Duncan Gay says removing mobile speed camera signs is wrong decision

Former Roads Minister Duncan Gay has delivered a scathing critique of the government’s removal of mobile speed camera warning signs, arguing they save lives.

Former Roads Minister Duncan Gay has delivered a scathing critique of the government’s removal of mobile speed camera warning signs, arguing they save lives.

Mr Gay said he wanted the “wrong decision” to be “revisited” and for signage to be added both before and after the mobile cameras.

“Even with the flashing light … if at that same nano second, this bloke runs into my children or my grandchildren or your friends and family, it’s too late. And that’s why the sign needs to be there before. At least, I would feel we have saved someone lives,” he told a parliamentary inquiry on Monday.

“I would personally like to see one (sign) before and one after (the camera).”

He said he had observed the government may also be removing warning signs ahead of permanent red light safety cameras.

The government is under fire for the removal of warning signs on mobile speed cameras.

Mr Gay was roads Minister between 2011 and 2017 and worked to make warning signs bigger and speed camera vehicles more visible.

“If you head down the track of continuing to remove signs, do we remove those bright warning signs and flashing lights that I put in every school in NSW? … Do we remove the warning of speed on corners?”

The veteran politician said the government had acted in “good faith” but the decision to remove signs went against the research presented to him during his term.

During his evidence, Mr Gay also condemned sneaky police tactics to nab motorists.

“I do have a problem when we still see highway patrol cars back up into trees and hide behind billboards,” he said.

“That’s not the way we should be doing it. We should be out there with a presence to get people to slow down.”

GDuncan Gay has also condemned tactics used by police to nab drivers.

Labor roads spokesman John Graham said Mr Gay’s evidence had been based on “common sense”.

“There is an opportunity now to reach a bipartisan agreement about returning warning signs,” he said.

“That public support has been damaged by the scrapping these warning signs without consultation.”