The Evidence - Not Even 2%
Crucial Australian Parliamentary study claims 1.8%.
The evidence is in the 1994 "Queensland Government Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee study no 15", headed, “Speed cameras: should they be used in Queensland?”.
It is important to note that this document was created prior to the speed camera era which means it is not distorted by data from the subsequent use of speed cameras. The study was created by seven eminent Queensland politicians whose names would be familiar to most Australians, as well as a highly regarded research director.
The chairman of the study in his summary stated, "Members of Travelsafe Committee would expect me to give due credit and thanks to the Research Director of Travelsafe, Mr (name edited out by RS), for his valuable input into this and many previous reports to Parliament. He will be completing his secondment to the Committee after this report is presented to Parliament. He will be sorely missed for his absolute professionalism, his organisational ability, his dedication to the task at hand, his research methods, his incisive mind when applied to the information available and his pleasant personality".
This is a professional document and on page (ii) of the Chairman's summary he claims that only 1.8% (one point eight) of road crashes are caused "solely" by speed.
These are the actual words from the study."Fatal accidents, caused solely by speed, represent 1.8% of all accidents reported State-wide, but only 0.8% of all accidents in Brisbane."
The study still didn't state "above the speed limit", they stated, "solely" by speed so it could still be argued that their 1.8% also includes below the limit "speeding", police chases, criminal activity and more.
We have a copy of Travelsafe study no 15 on file.
