Despite often being decried as revenue raisers, speed cameras are overwhelmingly effective at reducing dangerous crashes, a NSW government review has found.
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The state government has conducted its first annual review of the effectiveness of speed cameras, finding more than 95 percent of them were having a positive effect on reducing fatal crashes and injuries.
Fatalities fell by 87 percent and crashes fell by 38 percent in the areas around fixed speed cameras, according to a report released today by the NSW Centre for Road Safety.
The review arrived at the figures by examining the number of crashes, fatalities and measured speeds within 500 metres of 97 fixed speed cameras and comparing data from the five years before the cameras were introduced to the most recent five-year period.
In the five years before the cameras were introduced, there were 3959 crashes in the zones around these speed cameras, resulting in 61 fatalities and 2124 injuries.
In the recent five-year period, there were 2451 crashes, resulting in eight fatalities and 1344 injuries. All of the cameras examined in the study were at least five years old.
Marg Prendergast, acting general manager of the NSW Centre for Road Safety, said the report proved cameras were overwhelmingly effective.
"The right camera in the right place can save lives," she said.
However, the report did find five locations where the cameras were not having the desired effect - including one at Hungry Head.
NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said those cameras would be subject to a further review by the Centre for Road Safety and might be removed.
Mr Gay has long been a critic of “revenue raising” cameras but said the study results were encouraging.
"We're determined to ensure speed cameras are only in locations where they have a proven road safety benefit, and that they are not simply there as revenue raisers," he said.
The review follows a report by the NSW Auditor-General last year, which recommended annual audits.
Mr Gay said there were no plans to reduce penalties as the result of the findings, as the penalties were helping achieve the results.
"The fines act as a deterrent and it's an important part of that deterrent ... the loss of points off the licences is another part, [and] getting the message out there," he said.
There are 131 fixed-speed cameras operating at 103 locations across NSW, including one at Urunga that is on a three-strikes before an infringement notice is issued.
