Tag Archives: road safety

Safety cameras – Combining red-light and speed cameras

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Over the next four years, the RTA is replacing existing red-light cameras with safety cameras at 200 locations across NSW.

In December 2009, the RTA began to combine red-light cameras with fixed speed cameras at 50 locations across the state. The safety camera is capable of detecting speeding vehicles, vehicles running red lights, or both.

No new ‘combined’ offences have been created. Drivers will face a penalty notice and associated demerit points for each offence committed.

Safety cameras are being introduced to make intersections safer and reduce the number of crashes at traffic lights.

According to the RTA, “Evaluations of camera enforcement of red-light offences conducted in Australia and overseas have shown this type of enforcement is clearly effective in reducing casualty crashes at intersections. When the evaluations were considered together it is estimated that camera enforcement of red-light offences reduces the number of casualty crashes at intersections by around 30 per cent.”

Intersections with safety cameras will be signposted accordingly. However, motorists need to be aware that there is only one sign warning of the new safety camera, unlike existing fixed speed cameras which have three warning signs in advance.

For more information, please visit the RTA’s Safety camera page.

Will safety cameras reduce the number of crashes at intersections? Will they make you slow down?

Road rules for pedestrians

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The road isn’t only for motorists and cyclists - it’s for pedestrians too. As with cars, there are a number of rules, some better known than others, that govern how pedestrians use the road - as well as fines for breaking them.

Fatal crashes on NSW roads are up this year compared to the same period last year, as is the number of pedestrians killed. There have been 56 pedestrian fatalities so far this year. In the same period in 2008, 38 pedestrians were killed.

Part 14 of Road Rules 2008 covers pedestrians. Some of the key rules in this section are:

230  Crossing a road – general

  1. A pedestrian crossing a road:
    (a)  must cross by the shortest safe route, and
    (b)  must not stay on the road longer than necessary to cross the road safely.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

236  Pedestrians not to cause a traffic hazard or obstruction

  1. A pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver.
    Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
  2. A pedestrian must not unreasonably obstruct the path of any driver or another pedestrian.

238  Pedestrians travelling along a road (except in or on a wheeled recreational device or toy)

  1. A pedestrian must not travel along a road if there is a footpath or nature strip adjacent to the road, unless it is impracticable to travel on the footpath or nature strip.

Read the full Rules for pedestrians.

Most of the Rules for pedestrians are taught to us as children. However, pedestrian deaths continue to be significant. As the road is a shared zone, it is important that all users respect and adhere to the rules to make it the safe place that it can be.

Has pedestrian education fallen by the wayside? Should the rules for pedestrians be better policed?

Using GPS while driving

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As the number of cars with GPS systems increase, NRMA’s Motoring Advice team have received many enquiries from drivers uncertain about the legality of fixing them to their windscreens and using them while driving.

There is no specific provision under the Road Rules which prohibits the affixing of GPS units to a vehicle.

Road Rule 297 (2) states: “A driver must not drive a motor vehicle unless the driver has a clear view of the road, and traffic, ahead, behind and to the side of the driver.”

This rule makes no reference to the type or description of the object that may constitute a breach of the rule. In other words, this is a general rule where a driver may be held to be in breach of it, if the evidence establishes the placement of an object deprives the driver of a motor vehicle from having a clear view of the road and traffic.

There is also a rule, which in certain circumstances permits a driver to drive a motor vehicle with a visual display unit if it is, or is part of, a driver’s aid. A ‘driver’s aid’ is navigational or intelligent highway and vehicle system equipment, which could be a GPS. The rule does not state where on the vehicle it is to be fitted.

Therefore, should a driver’s aid, such as a GPS unit fitted on the vehicle, deprive the driver of a clear view of the road and traffic ahead, behind and to each side of the vehicle, the driver may be fined or prosecuted for breaching this rule.

Have you found your GPS restricts your vision when driving? Are they safe to operate while driving or should there be stricter laws governing their use?

School zones – have your say

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NRMA President Wendy Machin recently commented on the importance of flashing lights in school zones to indicate when they are in operation.

“Children’s safety is paramount – drivers’ awareness needs to be drawn to the presence of school children and that’s what flashing lights achieve,” she said.

However, the NRMA has concerns about the rate flashing lights are being rolled out.

A study conducted by the RTA in 2006 “indicated that flashing lights were effective in reducing vehicle speed outside schools during the operation of the 40 km/h school speed zone.”

In spite of this, only 10 per cent NSW’s 3,100 schools have flashing lights, with 100 sets per year being scheduled for installation over the next four years.

School zones were introduced to NSW in December 2002 to reduce the chance of fatalities in school areas. They ensure that motorists slow down to 40km/h during times when children are on the way to and from school.

The problem with this is that it can be unclear to motorists when school zones are in operation. School Zones come into effect only on school days. Therefore, during school and public holidays the school zones do not operate. This can be confusing to anybody who does not have kids – although it’s not an excuse if you get caught speeding.

For more information, visit the RTA School Zones page.

Have you found School Zones easier to identify when they have flashing lights? Is there more that could be done to improve the way School Zones work?

No more ‘No standing’

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As of 1 December 2008 the ‘No standing’ rule, NSW road rule no. 167.1, will be abolished.

From this date on, all ‘No standing’ areas will become ‘No stopping’ areas. Even in instances where the sign has not yet been changed, the rules for ‘No stopping’ apply and a $189 fine will be incurred for any violation. If, however, you stop in a ‘No Stopping’ zone that is in an operating school zone the fine is $243 and 2 demerit points.

This brings NSW into line with the Australian Road Rules, which does not list a corresponding rule.

The ‘No standing’ rule allowed drivers to stop on a length of road where there was a ‘No standing’ sign for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers.

One of the reasons for this rule ceasing to be is the ambiguity of the word ‘standing’. Despite being explained in the NSW Road Rules, the term a ‘No standing’ is not self-explanatory and not clearly different to ‘No stopping’. And how long does it take to pick up or drop off the kids?

With ‘No standing’ areas turning into ‘No stopping’ areas, it is important to keep the following in mind:

• ’No parking’ and ‘Loading zone’ rules remain unchanged.
• No stopping:  you may not stop your vehicle for any reason.
• No parking: 
     o you may not stop for longer than 2 minutes and
     o  you canonly to drop off or pick up passengers or goods (i.e. you must remain within 3 metres of your vehicle).

Does abolishing the ‘No standing sign’ rule make life on the road easier? Or do drivers simply need to be better educated about the road rules?