald Sun
By Ellen Whinnett
August 25, 2005

Victoria Police will be forced to withdraw hundreds of fines after an embarrassing speed camera bungle.

Hundreds of drivers were booked for speeding on the Hume Highway when an operator programmed the wrong speed into the camera.

Most were actually travelling under the speed limit.

The bungle got through private operator Tenix's checking system, and infringement notices were issued by police last week.

Now, the company and police will be required to issue withdrawal notices to the hundreds of drivers who were booked despite committing no offence.

Drivers travelling on the Hume Highway at Somerset on July 21 were sent infringement notices this week for exceeding 80km/h, when the lawful speed was 90km/h.

Craigieburn resident Frank Torzillo, 49, was booked for travelling at 88km/h.

Convinced he wasn't speeding, Mr Torzillo went to the Traffic Camera Office and obtained the photograph of the alleged incident.

He then contacted outspoken former speed camera operator Graeme Marr for help.

They drove along the Hume Highway until they found the location, between Stanley Drive and Pataullos Lane, based on background images in the photograph.

It was in a clearly-marked 90km/h zone, not an 80km/h zone, as the infringement notice had stated.

Mr Marr said he agreed to help Mr Torzillo because he wanted to highlight problems with the speed camera system.

"I have always stated - from the day of my resignation on August 20, 2004 - about incorrect set-ups, operators forced to use faulty cameras, and other incorrect happenings that would cause motorists to be incorrectly issued with infringement notices," Mr Marr said.

"Mr Torzillo's saga adds to my claims that supervision is sparse, and (that) operators who have no feelings for motorists will set up the speed cameras to raise revenue," he said.

Mr Torzillo said he knew he had not been speeding because he travelled the Hume Highway every day for work, and was always careful to watch his speed.

"My main concern now is the other poor drivers caught on that day," he said.

"They could be looking at 200-300 cars - it was peak hour," he said.

"Basically, I've been booked for travelling at 88km/h in a 90km/h zone.

"This shouldn't happen. They (the camera operators) should be better trained.
"They should have realised it was a 90km/h zone," he said.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said that Police Minister Tim Holding ought to come clean on how many motorists had been incorrectly booked.

"Has anyone lost their licence due to this operator's failure to set their camera to the correct speed zone?" Mr Mulder asked.

"More importantly, how can Tim Holding stop it happening again?"

No comment could be obtained from Victoria Police yesterday.

Satellites set to track carjackers

From The Australian
By Robert Wilson
August 16, 2005

SYDNEY's spate of seven carjackings in two weeks has prompted Mercedes-Benz to examine bringing its satellite-based tracking system to Australia.

Bandits, targeting expensive high-performance Mercedes, Porsche and BMW models, have forced the owners to hand over the keys and have used at least one of the vehicles as a getaway car in a later robbery.

The remote Teleaid satellite assistance service has been available in Europe and the US since 2000, but Mercedes-Benz has not brought it to Australia yet, citing low customer interest and lack of satellite coverage.

"The events of the last two weeks are worrying and we are investigating technologies that might add to security for owners," company spokesman Toni Andreevski said.

The system used satellites for communication and tracking and did not require mobile phone coverage to work, Mr Andreevski said.

For now, owners of luxury cars must rely on ground-based tracking services that are effective, but confined to metropolitan areas.

BMW and Holden offer mobile phone-based emergency call systems, and radio tracking services use either the phone system or their own network of radio towers.

Despite restricted coverage, these systems can immobilise stolen cars or trace them to thieves' hideouts.

Sydney-based tracking service Quiktrak says it has recovered vehicles within half an hour of their being stolen.

"We generally know something's happening before the vehicle has even moved," Quiktrak operations manager Gary Moore said.

"We can stop the car remotely but our policy is to do that only in co-operation with the police."

While the spate of carjackings in Sydney has made headlines, experts say an equally disturbing trend is emerging in the thousands of thefts across Australia made possible by the thieves first stealing the keys.

"More than 70 per cent of late model car thefts are now happening through access to keys," said Geoff Hughes, a spokesman for Carsafe Australia, a joint industry and government body dedicated to reducing car theft.

The trend had swelled since immobilisers became compulsory on new cars in 2001, Mr Hughes said. "Thieves are getting keys by breaking into houses or offices and bypassing immobilisers. The only way to counter it is for owners to treat their keys like gold."

Carsafe found key thefts accounted for more than 70per cent of thefts of late model cars, compared with only 20 per cent of total car thefts.

Mr Moore said: "You can't really hotwire a car these days, and thieves know that.

"What we're seeing are more thefts using the keys, usually after ransacking the owner's home. But we're also seeing more thefts from carwashes, service stations and workshops.

"The thief just walks in and drives away."

Cars worth $1.5 million are stolen across Australia each day, Carsafe estimates.
More than 83,000 vehicles were stolen in the 12 months to March and about 19,000 of them were not recovered.

Australian-developed microscopic data dots stamped with a car's unique vehicle identification number have cut theft rates by up to 90 per cent for some models.

All speed camera fines in doubt

From weekly Telegraph
August 10, 2005

EVERY fine issued by speed cameras could be invalid, after the Roads and Traffic Authority admitted yesterday it could not prove the authenticity of the pictures they take.

In a double blow to the RTA, The weekly Telegraph can also reveal that Sydney Harbour Tunnel cameras monitoring toll cheats have been switched off for at least three years - and no penalties handed out.

The revelation came as Sydney magistrate Lawrence Lawson threw out a speeding case after the RTA said it had no evidence that an image from a camera had not been doctored.

Mr Lawson had adjourned the case in June, giving the RTA eight weeks to produce an expert to prove pictures from a speed camera on Carlingford Rd, Epping, had not been altered after they were taken.

He said it was a matter of public interest and the RTA should be given time to back up its case.

But RTA lawyers yesterday told Hornsby Local Court they could not find an expert and the case was thrown out, with $3300 in legal costs awarded to the motorist, a man allegedly caught speeding through a school zone on November 18 last year.

Lawyer Dennis Miralis, who has won several high-profile cases against the RTA involving speeding motorists, said the case proved a public inquiry into speed cameras was desperately needed.

"The integrity of all speed camera offences has been thrown into serious doubt and it appears that the RTA is unable to prove any contested speed camera matter because of a lack of admissible evidence," Mr Miralis said.

The case revolved around the integrity of a mathematical MD5 algorithm published on each picture and used as a security measure to prove pictures have not been doctored after they have been taken.

Mr Miralis argued that the RTA had to prove the algorithm it used was accurate and could not be tampered with. He said: "It is our understanding that since speed cameras were introduced approximately 15 years ago on NSW roads, not one single speed camera photograph has been capable of proving an offence."

The NSW Law Society said the judgment could "open the doors" for other drivers caught by speed cameras to mount the same defence.

Radar bans under attack

From Unknown
By Ellen Whinnett
August 04, 2005

VICTORIAN drivers have been banned from the road because of wrongly issued speeding fines, says a former speed camera operator.

Graeme Marr, 41, of Meadow Heights, said driving licences had been suspended and cancelled as a result of the incorrect tickets.

He said problems caused by reflected radar beams were "rife in camera operations".

Radar beams reflected off metal objects can corrupt speed readings and lead to an incorrect ticket being issued.

Strict instructions are enclosed in the Victoria Police operators manual on how such reflections should be avoided.

Mr Marr will make his claims today in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court, where he is appearing as a defence witness for Glenn Hilburn, who is fighting a charge of driving at 69km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Mr Marr said camera operators routinely set up in areas that breached the provisions of the manual, by having reflective surfaces in the path of the radar beam.

"You just can't do that because you don't know what you're getting," he said.

Mr Marr conceded he left camera operator Tenix on bad terms after just four months but said his motivation was to let the public know the truth.

A licensed security agent, he has run his own security company for 17 years.

He said he would be giving evidence about "site 32265", on Pascoe Vale Rd at Oak Park, where Mr Hilburn was booked for allegedly exceeding the limit.

He said he had refused to set up at the site because of the problems with reflections.

Secrets of speed cameras revealed

From Unknown
By Ellen Whinnett
August 04, 2005

MOBILE speed camera readings can be distorted by metal signs, fences, walls and even Australia Post letter boxes, according to a secret police document.

The potential flaws in the controversial cameras -- which took $104 million in speeding fines from Victorian motorists last year -- are detailed in a confidential police rule book.

The 50-page Speed Camera Policy and Operations Manual also identifies a major operational weakness in the cameras, which monitor multi-lane roads.

But for road safety reasons the Herald Sun has chosen not to give details of this gap.

Police have fought to keep the April 2004 manual a secret.

However a copy obtained by the Herald Sun shows:

CAMERAS are not to be set up on bends.

OPERATORS must not camouflage or disguise the cameras in a way that could lead to a public perception of "sly operations".

CAMERAS can be used on a downhill road only if the road has a significant history of speed-related accidents.

TOLERANCE levels, where motorists can travel over the speed limit without being fined, are flexible.

POLICE book so many people to reinforce the message that it is not worth the risk to speed.

THE locations of fixed speed cameras are chosen to maximise the number of people who can be caught speeding.

CAMERAS must not be set up within 200m of a change to the speed zone.

CAMERAS can be used within 200m of a change to the zone in a children's crossing area or a school zone with prior approval of senior police.

Former speed camera operator Graeme Marr will use a court hearing in Melbourne today to highlight his concerns about radar beams bouncing off reflective objects and giving false readings.

Mr Marr will tell the court that motorists had lost their licences because of wrongly issued speeding fines.

Police Minister Tim Holding said processes were in place to ensure Victorian motorists were not unfairly fined or prosecuted.

"Before taking photographs, operators must ensure there are no reflective objects or surfaces in the camera beam," he said.

"The simple presence of a reflective object or surface within the speed camera photograph itself does not render the camera's reading incorrect."

Mr Holding said that in coming months the Government would release the existing speed camera criteria.

Transport Accident Commission figures show that 699,638 speeding offences were caught on camera last financial year, generating $104 million for the State Government.

The manual shows that booking a large number of people is a key part in the speed camera program.

"(The philosophy) . . . aims to create a broad community perception through general and specific deterrents that the chance of detection is so high that speeding is not worth the risk," the policy states.

Operators are told they must not hide cameras.

"To maintain community confidence in the speed camera initiative, it is important for the operational use of the devices to be seen as fair and reasonable," the policy states.

"Under no circumstances are speed camera vehicles, tripods or flash units to be disguised by signs, logos, breakdown of vehicle (eg: boot open or spare wheel jack visible, etc,), tree branches, lamp posts, dust bins or any other means that would generate public perceptions of sly operations."

The State Opposition has taken the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, arguing police should have released the protocols under Freedom of Information laws.

The document shows that specific restrictions are placed on the mobile speed cameras to address problems with reflective objects corrupting speed readings.

The rule book states cameras should not be set up on or near an overpass, or facing an elevated adjacent road that may carry traffic past the extended speed camera radar beam.

Other sources of reflection are pole-mounted electricity supply transformers, metal signs such as house-for-sale or auction signs and Armco road barriers.

Metal bus stop shelters, public telephone booths, Australia Post letter-boxes, sheet metal garage doors, fences, factory walls and closely spaced iron picket fences are all listed as possible reflectors capable of distorting speed readings.
The document also confirms widespread speculation that tolerance levels are a moveable figure.

Tolerance levels are set by law at 2km/h for fixed cameras and 3km/h for mobile cameras.

But the limit at which police started issuing tickets has been a secret.

The policy manual states threshold speeds will be chosen depending on the number of complaints about speeding and "ongoing evaluation of road trauma levels".

Opposition says speed camera costs too high

From ABC News Online
July 05, 2005

The Western Australian Opposition says WA police will be forced to take officers off the streets to pay the operating costs of extra speed cameras.

Acting police spokesman Murray Cowper says the Government's

decision to allocate five extra Multanova cameras to regional WA will cost police more than $200,000 annually.

The operating costs will be met by the Road Trauma Trust Fund for the first three years, with police to meet all costs after that.

Mr Cowper says the Government should commit more funding to road patrols rather than speed cameras.

"Which do you think is more effective, a speed camera or a highly visual police officer out on the road in a patrol car?" he said.

"Well, my answer to that is certainly the latter because speed cameras, while they are a valuable tool in the policeman's kit, they're not the vanguard of road traffic management and road safety in Western Australia."

The ABC has approached the Police Minister for Comment.

Speed limits banned to keep drivers alive

From Correspondents in Rio de Janeiro (Reuters)
By Unknown
June 28, 2005

RIO de Janeiro legislators have voted to end enforcement of speed limits in parts of the crime-plagued city at night to try to cut down on attacks on slow-moving cars.

The city's legislative assembly passed a bill on Thursday to turn off cameras used to enforce speed limits of 40 km/h in accident-prone points of the seaside city.

It was unclear whether Mayor Cesar Maia would approve the legislation, which is necessary for it to go into effect. He argues that most accidents occur during the night.

Many drivers already ignore traffic signals late at night for fear of being robbed or killed in a car jackings. The city has one of the world's highest murder rates.
Rio's beleaguered population, frustrated by police inefficiency, is resorting to inventive ways to fight crime.