There are over 400 speed cameras along Norwegian roads. But not everyone is operating around the clock. There will be a change this summer. The police have received NOK 12 million to process several cases related to speeding past the speed cameras. The budget measure will contribute to increased revenue to the state of NOK 132 million. To do this, the speed cameras will now be in operation 90 percent of the time. Will be able to collect 850 million This makes police superintendent Einar Aabrekk react. He believes it would be wrong to use speed cameras as a source of income. – A fine on average is 3400 kroner, which means an income of 850 million, states Aabrekk. In an article in Politiforum, he asks why no one reacts to what he believes is the wrong medicine to reduce the number of fatal accidents. – Not justified with research He believes there is no research or any good justification in the Police Act to increase the capacity of the photo booths. – The measures that are now being initiated can not be justified in either, says Aabrekk, who teaches at the Police Academy. The speed cameras make people drive slower, even a long distance after they have passed them, according to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Photo: Gunnar Grimstveit – Here I try to teach the students to justify intervention. Either by referring to research, or by referring to the Police Act. He points out that the Police Act is clear that the objectives of the service assignment shall be achieved through information, advice, orders or warnings, or by implementing preventive measures. – The Police Act does not state that the service assignment’s goals are achieved through fines and confiscation, according to Aabrekk. Refusal by the police This is not the first time the police have reacted to the sky-high level of fines that now apply. Less than a year ago, the rates for simplified fines were increased considerably, and among other things doubled for the use of hand-held mobile phones. One of the effects was to be an income of NOK 50 million. Less than a year later, there will be a new increase where the sum went from 5,000 to 7,450 kroner. Then the fine became so high that even the police think it hurts to print it. Not accurate Aabrekk believes that the police’s traffic work in this area will hit poorly. – You go out with a huge net and catch many who do not have the potential to create a traffic accident. Aabrekk refers to the causes of fatal accidents on our roads. A quarter involve intoxication. Heavy transport was involved in 130 fatal accidents from 2014–2018. – Say that we have 100 fatal accidents a year, then intoxication is involved in 25 of them and heavy transport in 30. Then we have those who themselves choose to drive in the mountain wall. We have some who fall asleep. And we have weather and driving conditions that make you slip off the road. Then there is not much left that can be captured from 250,000 ATK images, he argues. In addition, the number of fatal accidents has decreased as cars have become safer and have more safety equipment. – We crash much less often today. And this despite the fact that we have mobile phones, large computer screens and a higher speed limit. When I was employed by the police, about 450 people were killed in traffic every year. Last year it was below 90. In other words, it is actually not so dangerous to drive faster than the speed limit, as long as you are sufficiently attentive and adapt the speed to the conditions, he believes. The most important thing is to adapt your attention to the circumstances. Not necessarily the speed limit. – A good security measure Department director Runar Karlsen in the Police Directorate disagrees with his police colleague at the Police Academy. He is also the former chief of the Emergency Police. April and May this year have been the deadliest months in traffic in several years. Now the authorities think that more active speed cameras may slow down the number of accidents. – The speed cameras will be on 90 percent of the time, it is much more than until now. Many more will be caught, says department director Runar Karlsen in the Police Directorate. Photo: Torstein Bøe / Torstein Bøe The police hope it will lead to fewer people being killed and seriously injured. – The speed cameras are a good complement to the police’s mobile control activity. That it gives more money in the coffers is exclusively positive. This money will go back to society’s work with traffic safety, says Runar Karlsen in the Police Directorate.
ttn-69
The senior police officer reacts to the fact that speed cameras will take more – news Nordland
