It would be more believable that the Government's speed camera strategy was about people's safety if the cameras were placed at historically tragic "black spots" on our highways instead of just on the edge of towns, the bottom of a hill or some other revenue raising "exceed speed limit by not more than 15 kp/h whilst driving a motor vehicle" trap. $127.00 thanks very much.

Consider this...When you're driving along the road and you see memorial crosses and flowers at the site of an obviously tragic accident. Do you see a stationary or mobile speed camera at or near the site? I never have but perhaps you have? More than anything else knowing that someone died there reminds me to be careful.

Please accept my condolences for the loss of your family and friends and thankYOU for putting the memorials on the sides of the roads and for the reminder that gives me to drive safely. NOT the Government, the Minister for Roads, the Roads and Traffic Authority or speed cameras.

I think about the people that died there and I feel angry at the bullshit that is the Government's Minister for Roads and the Roads and Traffic Authority's placement of stationary or mobile speed cameras.

If they were sincere about reducing the road toll they would put the speed cameras where the accidents happen. Or highway patrol cars out in the open for all to see. That would show some common sense and real concern for drivers their passengers and the road death toll. Politicians that did that would be worth a vote of confidence.

Flashing lights are a great idea especially at school crossings. An overpass would be an even better and more practical solution for the safety of our child and adult pedestrians. It is about safety isn't it?

Just have a look at the large amounts of money that are given to other countries for one reason or another. Compare the comparatively small amount of money it would cost the Government to build overpasses to make our pedestrians safer. Especially at crossings that have a history of being dangerous.

It is about safety isn't it?

Or is it about leaving school crossings and the like in a state of chaotic danger. Where human emotions and stress run high. Children and parents trying to cross the road. Drivers trying to get to their destinations.

Like true predators the Governmental Revenue Raising speed cameras are profiting from the chaos. A huge vote of confidence from the community would go to the Politicians who genuinely had the interests of the people at heart and the courage to "rise above the situation" by building overpasses.

Everyday Australians are seeing themselves targeted by the Australian Government's "Infringement Mania" and "Revenue Raising" strategies and made to feel like criminals.

They feel like they are being preyed upon and see this as a deliberate attempt to trap drivers when they're most vulnerable and use them as "cash cows" in the Government's crass Revenue Raising strategy.

You are at your most vulnerable when :-
1. You are driving on a road that you haven't been on for some time. Because where you remember the road speed as being 100 or 110 kph it is now 90 kph, 80 kph or perhaps even less.

2. Although you've always driven to road conditions the new embarrassingly chaotic, impractical and incomprehensibly inconsistent speed zones now make that no longer feasible on roads that you've never been on before.

3. In many areas there is a problem of speed sign pollution. There are that many signs that drivers are numbing out and not noticing when the speed zone has changed. In these days of caring for our environment speed sign pollution has made some areas quite ugly an uninviting.

4. By the time you've gotten to the bottom of a hill it's most likely that you're vehicle would have increased in speed - especially if the vehicle behind you has been pushing you. Watch out, it's a typical spot for a speed camera.

5. You're leaving a town and getting ready to go to highway speed, if you look to your right or left you may see a radar vehicle just waiting for you to help with one of the Government's revenue raising strategies. You're still vulnerable. Wait until you are actually inside the highway speed zone before increasing your speed.

6. During a long weekend or other holiday period the 80 and 90 kph speed zones seem to attract the mobile radar vehicles. By not noticing that the speed zone has changed you could end up being used as a "cash cow" and have your license suspended as well - it depends how far over the speed limit you were at the time.
I find that where possible having someone else in your vehicle acting as a "Cockatoo Lookout" for changed speed zones works well. Especially when driving to road conditions along unfamiliar roads and areas of speed sign pollution.

7. There are no warnings that speed cameras operate in the area and you don't know where the hidden and hard to see speed cameras are.

8. You don't know the tactics used by the local speed trap operators.

9. Driving in any of Australia's major cities. The Governmental "revenue raising" hand will make a grab for you anywhere and anytime. You can only do your best to spot the changed speed zones and speed cameras. Again, where possible having someone else in your vehicle acting as a "Cockatoo Lookout" for changed speed zones works well.

10. You are in a hurry to get to your destination. When you are focused and determined to get there your "tunnel vision" could cause you to not notice the change in speed zones. The Government's banking on it.

Remember, the Police are just doing their job - it's the Politicians that are making the dumb laws that are hurting Australians.

BUT, if you are mistreated by a Police Officer. Remember Australia is a Democracy and you have the right to report the matter to the Local Member of Parliament for the area that you were in at the time. They seem keen to have any complaints against the Police put through the proper channels and investigated - don't be bullied.

All the information you'll need is on your Radar/Lidar Penalty Notice. i.e. The date, time, location, penalty notice number and the Officer's signature.

To be fair, if you are impressed by the good behaviour of a Policeman or Woman why not tell the Local Member or an Officer at the Police Station?
Acknowledging good Police officers can only be a good thing.

And if you see someone driving in an undeniably dangerous manner, no matter what speed they are doing. Remember their number plate and a description of their car and report them to Crime Stoppers from anywhere in Australia. You could help prevent innocent people from being injured or killed.