Preliminary results from the evaluation of 28 speed camera sites has found that deaths in the camera areas have been reduced from 21 over three years leading up to the camera installation - to just 1 in two years with the cameras operating.

The Minister for Roads, Carl Scully, said the evaluation - conducted by ARRB Transport Research -  clearly demonstrates that speed cameras reduce accidents and save lives.

The evaluation of 28 speed camera sites has also found:

• Reported crashes have been cut by 20 per cent, with casualty crashes cut by 23 per cent and tow-away crashes cut by 17 per cent.
• Dramatic reductions have been recorded in the level of speeding, with the number of motorists exceeding the speed limit reduced by 72 per cent overall and those exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 km/h cut by 88 per cent.
• Public acceptance of speed cameras is now high, with only 5-7 per cent of people surveyed saying the cameras provide no benefits.
• The single fatality recorded in the 28 speed camera areas following camera installation was the death of an 83-year-old pedestrian after being hit by a car travelling 30 km/h.

“The research shows that speed cameras work - they save lives and reduce injuries,” Mr Scully said.

“No-one likes being caught speeding, but speeding remains the single biggest killer on the roads.

“Speeding is involved in more than 40% of all road accidents in NSW.”

Examples of dramatic reductions in speeding at key camera sites considered in the study include:

On the M4 Motorway at Greystanes (speed limit 90 km/h)

• The number of speeding motorists has been cut from 12,000 a day to 1,100 a day.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 20 km/h over the limit has fallen from 3,540 vehicles a day to 12.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 30 km/h over the speed limit has fallen from 1,100 vehicles a day to 3.

On the Princes Highway at Bulli (speed limit 60 km/h)

• The number of speeding motorists has been cut from 7,500 a day to 1,200 a day.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 20 km/h over the limit has fallen from 380 vehicles a day to 14.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 30 km/h over the speed limit has fallen from 63 vehicles a day to 3.

On Delhi Road at Macquarie Park (speed limit 60 km/h)

• The number of speeding motorists has been cut from 4700 a day to 800 a day.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 20 km/h over the limit has fallen from 212 vehicles a day to 4.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 30 km/h over the speed limit has fallen from 27 vehicles a day to 0.

On Cowpasture Road at Green Valley (speed limit 70 km/h)

• The number of speeding motorists has been cut from 2,200 a day to 260 a day.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 20 km/h over the limit has fallen from 76 vehicles a day to 3.
• The number of motorists speeding by more than 30 km/h over the speed limit has fallen from 16 vehicles a day to 1.

The 28 speed camera sites in the evaluation comprised 14 in Sydney and 14 outside Sydney. There were 17 sites in 60 km/h speed zones, two with 70 km/h, two with 80 km/h, three with 90 km/h, three with 100 km/h and one with 110 km/h.