Advertisement

Speed signs smile on slowing Brisbane drivers

Those seemingly ubiquitous flashing smiley faces on Brisbane suburban roadsides are doing their job according to figures released by Brisbane City Council.

Feb 18, 2022, updated Feb 18, 2022

Data collected by the Slow for SAM signs have also revealed where motorists tend to speed more.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the 215 SAM (speed awareness monitor) signs the council had installed around the city since 2013 had proven their effectiveness.

Of the 80 million divers who had passed a SAM sign between September and December last year, nearly one in five (18.4 per cent) were speeding as they approached.

“Nearly 60 per cent reduced their speed to within the legal limit before they passed the sign,” Cr Schrinner said.

“On average, speeding motorists slow down by 8 kilometres per hour as they pass SAM signs while the average speed reduction overall is 4.5 kilometres per hour,” he said.

The data shows that the suburbs of Parkinson, Calamvale, Nundah and Acacia Ridge recorded the highest speeds during the same period.

More than 30 of the signs are permanently placed in school zones, with another 30 due to be installed this year.

The solar-powered signs work using Doppler radar and can measure speed ranges from 3kmh to 255 kmh.

InQueensland in your inbox. The best local news every workday at lunch time.
By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement andPrivacy Policy & Cookie Statement. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

When vehicles are travelling at or below the speed limit, the SAM will display a smiley face to thank drivers for doing the right thing. If vehicles are travelling above the posted speed limit by up to 9 km/h, SAM will display the vehicle’s speed followed by a ‘SLOW DOWN’ message, reminding motorists to reduce their speed and drive safely.

They record continuously with a date and time stamp, allowing for vehicle speeds to be analysed by time of day such as peak and off-peak hours, and day of the week such as weekdays and weekends.

The council is also gradually installing WAM (wildlife awareness monitor) signs around Brisbane’s suburbs.

 

 

Local News Matters
Advertisement

We strive to deliver the best local independent coverage of the issues that matter to Queenslanders.

Copyright © 2024 InQueensland.
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy