Queensland's speeding drivers want to be caught
QUEENSLAND - Maybe it's the heat, but Queensland drivers just can't help themselves.
An alarming percentage have confessed to regularly speeding.
But they know it's wrong, and want more police out there to stop them.
And while they say unmarked mobile speed cameras are the most effective revenue raisers and marked police patrols the least, they reckon the sight of blue-and-white checks and flashing lights are still the scariest deterrent.
A survey by state motoring body RACQ - which serves about one-third of Queensland drivers - found that more than 70 per cent of its members confessed to speeding, on average, almost six times a month. Most nonetheless accepted speeding was a problem.
The biggest reason they gave for speeding was to keep up with other traffic travelling above the speed limit.
"The consensus was that everyone drives faster than them," RACQ senior road safety adviser Joel Tucker said.
The survey also showed that motorists were less likely to slow for 40km/h roadwork zones.
Drivers complained that the signs were often left in place when there was no obvious work being carried out and the lower limits extended too far either side of the work areas.
The survey found that about 85 per cent believed marked police patrols were an effective way to prevent speeding. A much smaller 52 per cent agreed mobile speed cameras were as good.
Webmaster - This only shows that the average driver doesn't obey inappropriately low speed zone signs or 40km/h zone signs when there is no reason for the signs to be their in the first place. When there is no work being done, the signs should be covered.
We can go on reducing speed limits and increase speed cameras or we can set appropriate speed limits. The speed limit should be set to 75% of the normal traffic flow. Speed limits should be set by normal traffic flow. It should not be set by local governments, local lobby groups or politicians hell bent on making a name for themselves or balancing state budgets.