Wagga-based MLC Wes Fang has criticised his own Coalition colleagues over the decision to remove warning signs from in front of mobile speed cameras.
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NSW Transport and Roads Minister, Liberal MP Andrew Constance, announced on Thursday that the warning signs would be removed over the next 12 months.
Mr Fang said the decision by "city-centric Libs" was an "absolute disgrace and unfairly targets regional and rural motorists" due to "longer distances and higher speed limits in the bush" .
"This is a major shift in policy for the Coalition, yet it was not presented to the joint partyroom in either of the past two sitting weeks," he said.
"This is just another example in a long line of Liberal Party city centric policy decisions, and I've had an absolute gutful."
A spokesperson for Mr Constance denied this claim, stating that "all Government MPs and MLCs, both lower and upper house, were invited to attend a briefing on the road safety changes."
Mr Constance said the decision would save lives and bring NSW's policy in line with other states.
"This is about changing culture and changing behaviour. We've seen it happen with our world leading mobile phone detection program, where the rate of people offending has steadily declined," Mr Constance said.
"No warnings signs mean you can be caught anywhere, anytime and we want that same culture around mobile speed cameras."
Independent Wagga MP Joe McGirr said he supported removing the signs as ultimately the decision would "save lives".
"No-one likes a fine, but what we don't want is tragedies," Dr McGirr said.
"I know from personal experience, dealing with the victims of motor vehicle accidents and their families, and since being elected, also seeing the effects on communities.
"Anything we can do to stop loss of life, stop injuries and stop trauma on communities, I think it's worth looking at."
Dr McGirr said the government had given a commitment to use any additional fine revenue to improve country road safety.
"The point of this is not to raise money ... that should put to bed that argument," he said.
Mr Fang's opposition to removing warning signs has gained some support from Wagga's driving instructors.
Roadcraft Driving Services instructor Paul Dawson said it would be fairer to remove warning signs from all types of speed cameras.
"If you are going to do it for one, you should remove all," he said.
"If you remove [signs] in the bush, you should remove them in the city.
"The only way to change behaviours and attitudes it to remove all the signs."
Mr Dawson said it was "not an issue for people who manage their speed".
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Able Driving School instructor Glen Gaudron said he did not support removing warning signs as it would shift the mobile cameras away from providing an instant incentive not to speed.
"The idea of these cameras is that they are supposed to be safety cameras to get people to slow down," he said.
"By signposting them, people slow down. If they are hidden, they are not going to slow down. Drivers are not going to know they have been through one of these cameras until they get a fine in the mail."
Mr Gaudron said removing warning signs from fixed speed cameras would not have much of an effect due to GPS systems warning drivers of known camera locations.
Mr Fang referenced incidents in 2013 where Wagga drivers had complained that warning signs were not being placed in readily visible locations, which then Roads Minister Duncan Gray labelled as 'entrapment' for motorists.
"Speed cameras have a place, but so do fair warnings and equity between city and rural and regional people," Mr Fang said.