Heads roll after Victorian drivers avoid 700,000 fines
“Significant changes” have been made to the team managing Victoria’s traffic cameras after the Herald Sun revealed rogue drivers have avoided a whopping 700,000 speeding and red light fines.
Heads have rolled over the management of Victoria’s speed and red light cameras.
The Herald Sun on Tuesday revealed drivers had avoided 700,000 fines because cameras were switched off — some for roadworks completed more than 2 ½ years ago.’
It has sparked safety concerns and likely cost millions of dollars.
Police Minister Lisa Neville, who had Victoria’s Road Safety Camera Commissioner look into the problem, revealed she had already made changes to the team charged with managing the cameras.
These were made after the WannaCry ransomware attack, which downed cameras in June 2017.
“It became clear to me that we didn’t have the right people doing the job,’’ Ms Neville said.
“I’ve already made significant changes to the team that manage the camera arrangements in Victoria and they’re putting in place these recommendations and other changes that we need to make sure that we have the most robust system.”
Ms Neville said some fixed speed and red light cameras had been off for “way too long” and would not allow a system where cameras deactivated for roadworks were left off long after construction was complete.
“This was of concern to me,’’ she said.
“The biggest issue is the issue of roadworks.
“Those cameras are there to save lives and I want to make sure that we’re using them in the best possible way as often as we can.
“This is not about revenue raising. “We know these cameras save lives. We know that they work. We know if people think they’re going to get caught they will change their behaviour so we need them operating as best as possible.”
