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Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:36 am
by mike-s
Someone has done and freedom of information request and found that no fines have been sent out for any incidents that were less than 10% over the speed limit, showing that there does appear to be a a little bit of "grace" given from within the RTA. Of course Harold Scruby is sitting in the middle of the playground, beating his toy drum and having a right whinge about this.
Link to Original Article.
TFA wrote:Revealed: drivers freed to speed
EXCLUSIVE DEBORAH SNOW
October 31, 2009
PREVIOUSLY secret RTA figures dealing with camera-detected speeding offences appear to expose a policy of allowing a 10per cent tolerance before a penalty is applied.
The data shows that not a single NSW motorist was penalised for being caught travelling at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h in a 100km/h zone during July and August.
In every other speeding category, fixed cameras nabbed hundreds or thousands of offenders.
Harold Scruby, the head of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, says the figures reveal what many have long suspected – that the Roads and Traffic Authority allows a discretionary margin of 10 per cent in excess of the speed limit before a penalty is imposed.
He says that is far too soft, given the jump in this year's road toll, with nearly 400 people dying so far on the state's roads compared with 374 for all of last year.
The Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, and the Transport Minister, David Campbell, have campaigned this week for motorists to slow down – speed has been a critical factor in more than 40 per cent of accidents.
The RTA's website warns that "in a 60km/h speed limit area, the risk of involvement in a casualty crash doubles with each 5km/h increase in travelling speed above 60km/h".
Mr Scruby wants to know who is setting the tolerance threshold: "Is it some unaccountable Sir Humphrey who is under the instruction of ministers to make sure the Government is popular?"
The RTA says it works with the police to set tolerance levels but the police Traffic Services Commander, John Hartley, told the
Herald that "each organisation is responsible for the independent operation of their individual speed enforcement programs".
The RTA has offered no explanation for the figures, which were released to Mr Scruby under freedom-of-information laws.
A spokeswoman said, "The RTA sets minor tolerance levels to take into account things such as speedometer variances between vehicles."
She denied that tolerance levels were set at 10 per cent above the designated speed limit.
But asked to explain the lack of penalties in the 100-110km/h category, the authority said it "cannot speculate about why there were no offences in this two-month time frame".
Mr Scruby believes the margin has been inadvertently exposed by a shift since the end of June to 10km/h increments for lower-level speeding offences.
Previously, lower-level offences were lumped together in a group up to 15km/h over the limit.
A former Victorian assistant police commissioner, Ray Shuey, said "10 per cent has been sort of usual in many jurisdictions", although Victoria had moved to a lower threshold.
He said 10 per cent was based on an outdated Australian Design rule which erroneously assumed a large drift in some car speedometers.
Assistant Commissioner Hartley said the NSW Police Force did not discuss tolerance levels and "any motorist can be fined for exceeding the speed limit by 1km/h".
Personally I am wondering when will people learn that 95% of what Harold Scruby does or says does not warrant media attention, this is possibly an exception.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:13 pm
by photomike666
10% is bullshit, I have recently had a ticket for less than 10%, got 1 point and $143 fine.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 pm
by mike-s
Dumb question, was it for a fixed camera or a copper on the side of the road? I think they are talking about fixed cameras. But i wouldn't be surprised if it was b-s. Was just nice to think about if there was a bit of a buffer in there.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:59 pm
by smithy5
photomike666 wrote:10% is bullshit, I have recently had a ticket for less than 10%, got 1 point and $143 fine.
What speed zone were you in........ That state above that the 10% was in a 100 klm zone.............
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:31 am
by Naked Twin
Harold Scruby is a hypocritical media attention grabber. Ask what he said when his neighbours kid was run over by their own 4wd.
On the speeding, Mike they must have had it in for you. Even on double demerit days I would do up to 15km/h over the limit (indicated, actual was 12 - 13km/h calibrated) on the pacific hwy and had the police only point at me.
Nick
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:38 am
by Strika
photomike666 wrote:10% is bullshit, I have recently had a ticket for less than 10%, got 1 point and $143 fine.
The data shows that not a single
NSW motorist was penalised for being caught travelling at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h in a 100km/h zone during July and August.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:05 am
by Wattie
Strika wrote:photomike666 wrote:10% is bullshit, I have recently had a ticket for less than 10%, got 1 point and $143 fine.
The data shows that not a single
NSW motorist was penalised for being caught travelling at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h in a 100km/h zone during July and August.
i wondered wondering when someone would point out the NSW bit...
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:03 am
by Jaykay
I know QLD is definatly the same. I ride past a fixed every day at 115km (on the speedo - would actually equate to 108-109) and I have never been flashed... Have seen a number of people get done by this camera so it's definatly opperational.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:57 am
by photomike666
Strika wrote:photomike666 wrote:10% is bullshit, I have recently had a ticket for less than 10%, got 1 point and $143 fine.
The data shows that not a single
NSW motorist was penalised for being caught travelling at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h in a 100km/h zone during July and August.
OK so I skim read the initial post.
Ticket was 105 in a 100 zone from a car on the side of the road.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:20 am
by rooster
Strika wrote:photomike666 wrote:10% is bullshit, I have recently had a ticket for less than 10%, got 1 point and $143 fine.
The data shows that not a single
NSW motorist was penalised for being caught travelling at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h in a 100km/h zone during July and August.
No they waited till F&^%*^G September and October
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:47 am
by corvus2606
At what point does this even have anything to do with the pedestrian council?
Scruby needs to stop sticking his nose in other peoples business, and go back to the doctor to get his meds re-adjusted
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:35 pm
by 98ninja
the period of July and August also coincides with the NSW Police not issuing infringement notices in order to get the pay rise that they eventually got.
Very selective sampling for the study i suspect.
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:09 pm
by scoopgrate1200
its usally 10% plus 1kmh grace. its been around for years
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:16 pm
by mike-s
98ninja wrote:the period of July and August also coincides with the NSW Police not issuing infringement notices in order to get the pay rise that they eventually got.
Very selective sampling for the study i suspect.
Oh, very clever bit of observation there!
Re: Secret RTA data confirms no fines for up to 10%+ the limit
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:25 am
by zx-10r
For fixed cameras, well you usually know they are there, so just slow down and then speed up again, pretty simple. If you forget they are there, well if its facing towards you, no probs, if its facing the other way, well shit
You can actually pass a speed camera at high speeds if its dual lane and there is a Truck passing the camera at excactly the right time. This happened to me not long ago, i was also in a hurry
