| RACV challenges fairness of Melbourne's most lucrative red light camera |
The validity of Melbourne's most prolific red light camera has been questioned by the RACV, which fears some motorists are being improperly penalised.
The camera monitors an intersection where the traffic signals disappear from the line of sight of approaching motorists as they close in on the intersection, potentially increasing the risk that drivers will run the red.
The camera, at the corner of Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade in Parkville, has caught more motorists since it was turned on in October 2011 than any other red light camera in Melbourne.
In the four years to October, 28,436 motorists ran the red light while turning right into Royal Parade, being penalised a total $10.04 million in fines, figures from the Department of Justice show.
But the validity of some of those infringement notices is being questioned by Victoria's leading transport group, the RACV following an engineer's review of the busy intersection this week.
The review found multiple problems, chiefly the poor visibility to motorists of the three right-turn signals.
Two overhead arrows at the stop line cannot be seen by motorists from close to the intersection and a third, on the far side of the intersection, is difficult to see clearly.
The RACV has written to VicRoads this week after concerns were raised by a member of the public, calling on the authority to review the operation and design of the signals.
Dave Jones, the RACV's manager of roads and traffic, said the transport group wanted to see an extra traffic light built at the approach to the intersection, potentially in the median strip.
He said the poorly positioned traffic lights were one of three irregularities at the intersection that could contribute to the very high number of red light infringements there.
The right turn arrow has a three-second phase before the amber light turns red, which is standard and is based on a turning speed of 45 km/h. But Mr Jones said the layout of the intersection was such that many motorists could take the turn at higher speeds.
"The broad sweeping curve of the right turn means that turning speeds may be higher than normal," Mr Jones said.
It may be appropriate to extend the amber phase time to reflect this, the RACV argues.
"A review of the timing of the yellow signal phase, between the green and red phases is needed," he said.
Stuart Newstead, associate director of the Monash University Accident Research Centre, said that if there was a flaw with the intersection design that prevented motorists seeing the traffic lights, that was bad for safety and a more serious problem than the potential for motorists to be unfairly fined.
"If people are breaching the signal because they haven't actually seen the signal then that is a problem regardless of whether there is a camera there or not," Associate Professor Newstead said.
He said the traffic signal could be made more visible by installing high-intensity LED bulbs. Almost 60,000 vehicles a day cross the intersection on average, VicRoads data shows.
VicRoads said it had no current plans to review the traffic signals or signage of the intersection. A spokeswoman said there were two displays for right turn traffic on the far side of this intersection.
"Drivers taking a right hand turn should be approaching at an appropriate speed to stop safely if the signal becomes amber," she said.
Amber times at all intersections are guided by the AustRoads Guide to Traffic Management and calculated using the approaching speed limit.
Melbourne's highest infringement red-light camera intersections
2012-13
Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade, Parkville 7526
Dandenong Road and Warrigal Road, Malvern East 4222
Mahoneys Road and High Street, Thomastown 4070
2013-14
Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade, Parkville 7540
Flinders Street and William Street, Melbourne 6172
Springvale Road and Lower Dandenong Road, Braeside 5702
2014-15
Flinders Street and William Street, Melbourne 6899
Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade, Parkville 6229
Springvale Road and Lower Dandenong Road, Braeside 4822
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