Petersham red light camera snaps $1million in fines as mobile speed cameras redeployed across the Inner West

FIND out where Sydney’s million-dollar red-light camera is catching out thousands of motorists a year.

The red light speed camera where unsuspecting motorists are snapped.

IT’S the million-dollar red-light camera catching out thousands of motorists a year.

New data has revealed the fixed red light camera at Petersham’s Gordon St-Canterbury West Rd intersection generated $1,000,875 in fines in 2015-16 – more than any other camera in Sydney’s inner west.

A total of 2099 red light dodgers were nabbed during the 12-month period to the end of June, copping an average fine of $477.

The dubious honour comes as no surprise to Petersham Local Barbershop owner, Ahed Nasr, who believes the phasing of the traffic lights is too short.

“The lights change from green to red to green too fast and it catches people,” Mr Nasar said.

The fixed red light camera is one of 17 installed in the inner west that detected more than 13,200 motorists over the period.

The cameras generated $6,202,325 in penalties – an 11 per cent increase on 2014-15.

Petersham resident Tony Rosedale said he had witnessed several “near-misses” at the Gordon St intersection and believes the signed camera is failing to slow traffic down.

“You see lots of kids crossing the road, especially in the morning – the cars don’t stop,” Mr Rosedale said.

“I think people get frustrated – they want to get where they’re going and when they see a red light they make a run for it.”

Five mobile speed cameras have been redeployed from Parramatta Rd.

Other top grossing cameras included City West Link at Leichhardt that hit 1767 motorists with $856,375.

The dual camera, which also detects speeding drivers, raked in a further $165,039 in speeding ­infringements

Rounding out the top five was Burwood Rd at Belfield ($562,275), Fairlight St at Five Dock ($512,125) and Dobroyd Pde at Haberfield ($475,875).

Four cameras on Parramatta Rd also raked in a combined $1,272,325. Fine revenue goes to the Community Road Safety Fund.

NRMA local director Tim Trumper doubted the effectiveness of fixed cameras in improving road safety.

“While cameras do play a role, research tells us that highway patrols are the best way to change driver behaviour,” Mr Trumper said.

“If the cameras don’t prove to be effective in improving safety, then the NRMA believes they should be removed.”

Mobile speed cameras switched to new locations

MOBILE speed cameras have been removed from Parramatta Rd after a review found the road is no longer a “high priority” location.

The review by the NSW Centre for Road Safety has resulted in the five vehicle-mounted cameras switched off and deployed to other areas of the state.

NSW Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said the cameras would be used to target other speeding hot spots and were removed due to parking and signage issues on Parramatta Rd.

New locations to be targeted include the Princes Hwy at Tempe and Arncliffe, Rawson St and Cumberland Rd at Auburn, and Cosgrove Rd at Strathfield South.

Political lines drawn on ‘speed traps’

Opposition spokeswoman for Roads Jodi McKay accused the State Government of “quietly announcing” the new locations on an “obscure subsection” of the Centre for Road Safety’s website.

“Motorists have received no warning of the new speed traps,” Ms McKay said.

“There has been a massive increase in revenue generating by speed cameras and it comes as the NSW road toll is increasing.

“It shouldn’t be about revenue raising, it should be about transparency.”

More than 23,100 speeding infringements were issued from fixed cameras in the inner west in 2015-16, generating $4.4 million in fines.

Ms McKay will table a motion in NSW Parliament this week asking for an update on the State Government’s investment to road safety.

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said $309 million has been allocated to road safety in 2016-17 with programs including road improvements, education and boosting police enforcement.

NRMA President Kyle Loades said the NRMA has called for driver training courses for low level speeding offences as an alternative for fines or the accumulation of demerit points.

Mr Loades said a sharp increase in fatalities in 2016 meant “it was more important than ever to tackle driver education”.

“The course would only be available to drivers once every three years,” he said.

“Speed awareness courses would not only address driver attitudes but also provide drivers with the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of road rules.”

Speed camera hot spots in the inner west.

Top five fixed camera hot spots

Fixed red light cameras

Gordon St, Petersham South — $1,000,875

City West Link, Leichhardt — $856,375

Fairlight St, Five Dock — $512,125

Dobroyd Pde, Haberfield — $475,875

Parramatta Rd, Petersham — $455,600

Fixed speeding cameras

Parramatta Rd, Haberfield – $640,231

Victoria Rd, Rozelle – $573,137

Dobroyd Pde, Haberfield – $525,451

Concord Rd (Westbound) – $548,271

Parramatta Rd, Five Dock – $200,277

Figures based on Office of State Revenue statistics for 2015/16.