By Laura Wakely
A RED-LIGHT camera at Kings Rd and the Melton Highway in Taylors Lakes will be reactivated by the State Government.
The camera is one of 32 that Police Minister Peter Ryan will reactivate after they were installed over a year ago.
Mr Ryan said the government had refused to activate the cameras until the Auditor-General “validated” the road safety camera program in Victoria.
“This exhaustive report, recently tabled in Parliament, found Victoria’s road safety cameras were focussed on road safety, not raising revenue, and that cameras save lives,” Mr Ryan said.
“Given that ringing endorsement I have now authorised the activation of these 32 cameras, which will be phased in on a weekly basis over the coming months.”
Mr Ryan said the activation would be timely as October was the “worst month” on Victorian roads last year with 36 fatalities.
“Speed is responsible for about a third of all deaths on our roads and if these cameras slow speeding motorists down, they will save lives,” he said.
Mr Ryan said a number of cameras would be switched on each week and details of their locations would be published on www.camerassavelives.vic.gov.au
The website also reveals the location of other fixed cameras, including Ballarat Rd and Duke St in Sunshine and the four cameras along the Western Ring Rd at the entrance and exit of Ballarat Rd, Keilor Park Dr and Fullarton Rd.
Mobile speed cameras were also stationed at Kings Rd in Delahey; the Princes Highway in Hillside; Old Calder Highway in Keilor; Lady Nelson Way in Keilor Downs; Buckley St and Milleara Rd in Keilor East; Fosters Rd in Keilor Park; and Arthur St, Furlong Rd, Main Rd West, St Albans Rd and Willaton St in St Albans, from Monday 3 October to Sunday 9 October.
VicRoads Western Projects director John Moylan said there had been 10 casualty crashes, including six serious injury crashes, at the intersection of Kings Rd and the Melton Highway in the five year period to 30 June this year.
He said VicRoads was also upgrading the intersection as part of the Kings Rd duplication project to cater for the extra traffic expected to be accessing the Calder Freeway.
The project will be completed mid-next year.
