School speed cameras are now in use

The fixed digital speed cameras being trialled in two Peninsula school zones started being used to issue infringement notices with fines and demerit points on June 11.

Warning letters have been sent to motorists detected speeding during commissioning and testing.

The cameras, announced last year, have been installed as part of a trial aimed at improving road safety in school zones.

They will operate 24 hours a day, enforcing 40km/h during school zone hours of 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm on school days and 60km/h at other times.

The RTA spokesman said warning letters had been issued because speed cameras in school zones were a new initiative.

"But from June 11, the NSW Police Infringement Processing Bureau began issuing infringement notices to speeding motorists and licence demerit points are being recorded.

"School children are among the most vulnerable road users and the RTA urges all motorists to take extra care and observe the speed limit at all school zones."

The school zone speed cameras are located at Woy Woy Public School in Blackwall Rd and at Woy Woy South Public School in Ocean Beach Rd.

The usual warning signs on the road approaches to the cameras will be supplemented by newspaper advertisements and brochures distributed through the schools.

Shadow Roads Minister Mr Don Page has said that new speed cameras outside schools were being used as Government revenue raisers.

Mr Page said that comments by RTA communications director, Paul Willoughby, that the additional speed cameras were not Government cash cows, flew in the face of an admission by the Premier that the new cameras were being installed specifically to raise money.

"In January this year, Bob Carr announced that 10 new speed cameras across NSW would raise around $11 million over four years from motorists, with revenue directed towards spinal research," Mr Page said.

"There can be no doubt at all that these new speed cameras are being used by the NSW Government as revenue raisers - just ask the Premier.

"On one hand, we have the RTA's chief spin-doctor saying he hopes no one is caught by the speed cameras, and on the other we have the Premier saying that these cameras will be vital in providing $11 million for spinal research.

"Perhaps this is the reason why the Government will not install flashing lights to warn motorists that they are approaching a school zone.

"If the Premier was serious about spinal research, he would fund it from the recurrent budget and, if he was serious about encouraging drivers to slow down outside schools, he would investigate measures such as warning lights outside school zones," Mr Page said.

Both Peninsula school zones with speed cameras are signposted.

Press releases, June 12