Top 10 SA mobile speed camera sites revealed

Most of the top 10 mobile camera sites are in 50km/h speed zones and the biggest earner - at South Tce in the city - rakes in more than $12,000 a week.

Figures obtained under Freedom of Information show three of the top 10 sites were in the western suburbs - two of them in Brompton. There were two each in the city and the northern and southern suburbs and one in the eastern suburbs.

The 10th highest earner - Tregarthen Rd in the Adelaide Hills - was the only site outside the metropolitan area. These sites generated almost $4 million in total fine revenue last financial year, at an average of more than $32,000 each a month.

Police declined to say why the cameras were regularly placed in these locations. Last month an Advertiser.com.au survey showed more than 80 per cent of respondents believed revenue raising was the prime purpose of cameras. A majority were against further increasing the number of fixed cameras.

The State Opposition said increasing use of speed cameras was a key contributing factor to a surge in expiation revenue, which is estimated to grow by more than 20 per cent to $85 million this financial year. Liberal transport spokesman Cory Wingard said the jump in fines meant "revenue raising is a higher priority than road safety" for the State Government.

He wants to establish a parliamentary select committee to "investigate why there is going to be such a massive increase in fines this year and how that will impact on road safety".

"This committee will also consider the vexed issue of speed limits chopping and changing without rhyme or reason and whether that is driving up the Weatherill Government's take from speed cameras," Mr Wingard said.

The Government has the numbers to block the committee in the Lower House, but the Opposition believes it can force an inquiry in the Upper House with the help of crossbench MPs. Family First said it would support an inquiry and is calling for the reintroduction of signs informing drivers of a mobile speed camera's location.

Road Safety Minister Tony Piccolo said speed cameras were "aimed at saving lives" 

"It's a case of sending an immediate message to all drivers they have passed a mobile speed camera, rather than some learning weeks later with a fine in the post," Family First MP Rob Brokenshire said. Road Safety Minister Tony Piccolo said speed cameras were "aimed at saving lives" and the 'road toll is trending downwards". "I'm disappointed the Opposition want to play politics with people's lives by continuously not reinforcing the road safety message," he said.

The RAA said the inquiry would contribute to motorists' understanding of the contribution that speeding cameras made to road safety.

Owen Godfrey of the No Speed Camera Party said the inquiry "will no doubt be a waste of time" because it will be "more a political stunt than a realistic search for the truth".

TOP TEN MOBILE CAMERA SITES