Queensland Police Service

6.6 Speed cameras

6.6.1 Responsibility for speed camera site assessment

POLICY

Regional traffic coordinators are responsible for assessing and monitoring the suitability of speed camera sites. Regional traffic coordinators may delegate assessing and monitoring tasks to suitably experienced speed camera operators within the region.

6.6.2 Responsibility for speed camera site approval

Following the assessment of sites as being suitable for speed camera operations, Speed Management Advisory Committees are responsible for granting approval for the sites to be made available for operations.

POLICY

Regional traffic coordinators are to coordinate the site assessment process within their respective region.

6.6.3 Speed limit review

POLICY

Prior to any site being approved as a speed camera site, the relevant location is to be the subject of a speed limit review except for proposed sites located in speed zones with a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h or greater. This review will be carried out by the Department of Main Roads, or where appropriate, the local government authority. Speed limit reviews may be either full reviews or desktop reviews and are generally valid for a period of about five years unless there has been a change in the function or environment of the road.

Speed Management Advisory Committees are to be satisfied that any proposed speed camera site submitted for approval has been the subject of a speed limit review where necessary. Advice that speed limit reviews have been completed on all sites approved by the Committee is to be provided to the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office, at the time a request is made by the Regional Traffic Coordinator to activate an approved site on the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System.

Where a speed limit review has been carried out on a road and the speed limit is subsequently reduced, speed camera operations are not to be undertaken for a period of twenty-eight days after the new speed limit takes effect.

Speed cameras are not to be operated in speed zones with a maximum speed limit of less than 60 km/h.

6.6.4 Site selection - primary criteria

POLICY

The primary criteria establishing speed camera sites is based on Queensland Transport's analysis of the road crash database. Speed related crashes of all severities or serious non-intersection casualty crashes are considered. Maps displaying the location of these crashes are produced by Queensland Transport, with a number of crashes grouped together within a zone. Each zone is given a unique reference number. Speed camera sites may be established on any road within the zone and are not to be established outside the zone.

6.6.5 Site selection - secondary criteria

POLICY

Secondary criteria for establishing a speed camera site include:

(i) validated public complaints concerning speeding vehicles;

(ii) stakeholder knowledge of problems; and

(iii) roadwork sites.

See also ss. 6.7: 'Site selection resulting from public complaints and stakeholder concerns (speed cameras)' and 6.8: 'Site selection for roadworks (speed cameras)' of this chapter.

6.6.6 Site selection - procedures

POLICY

A need to establish speed camera sites may be triggered by:

(i) analysis by Queensland Transport of road crash data;

(ii) receipt of complaints concerning speeding vehicles;

(iii) stakeholder knowledge of problem locations; or

(iv) need to encourage compliance with speed limits at roadworks.

Officers delegated the task by a regional traffic coordinator are to undertake assessments of possible speed camera sites. Factors to be taken into account by the officer include:

(i) speed camera manufacturers' requirements;

(ii) Australian Standard 2898.2 (as in force at the time);

(iii) Queensland Police Service speed detection policies;

(iv) workplace health and safety considerations, for both speed camera operators and the community; and

(v) the considerations listed in s. 6.6.7: 'Site assessment considerations' of this chapter.

If a site is determined suitable for operations, the officer is to complete a QP502 'Speed Camera Site Assessment Checklist' for the site (available through the QPS forms package). The officer is to also record a description of the site on an Appendix A 'Speed camera site description table' (Appendix A 'Speed camera site description table' is the appendix to Forms QP473, QP474, QP475 and QP476 'Speed Camera Sites' available on the QPS forms package).

When finalising site assessment activities, the officer is to submit this documentation in accordance with local procedures to cause the possible sites to be considered for approval by the relevant Speed Management Advisory Committee. The officer chairing the relevant committee is to record voting results, including which organisations voted for and against each particular nominated site and reasons why sites were rejected. It may be possible for further research to be conducted on rejected sites with a view to convincing dissenting organisations to change their position at future Speed Management Advisory Committee meetings.

6.6.7 Site assessment considerations

POLICY

All proposed speed camera sites must be assessed through application of a consistent, credible framework. Operational performance can be enhanced by ensuring that initial site assessments focus on reducing the potential for deployments to be voided for technical or poor public perception reasons. The following factors are highlighted to provide guidance to personnel undertaking site assessments:

(i) potential of the radar beam to be reflected by stationary objects which may lead to incorrect target identification. Objects may be inclusive of:

(a) parked vehicles;

(b) signs (particularly centre island-mounted 'Keep Left' or 'No U-turn' signs);

(c) reinforced concrete walls or similar objects;

(d) solid metal objects or railings;

(e) overhead bridges; and

(f) other reflective surfaces; (e.g. advertising hoardings, sheds and phone boxes);

(ii) moving objects (other than target vehicles) within the detection area, negotiating:

(a) intersections;

(b) frequently used driveways;

(c) turning lanes;

(d) service roads;

(e) slip lanes;

(f) on/off ramps;

(g) overhead bridges;

(h) railway lines; and

(i) aircraft runways;

(iii) ability for speed camera operators to comply with policy regarding night-time flash placement;

(iv) road alignment and the ability of speed camera operators to comply with s. 2.4.7 of AS2898.2 - 2003 and the relevant manufacturer's guidelines in respect to ensuring the radar beam is correctly related to the flow of traffic; and

(v) deployment of speed cameras on private roads or in private property. Sites that require the deployment of speed cameras on private property are not to be considered unless prior consent is obtained from the owner of that property. Where possible, that consent should be obtained in writing and forwarded to the Traffic Camera Office with the site approval documentation.

6.6.8 Notification of speed camera site approvals

POLICY

At the conclusion of the approval process, the chair of the Speed Management Advisory Committee is to cause the relevant regional traffic coordinator to be supplied with the:

(i) advice concerning the approval or otherwise of the possible speed camera sites;

(ii) relevant QP502 'Speed Camera Site Assessment Checklists' (available on the QPS forms package);

(iii) Appendix A 'Speed camera site description';

(iv) a floppy disk containing the table outlined in Appendix A 'Speed camera site description table'; and

(v) in the case of sites identified through crash data analysis, zonal maps produced by Queensland Transport, including any modifications which might be necessary

The regional traffic coordinator is responsible for providing to the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office, the required information using the reports provided in the QPS forms package:

(i) QP473 'Speed camera sites - Complaints';

(ii) QP474 'Speed camera sites - Crash data';

(iii) QP475 'Speed camera sites - Stakeholder'; or

(iv) QP476 'Speed camera sites - Roadworks'.

Should the information not be provided in the required form, the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office, will return the file for the defects to be corrected.

Any zonal maps used to identify the location of sites as a result of crash data analysis are also to be returned to the Traffic Camera Office at this time.

6.6.9 Activation of approved speed camera sites

POLICY

Upon receipt of full particulars outlined in s. 6.6.8 of this chapter, the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office, will:

(i) cause details of the approved sites to be entered into the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System; and

(ii) update the Traffic Camera Coding Manual.

6.6.10 Deactivation of speed camera sites

Changes may occur at approved speed camera sites which may affect the site's suitability for operations. Should this be identified and validated, such sites may be deactivated from the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System either permanently or temporarily, depending on the nature of the underlying issues involved.

POLICY

Officers identifying active speed camera sites which may no longer be suitable for operations should advise their regional traffic coordinator. Regional traffic coordinators are responsible for:

(i) ensuring that the continued suitability of such sites is assessed; and

(ii) notifying the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office where active sites are no longer suitable for operations.

Site administrators at the Traffic Camera Office should deactivate sites in response to written requests from regional traffic coordinators for sites to be deactivated for valid reasons.

6.6.11 Modification of descriptors for approved speed camera sites

Following approval and activation of speed camera sites, it may, for the purposes of clarity or for other operational reasons, be necessary to modify or adjust a site's secondary descriptor or other details.

POLICY

Officers responsible for the selection of a site for the operation of a speed detection device should provide written advice to their regional traffic coordinator if it appears to the officer that modifications or adjustments to a site's secondary descriptor or other details are necessary.

Regional traffic coordinators who decide that it is appropriate to modify or adjust a site's secondary descriptor or other details should forward written advice of the necessary modification or adjustment to the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office.

It is appropriate to modify or adjust a site's secondary descriptor or other details if such modification or adjustment does not:

(i) substantially change the position of the approved speed camera site; and

(ii) create the potential for the speed camera to be operated on a different road, suburb or Magistrates Court District.

Should the proposed amendments not comply with (i) and (ii) above, the new site will require approval from the Speed Management Advisory Committee prior to activation.

6.6.12 Random computerised scheduling of speed camera operations

POLICY

Officers directed to operate a speed camera during a particular shift are to obtain from the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System a random selection of three approved speed camera sites within their area of policing operations prior to deployment. The officer is to make an assessment of the sites and choose the site or sites for speed camera deployment for that shift.

Officers are to record within the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System the reason a site or sites scheduled for operation were not attended. In addition, officers are to record other particulars within the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System as required by the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office.

Officers may 'add a site' to those selected by the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System. This option is available only for exceptional circumstances such as special events (shows, rodeos, functions, etc.) which may require speed camera duty, or to address specific complaints (high risk at roadwork sites etc.). Officers who elect to 'add a site' to the scheduling system for speed camera duty are to only add a site which is an approved speed camera site.

Inability to generate a speed camera schedule

Officers who are unable to generate a speed camera schedule for technical reasons, e.g. the Bulletin Board being inoperable, may use their discretion and deploy a speed camera at a currently active, approved speed camera site. Officers are not to operate a speed camera at any site which is not recorded as being currently active, as recorded by the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System.

Officers who are unable to generate or finalise a speed camera schedule as a result of technical reasons are to note their deployment log as such and transmit, by facsimile, a copy of that log to the Site Administrator, Traffic Camera Office (see Contact Directory) who will create and finalise a speed camera schedule for that deployment on their behalf.

Inability to deploy a speed camera

Where a speed camera cannot be deployed, for example, equipment failure or any other extraordinary reason, the officer in charge of the station or establishment to which the speed camera is assigned at the relevant time is to ensure that a speed camera schedule is generated and immediately finalised outlining the reasons why the speed camera could not be deployed on that day.

6.6.13 Restrictions on speed camera positioning

POLICY

The speed camera is to be deployed at the approved speed camera site within the parameters of the descriptor of the approved speed camera site chosen for operations, as produced by the Traffic Scheduling and Reporting System.

When selecting a position at which to deploy a speed camera at an approved speed camera site whose descriptor has wide parameters, officers are to take into consideration the restrictions outlined in s. 6.5.2: 'Restrictions on speed detection device site locations (restricted site locations)' of this chapter.

6.6.14 Responsibility of authorised speed camera operators

POLICY

Officers are not to operate speed cameras unless they are authorised speed camera operators and have been issued a personal four digit operator's code.

When deploying a speed camera for operation, authorised operators are to comply with:

(i) the provisions of Australian Standard 2898.2 (as in force at the time);

(ii) the provisions of the QPS Speed Management Training Manual;

(iii) the provisions of the QPS Speed Camera (Gatso Type 24) Operations Guide;

(iv) the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Act;

(v) any instructions outlined by the manufacturer of the speed camera; and

(vi) any instructions issued under the authority of the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office.

When selecting the position for speed camera operations, authorised operators are to take into consideration the following:

(i) the parking of any vehicle(s) associated with the speed camera deployment, should be done with reasonable care and in accordance with the provisions of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation. Vehicles should be parked in a position that will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic, including the safe movement of pedestrian traffic along a footpath, or around the police vehicle;

(ii) the safety of the authorised operator performing duty at the site; and

(iii) the rights of private property owners in that no speed camera is to be operated from private property without the consent of the property owner. If a speed camera is deployed on private property with the consent of the private property owner, such consent should be obtained in writing, where practicable, and a reference to the location of the written consent should be noted on the relevant deployment log e.g. page 57 Notebook B95401.

POLICY

Officers in charge of stations and establishments which operate speed cameras, and regional traffic coordinators, are to establish local procedures to have the locations used for speed camera deployments monitored to ensure that:

(i) the sites used comply with the relevant provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Act;

(ii) the positioning of the speed camera vehicle and/or speed camera is appropriate; and

(iii) deployments are conducted in a manner consistent with the principles of general deterrence.

6.6.15 Speed camera operations

ORDER

Authorised operators deploying speed cameras are to ensure that:

(i) the radar antenna forming part of the speed camera unit is mounted externally on the Service vehicle using the approved mounting locations provided;

(ii) the radar antenna forming part of the speed camera unit is aligned at the correct angle to the direction of the flow of target vehicle traffic to fulfil the obligations of s. 2.4.7 of Australian Standard 2898.2 - 2003;

(iii) the radar unit forming part of the speed camera unit is field circuit tested to fulfil the obligations of s. 2.5.3 of Australian Standard 2898.2 - 2003 by using the manufacturer's prescribed field circuit test procedure;

(iv) at the commencement of each deployment and at the conclusion of the deployment the following additional tests are conducted by:

(a) comparing the speed measurement results of the speed camera unit against the speed measurement results produced by another speed detection device which has been certified as accurate and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, to check the speed of the same target vehicle as it passes through the detection area of the speed camera unit; or

(b) comparing the speed measurement results of the speed camera unit against the speed measurement results produced by the speedometer of a Service vehicle, which has been certified as accurate in compliance with s. 124: 'Facilitation of proof' of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act, and driven through the detection area of the speed camera unit;

(v) the speed threshold thumb wheel switches are set to the appropriate value with respect to the speed limit at the site to which the speed camera is deployed;

(vi) the speed camera's flash unit, unless inoperable, is used throughout the full period of all deployments;

(vii) no person is permitted to remain within three metres to the front of the radar antenna forming part of the speed camera unit while it is operating;

(viii) the radar antenna forming part of the speed camera unit is positioned so it does not reflect radar energy onto any person, including the operator;

(ix) the operation of the speed camera is monitored by the authorised operator throughout the period of deployment; and

(x) all equipment allocated to the speed camera unit is accounted for and is in an operational condition.

POLICY

Officers in charge of stations and establishments which use speed cameras are ensure that the operation of speed cameras is monitored to ensure:

(i) the speed camera vehicle and equipment are maintained in a clean and operational condition; and

(ii) the speed camera vehicle is used and maintained in accordance with s. 6.6.20: 'Use of speed camera vehicles' of this chapter.

6.6.16 Record of speed camera operation

POLICY

Authorised operators who operate speed cameras are to:

(i) record in the 'Speed Camera Set-up and Deployment Log' details as required by the Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office, which may include:

(a) site location/number;

(b) date of operation;

(c) time operation commenced;

(d) time operation ceased;

(e) particulars of speed camera unit used;

(f) number of vehicles photographed;

(g) vehicle count; and

(h) particulars of film cartridge(s) used; and

(ii) complete a QP484 'Certificate - Radar Speed Detection Device - Used' at the end of each deployment. This certificate is available on the QPS forms package. The completed certificate is to be forwarded to the Traffic Camera Office with the 'Speed Camera Set-up and Deployment Log', film and computer disk.

6.6.17 Placing of sign at speed camera site

POLICY

Speed camera vehicles are equipped with a portable sign displaying the words - 'Speed Camera In Use'. The purpose of this sign is to alert motorists that a speed camera is operating which may immediately improve driver behaviour.

PROCEDURE

Authorised operators should:

(i) at the commencement of a speed camera operation, place the sign at a suitable location past the speed camera in the direction of travel of target vehicles so the wording on the sign can be seen by drivers of vehicles which have had their speed checked by the device. The sign should be placed between five and thirty metres away from the speed camera on the footpath, nature strip or similar road related area where it will not obstruct or impede pedestrian movement (if any); and

(ii) at the completion of the operation, remove the sign and replace it within the speed camera vehicle.

6.6.18 Position of vehicle at speed camera site

POLICY

All speed camera vehicles are marked with signage which clearly identifies them as speed camera units. The purpose of these markings is to afford motorists the opportunity of becoming aware that they have passed a speed camera operation.

PROCEDURE

For single direction deployments on divided roads the speed camera vehicle should not be positioned on the opposite side of the road to the traffic being checked.

Where this procedure cannot be complied with authorised operators should consider alternate deployment sites.

6.6.19 Placing of speed camera flash unit at night

POLICY

To minimise the effects of the camera flash being directed into the eyes of the drivers of vehicles during the hours of darkness, operators of speed camera vehicles with front mounted flash units should maintain at least three metres of separation between the speed camera vehicle and vehicles being detected in the forward mode, see Appendix 6.1: 'Positioning of speed camera vehicles with front mounted flash units at night' of this chapter.

Speed camera vehicles with rear mounted flash units are not subject to this policy due to the configuration and position of the flash unit.

6.6.20 Use of speed camera vehicles

Operational and evidentiary needs dictate that the alignment of the longitudinal axis of all speed camera vehicles must be surveyed as true. Similarly, the radar antenna mounting point is surveyed as perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

ORDER

Speed camera vehicles are not to be used for any purpose which may create the potential for these critical alignments to be placed in jeopardy. Speed camera vehicles, including four wheel drive speed camera vehicles, are not to be driven in off-road conditions.

Should it be suspected the critical alignments have been affected in any way, a speed camera is not to be deployed from the vehicle until the alignments have been resurveyed and verified as true.

6.6.21 Concealment of speed camera operations

Marked speed camera vehicles and portable signs displaying the words 'Speed Camera In Use' are provided to alert motorists that a speed camera is operating which may immediately improve driver behaviour. Concealing speed camera operations defeats this purpose.

POLICY

Speed camera operations are not to be deliberately concealed.

Issue 17  - December 2010