The SA Liaison Officer of the National Motorists Association Australia Inc., an independant group which promotes motorists rights and interests, today blasted the introduction of new speed cameras.

Mr Wood said that the cameras will not improve road safety. "Speeding causes only 4.2% of road crashes. Investing in technology which detects breaches of speed limits may be extremely lucrative but it can't do more than scratch the surface of the road safety problem" he said.

"The current approach doesn't even primarily target dangerous speeding. Eighty-seven percent of speeding fines come from motorists travelling only 10-15km/hr over unrealistically low limits." he said.

He argued that the focus on speed limit breaches provided damning evidence of the motivation of authorities. "If anyone had any doubt about the motivation of authorities the new cameras removes all uncertainty. They are downplaying 96% of the road safety problem in order to make millions of dollars. Clearly the motive is money not safety."

He noted that rural road fatalities can be reduced by simple measures such as increasing the number of road lanes to allow safe overtaking and increasing speed limits to reduce fatigue and improve concentration on the driving. The current approach of ticketing everyone who drives past a camera achieves nothing," he said. "It is particularly absurd to suggest that crashes involving single vehicles on a straight freeway are the result of driving speed. Fatigue provides a much saner explanation."

"We need effective action to combat road deaths. This must tackle the overall problem. Road safety interventions need to focus on saving lives not making money. We have had enough revenue raising," said Mr Wood.