Speed Cameras Drive QLD Motorists To Break The Law

Online, June 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Suncorp Insurance research found nearly half of Queensland motorists (45 per cent) admitted to flashing their headlights to warn other drivers of the presence of a speed camera - consistent with 2010 (45 per cent) but slightly down from the 54 per cent who admitted doing so in 2008. The insurer's study also found a small minority of Queensland motorists (3 per cent) admitted to installing and using radar-detection devices in their vehicles to avoid being caught speeding.

Motorists don't trust speed cameras The Suncorp Insurance research also found a significant number of motorists don't entirely trust the accuracy of speed cameras with almost one-fifth of Queensland motorists (18 per cent) of the opinion that when caught by a speed camera they did not believe they were speeding at the time. Close to one-quarter of Queensland drivers (22 per cent) were of the same belief in 2009.

"Clearly frustrations at being caught by speed cameras are being expressed through drivers flashing their lights at other motorists to warn of the cameras, while others are taking more drastic action by using radar-detectors to avoid being caught speeding," Mr Sopinski said.

"Perceptions of speeding fines being mainly a revenue raising exercise are nothing new but as record numbers of motorists are being methodically processed through hundreds of thousands of speed camera notices each year, there is the likelihood such negative perceptions will remain, and potentially increase, as will the extent motorists are prepared to go to in attempts to avoid being caught speeding."

One-million plus motorists snapped Police statistics show that since 2005/06 a staggering 1,342,740 speed camera notices has been handed out to Queensland motorists. The Queensland Police Service Annual Statistical Review reveals the alarming yearly speed camera notice tally:

Year Speed camera notices
2009/10 306,951
2008/09 333,527
2007/08- 279,012
2006/07- 220,048
2005/06- 203,202 Total: 1,342,740

Don't flash - it's the law
"There may be an element of confusion among motorists regarding the legality of flashing high-beam head lights to alert other drivers to the presence of police speed enforcement and the use of radar-detection devices," Mr Sopinski said.

"Motorists should be aware that flashing head lights at oncoming drivers is an offence - in fact there is specific law under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Road Rules) Regulation 1999 making it an offence to use a vehicles high-beam within 200m behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction or less than 200m from an oncoming vehicle. The same piece of legislation provides that drivers must not use lights to dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle another driver.

"Motorists are openly flouting this law and subjecting themselves and other road users to possible danger by flashing their lights, which is allowing themselves and other motorists to be distracted by this action. Even a momentary loss of concentration can have fatal consequences - especially when vehicles are being driven at highway speeds.

"Motorists are reminded that radar-detection devices are illegal in Queensland and drivers may be hit with a heavy fine if they're found using them or having a device in their car irrespective of whether it's being used or not," Mr Sopinski said.

"Although motorists who flash their lights may think they're acting in good faith or exhibiting a type of motoring fraternity - they are clearly preventing the law from taking its correct and proper course.

Who are the worst Queensland flashers?
The Suncorp Insurance research identified males, nationally, as the most likely (49 per cent) to flash their headlights to warn another motorist of a speed camera compared to females (36 per cent). Nationally, motorists covering more than 20,000 km per year (54 per cent) and motorists with modified vehicles (53 per cent) are the most likely groups to tip off other motorists.

"There's a simple answer to the question how do motorists avoid being photographed by a speed camera - don't speed. With heavy speed penalties in place in both cost and demerit points I wouldn't be relying on other motorists to flash their lights to warn of speed if you value your driver's licence and the size of your wallet," Mr Sopinski said

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