By Casey Neill
The Road Safety Camera Commissioner will check for “a systematic problem” with a Keysborough red light camera following increasing complaints about its accuracy.
John Voyage has called for drivers who’ve complained to the Journal about the camera, which monitors the right turn into Cheltenham Road from Springvale Road, to contact him.
“I will see what I can find in relation to each one,” he said.
“I want to ascertain whether there is a collection of evidence of a systemic problem.”
Most have told the Journal that they entered the intersection when the turning arrow was green or amber, not red.
“The offence is to enter the intersection after the red light has commenced,” Mr Voyage said.
“It is unquestionably totally unacceptable for anyone to be fined when they have not done anything wrong.”
The camera triggered more than 900 infringement notices between April and June this year, the sixth highest in the state.
The Journal published concerns about the camera and light sequence from Lighthouse Christian Church and College Minister and president Richard Warner on 23 September.
“There isn’t enough time to turn right,” he said.
“One more second on the right hand green light is all that is needed to make things reasonable.”
Werner Lieberwirth, a part-pensioner with a clean record on the roads, had a similar experience.
“The arrow was yellow. As we had an extremely slow driver ahead of us, the arrow turned red at the halfway mark,” he said.
Kathy Croft has received two fines.
“I’ve worked in a rehab hospital. We specialise in work care and TAC patients,” she said.
“I know what the long-term results can be for the survivors (of road trauma).
“There’s no way known I’m going to be stupid enough to do that.
“Every time I get in the car I make a point of thinking of one or two patients.”
Ms Croft was sceptical that she’d run the red the first time around, and adamant she didn’t do it on the second occasion.
“I definitely stopped and waited for the next green arrow,” she said.
“While waiting for the lights to go through their cycle I said to my husband ‘they won’t get me this time’.
“I still got another fine.”
She appealed and was told her only option was to go to court.
“We can’t afford it,” she said.
Shadow Roads Minister Ryan Smith said that “with so many allegations of foul play at this intersection, Daniel Andrews needs to make public the review into this camera so motorists can be confident it isn’t simply a government money spinner”.
A State Government spokesperson said all road safety cameras in Victoria were rigorously tested, certified and maintained to ensure their accuracy.
They said Mr Voyage was part of the government’s commitment to making road safety cameras transparent and accountable, and to boost public confidence, and that the Cameras Save Lives website provided detailed information about cameras.
