VicPol scraps "super cameras"...

[Trump]

http://www.news.com.au/national/vict...-1227493638938

What a shame

[Franco Cozzo]

I'm getting paywall, can't view link.

[Trump]

From the article that is now behind a paywall (way to go morons):

Originally Posted by Herlad Sun

Victoria Police scraps super camera aimed at nabbing motorists with mobiles, without seatbelts
Keith MoorHerald Sun
Futuristic new traffic cameras to hit our streets

VICTORIA Police has scrapped plans to use futuristic new traffic cameras to nab motorists who text, talk or tweet on mobile phones while driving.

The Ranger camera was also intended to be used to capture people not wearing seatbelts.

Road safety camera commissioner Gordon Lewis yesterday criticised the decision as a “disappointing backward step which will inevitably cost lives”.
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Government figures reveal texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by up to 15 times and that wearing a seatbelt doubles the chances of surviving a serious crash.

Commenting on the Victoria Police decision to abandon the Ranger camera, Mr Lewis said he saw a more expensive and sophisticated vehicle-mounted version of it in action in England last year.

It was able to detect and nab about 60 offending motorists an hour — which is more than the inferior camera used by Victoria Police was able to catch in five months.
Acting Sgt. Kael Oosthuizen and Constable James Smith — with the Ranger video camera — were ready to pull over drivers before the project was pulled. Picture: David Caird.

Mr Lewis made a recommendation to the previous State Government that it buy at least one of the vehicle-mounted cameras for use in Victoria — at a cost of about $25,000 — to crackdown on rampant mobile phone use by motorists.

But his recommendation wasn’t followed and Victoria Police just tested a cheaper tripod-mounted camera.

“The camera car I saw in operation in England was incredibly efficient at capturing motorists using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts and if used in Victoria would be a great deterrent to such dangerous offending,” Mr Lewis told the Herald Sun yesterday.

“Victoria Police never tested the real thing but instead only looked at a less sophisticated camera.

“I remain convinced that the type of camera car being used to great effect in the UK should be bought for use in Victoria.”
English police vehicles fitted with car-mounted cameras.

The camera cars used by police in Manchester, England, can zoom in and snap offending drivers from up to 700m away — long before motorists spot the camera.

But the tripod-mounted camera tested by Victoria Police failed to live up to what it was anticipated it would do, which was enable thousands more motorists to be caught using mobile phones and not wearing seat belts.

A decision has just been made by the force to not add the Ranger to its armoury of traffic offence detectors.
The Ranger system that was propsed for Victoria. Picture: David Caird.

The Herald Sun revealed in April last year that Victoria Police had taken delivery of the Ranger camera technology to test.

Top traffic cop Robert Hill confirmed then it would be used during the Easter blitz.

“We have trained our members and we are now deploying the technology across Victoria,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokesman yesterday said the Ranger technology was tested by the force between April and August last year.

He said it only detected 24 seat belt offences and five mobile phone offences during that time.

“The trial didn’t demonstrate an increase in offence detections compared to existing detection methods,” the spokesman said.

“Similar trials conducted in other states also failed to demonstrate improved offence detection and as a result road policing command will not be investing in the technology.”

Victoria Police caught far fewer motorists for mobile phone offences in 2013/14 than it did in any of the previous four years.
Traffic Camera Commissioner Gordon Lewis

It nabbed 46,386 motorists for using a phone while driving in 2013/14, compared with 59, 355 the previous year and more than 54,000 in each of the three years before that.

The traffic cameras Mr Lewis is recommending for use in Victoria sit on top of extendible poles fitted to the roof of cars.

They are controlled from inside the car by a camera operator who uses a joystick to rotate them through 360 degrees, extend them to a height of 3.6m and zoom in to get close-up views of offending drivers from up to 700m away.

Because the spy cameras are attached to the roof of a car they can be moved and parked just about anywhere.

Mr Lewis witnessed them in operation while attending a UK road safety conference.

In recommending their use in Victoria, Mr Lewis said the UK cameras were a great deterrent to dangerous driver behaviour.

“I believe I speak for the great majority of motorists when I say that road users are utterly intolerant of the menace created by drivers who are either distracted by the use of a mobile phone or, perhaps worse, devoting their attention to texting,” he said.

“I am not alone when I say I am sick and tired of having distracted drivers immobile at green lights in front of me, or threatening to rear-end me, because of lack of attention.”

[csv8]

Great !! less using motorists as de facto tax collectors...get nabbed by a cop in a car or on a bike,,,fair enough..

[csv8]

BigDamo..Paywall is a ripoff..$6 a week for digital only..In Queensland the Brisbane Times is paywall free...

[vztrt]

Obviously there is more money in nabbing people 3kph over....then chasing the monies in carparks at shopping centres.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Well, I'll be the first to put my hand up and say that I think this is not good news. Personally, the (mis)use of phones for texting is one of the greatest scourges on our roads at the moment and anything that can be done to encourage people to do the right thing is a good thing.

I understand the view that "real" policemen pulling over people instead of a camera is the only way to go, but how many people would that police officer be able to pull over in an hour? Nowhere near the 60 people that the camera can supposedly capture! And so, are we saying that it is ok that, say, only 20 people get pulled over and the other 40 are free to go on their way causing havoc?

I also have to say that, in this day and age, I find it hard to believe that people would still put there lives at risk by not wearing a seatbelt

Anyone who gets caught for these offences deserves it, IMHO.

[JC]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Well, I'll be the first to put my hand up and say that I think this is not good news. Personally, the (mis)use of phones for texting is one of the greatest scourges on our roads at the moment and anything that can be done to encourage people to do the right thing is a good thing.

I understand the view that "real" policemen pulling over people instead of a camera is the only way to go, but how many people would that police officer be able to pull over in an hour? Nowhere near the 60 people that the camera can supposedly capture! And so, are we saying that it is ok that, say, only 20 people get pulled over and the other 40 are free to go on their way causing havoc?

I also have to say that, in this day and age, I find it hard to believe that people would still put there lives at risk by not wearing a seatbelt

Anyone who gets caught for these offences deserves it, IMHO.

I'll second that. I agree 100% with you have said.

As far as the Vic Police go, why did they abandon the good technology based on a trial of the cheaper/poorer technology - that's like test driving a Holden and then saying you won't buy a Ford because based on the Holden tests, Australian cars don't perform well enough...

[irish2]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Well, I'll be the first to put my hand up and say that I think this is not good news. Personally, the (mis)use of phones for texting is one of the greatest scourges on our roads at the moment and anything that can be done to encourage people to do the right thing is a good thing.

I understand the view that "real" policemen pulling over people instead of a camera is the only way to go, but how many people would that police officer be able to pull over in an hour? Nowhere near the 60 people that the camera can supposedly capture! And so, are we saying that it is ok that, say, only 20 people get pulled over and the other 40 are free to go on their way causing havoc?

I also have to say that, in this day and age, I find it hard to believe that people would still put there lives at risk by not wearing a seatbelt

Anyone who gets caught for these offences deserves it, IMHO.

You need to re-read the article. The British version captured 60 per hour. The Aussie version didn't get the many over 5 months!


"Commenting on the Victoria Police decision to abandon the Ranger camera, Mr Lewis said he saw a more expensive and sophisticated vehicle-mounted version of it in action in England last year.

It was able to detect and nab about 60 offending motorists an hour — which is more than the inferior camera used by Victoria Police was able to catch in five months."

[Simple6]

The thing I hate reading or hearing is said in this -

The camera cars used by police in Manchester, England, can zoom in and snap offending drivers from up to 700m away — long before motorists spot the camera.

How does that correct behaviour? After all that's the idea right?

So from 700m away you're snapped using your mobile phone, but you don't know it yet. You won't find out for 2,3 or 4 weeks when you get the fine! Therefor the camera did nothing to improve safety at that moment you were distracted on your mobile phone. All it did was cost you money later....

I respect NSW for putting the 3 signs before speed cameras. That's ample warning and slows people down for that section of road that's been deemed dangerous. I know the 'safety' and mobile cameras only give one warning, but it's better than motorists not knowing and having no change in behaviour at that particular time which is deemed dangerous.

[GasoLane]

From the article............
"Victoria Police caught far fewer motorists for mobile phone offences in 2013/14 than it did in any of the previous four years.
Traffic Camera Commissioner Gordon Lewis"

Hmm, could this be because less people are using mobiles whilst driving?

And I noticed that he's a Traffic Camera Commissioner, not Safety Camera Commissioner. Calling it like it is now ?

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by Simple6

. I know the 'safety' and mobile cameras only give one warning, but it's better than motorists not knowing and having no change in behaviour at that particular time which is deemed dangerous.

The mobile cameras have 2 signs before and 1 after. They are also highly reflective. Anyone who gets done, deserves it fully.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by devilcv8

The mobile cameras have 2 signs before and 1 after. They are also highly reflective. Anyone who gets done, deserves it fully.

In NSW they do, but not in QLD. Not sure about other states

[Mowdit]

Originally Posted by Simple6

The thing I hate reading or hearing is said in this -



How does that correct behaviour? After all that's the idea right?

So from 700m away you're snapped using your mobile phone, but you don't know it yet. You won't find out for 2,3 or 4 weeks when you get the fine! Therefor the camera did nothing to improve safety at that moment you were distracted on your mobile phone. All it did was cost you money later....

I respect NSW for putting the 3 signs before speed cameras. That's ample warning and slows people down for that section of road that's been deemed dangerous. I know the 'safety' and mobile cameras only give one warning, but it's better than motorists not knowing and having no change in behaviour at that particular time which is deemed dangerous.

It is hard not to agree
If you are observant enough to see the sign/s and correct the wrong then you are observant enough to avoid most hazards you may encounter.
Having said that, texting and using a hand held phone whilst driving is WRONG !
Often see people texting at the lights, is it dangerous if you're not moving ?

Still the same argument comes around about revenue......
"IF" the GovCo were serious then texting whilst driving would result in crushing of car and castration, but that doesn't put $$$s in their bank

[theunfairadvant]

I wouldn't mind if they buy all the expensive cameras just to catch drivers on the phone or for texting cos they deserve to be booked for using the phone.

If they were to buy the cameras to catch some speeding drivers doing a few kays over the limit then they need to be xxxxxxx instead cos a lot of my friends that i know for more than 20 yrs who are very high up in the force do agreed with me but they have got their own quotas or benchmark so they will have to give someone a ticket regardless.

I remember back in the days when i was driving the leeway way was 15km/h not over and they should bring the leeway back instead rather than just giving someone a ticket for doing a few kays over.