Speed cameras on South Eastern Freeway get turned on Monday

POLICE will flick the switch on the biggest revenue-raising speed cameras in the state on Monday.

POLICE will flick the switch on the biggest revenue-raising speed cameras in the state on Monday.

The two fixed cameras, the first in the state capable of operating in a variable speed environment, are located on the South Eastern Freeway and are expected to generate almost $3 million a year in fines, according to police.

One camera is adjacent to the Crafers on-ramp at Crafers West and the second is at the Mount Osmond Overpass at Leawood Gardens.

Police have budgeted for more than $8 million in revenue to be raised by the two cameras in their first three full years of operation.

They forecast more than $1.6 million will be raised before the end of this financial year.

Road Safety Minister Michael O'Brien said the cameras would be able to respond to any changes in the variable speed limits on the South Eastern Freeway, capturing vehicles that exceed the posted speed limit in any lane at any given time.

"This technology can also identify specific vehicle types and their relevant speed," he said.

"For example, on the freeway all trucks are required to select the appropriate gear to safely descend and all trucks with five or more axles must travel with a maximum speed of 60km/h, unless a lower limit of 40 or 25 applies in specific circumstances.

"These new safety cameras will distinguish a heavy vehicle from a normal car and catch any trucks with five or more axles travelling faster than 60km/h and putting other road users at risk.

"They will also be able to catch road users speeding on the freeway during periods when the speed limit is lowered on electronic speed signs due to changed conditions - such as low visibility due to fog ... or when there are other hazards on the road.

"Latest Transport Department figures show there have been two fatal, three serious and 17 minor injury crashes on the down track of the freeway between the Verdun interchange and Cross Rds intersection this year.

A seven-day survey by the department last month caught more than one in 10 vehicles driving down the freeway at least 5km/h over the 100km/h limit.

Of the 166,934 cars caught by the survey camera, which is on the city side of the Heysen Tunnels, more than 18,300 were breaking the law.

This included 3339 who were travelling 10km/h in excess of the speed limit.

Police estimates of vehicles which will be caught on the speed cameras are significantly lower than those caught by the survey camera.

The cameras are among 30 extra speed cameras introduced on South Australian state roads since last year.

The two new freeway cameras - costing a total of $620,000 - were originally installed in August 2011 to catch heavy vehicles breaking the 60km/h limit between Crafers and the city.

The reduced speed limit was introduced after two fatalities involving heavy vehicles in 2010.

In the past two years, the cameras have been reconfigured to detect semi-trailers exceeding 60km/h, vehicles exceeding 100km/h, and vehicles exceeding reduced speed limits for road work or weather conditions.

Mr O'Brien said 'all revenue from anti-speeding devices was returned to road safety through the Community Road Safety Fund.''