WODONGA’S only fixed red light and speed camera has reaped more than $5 million since it was switched on.
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More than 23,000 motorists have been forced to pay fines after being caught at the intersection of the Lincoln Causeway and Bandiana Link Road.
The camera was activated in September 2010.
Since then, it has raised $5,019,605 from drivers speeding, running a red light, or both.
The statistics, which run to September last year, show the fines peaked the first year the camera was switched on.
It raised $1.45 million during its first 10 months of operation, and the revenue has gradually declined since.
Senior Sergeant Cameron Roberts said if people didn’t want a fine, the answer was simple.
“The only advice I’ve got for people who have received a fine is that there is only one way to avoid that,” he said.
“The expected behaviour is obvious.
“The only real variable is the behaviour of people; everything is in the lap of the individual driver.
“If they don’t want to get a fine, don’t run a red light or speed.”
The site was chosen amid concerns about the high number of collisions at the intersection.
Senior Sergeant Roberts said statistics on the number of crashes at the site were not available, but anecdotal evidence suggested a decline.
“We seem to be going to far fewer crashes than we used to,” he said.
A video camera at the intersection has caught at least one near miss, including a high speed incident in 2013.
A car sped through the intersection, narrowly avoiding a northbound vehicle.
Senior Sergeant Roberts said the fact the number of fines issued in the past three financial years had declined was positive.
“I think the cameras are an effective deterrent to the behaviour we want to prevent,” he said.
“It's good if the fines declined; it would mean the number of incidents were also on the decline.”
RACV general manager public policy Brian Negus said the cameras should only be used at high-risk areas.
“RACV acknowledges that cameras are essential for road safety, but they should only be used where there is a high crash risk or proven speed-related road safety problem,” he said.
“RACV considers that road safety risk issues should be addressed by fixing the problem, rather than simply relying on speed and red light cameras.
“If driver behaviour is clearly an issue then cameras can be appropriate.
“RACV also supports the role of the Road Safety Camera Commissioner in independently investigating system issues and ensuring the integrity of the camera strategy.