On Wednesday last week, Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells announced the start of the Speed Camera Urban Myths campaign.

“Speed cameras save lives and make Victorian roads safer,” he said. 

“A common urban myth is that speed cameras exist solely to raise revenue for government.”

He said independent research proved the value of safety cameras.

“The Monash University Accident Research Centre has found that death and serious injury is reduced by, on average, 47 per cent at intersections where a speed camera is present,” Mr Wells said.

“There is no doubt that speed cameras have contributed to slashing the road toll from more than 1000 in the 1970s to 242 people last year.”

The Victorian Auditor-General also found in 2011 that speed cameras were focused on improving road safety outcomes, not raising revenue.

“All revenue from speed camera fines goes directly back into road safety initiatives through the Better Roads Trust,” Mr Wells said.

From July 2006 to September last year, more than 99 per cent of vehicles passing fixed cameras, and more than 98 per cent of vehicles passing mobile cameras, were classed as compliant.

The State Government defined compliant as driving within specified speed limits, obeying traffic signals and driving a registered vehicle.

Speed cameras are integral to the State Government’s goal to reduce death and serious injury on Victorian roads by 30 per cent by 2022.

Mr Wells said he hoped radio, cinema, digital and billboard advertisements would also bolster the message.

“This advertising campaign will target young drivers, especially at-risk 18 to 25 year old men, who are over-represented in the number of recorded deaths and serious injuries on our roads,” he said.

“Tragically in 2013, 18 per cent of drivers killed were aged between 18 and 25.”

The campaign website http://www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au says speed is a factor in 30 per cent of road deaths.

Fines issued by speed cameras are equivalent to eight per cent of the cost of road trauma.

Speed-related road trauma costs Victoria about $1 billion a year.

Mr Wells said people who chose to continue to break the law by speeding would be fined.