Drivers in tweed Head are being put on notice that there are two new red-light speed cameras installed in the shire.
The idea of the new cameras is to improve safety for all road users.
Executive Director of the Centre for Road Safety Bernard Carlon said a new camera will target red-light running and speeding at the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway southbound and Cordyline Drive in Tweed Heads West from Friday 6 December.
Another camera has been installed at the intersection of South Minjungbal Drive and Rivendell Drive in Tweed Heads South
‘We know that running red lights can lead to serious T-bone crashes or vehicles crashing into pedestrians,’ said Mr Carlon.
‘Around 60 per cent of red-light speed camera offences are from people running red lights so we are addressing this problem head-on.
Mr Carlon said the Gold Coast Highway provides access to Queensland and is a popular route for locals and tourists. ‘It is an important connection for the far north coast to Ballina and further south.’
In the five years from 2014 to 2018, 18 recorded crashes occurred at this intersection with 20 people injured, including five seriously.
‘Road crashes claimed the lives of 347 people on NSW roads last year with speed the biggest killer and these red light speed cameras will help to reduce risk in Tweed Heads West,’ said Mr Carlon.
‘The 2018 NSW speed camera review found fatal and serious injury crashes fell by more than a third at red-light speed camera locations, and pedestrian casualties fell by nearly half.’
The new camera will operate in warning mode for one month during which time drivers caught speeding or running red lights will be sent a warning letter to encourage them to change their behaviour. Fines and demerit points will be sent to offending drivers at the end of this period.
Fines from red-light speed cameras go directly into the Community Road Safety Fund to deliver targeted road safety initiatives in NSW.
To sign up for alerts to changes in camera locations, visit www.saferroadsnsw.com.au.
Good work. Tweed is the most dangerous place to drive in this region – a mix of young hoons and aggro drivers in a hurry along with pensioners who should have handed in their licences years ago. And Queenslanders! Hardly anyone indicates properly using roundabouts. I dread having to go there.