Uncovering Brisbane's speeding hotspots: A decade of big data analysis from SAM sensors

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Over the past decade, Brisbane City Council's Slow For SAM Speed Awareness Monitor has recorded the speeds of more than a billion drivers, revealing some of the worst speeding incidents on suburban streets, with some drivers exceeding 100km/h.

The latest data obtained by The Courier-Mail reveals the 25 busiest traffic locations and the speeds recorded. When a driver is within the speed limit, the monitor displays a smiley face; conversely, if the driver is speeding, a red "sad" emoji is displayed.

On Oateson Skyline Drive in Seven Hills, a street frequently travelled by motorists, speed cameras recorded an average of 15,265 times a day. The data showed drivers averaged 54 kilometres per hour in a 60 kph zone, but one vehicle was clocked at 116 kph.

More worryingly, on Gowan Road in Calamvale, one camera recorded a driver travelling 169km/h in a 60km/h zone. The presence of these cameras has prompted most drivers to reduce their speed, keeping the average speed below 55km/h.

Since the speed monitors debuted in 2013, when just 26 were installed, the number has expanded to 266, which are now in rotation at 919 locations, including 83 permanent installations near schools.

Members of the public can contact Brisbane City Council or their local councillor to suggest locations for speed cameras.

Andrew Wines, chair of the Civic Cabinet for Infrastructure, said: "Speeding is not only foolish, it can be life-threatening. These solar-powered speed monitors are a simple but effective road safety reminder. They significantly reduce motorists' speeds by an average of 8km/h per vehicle, saving countless lives."

While the speed monitors themselves don't have the ability to issue direct fines, councils can use the data to report speeding hotspots to Queensland Police, allowing for increased enforcement.

Here's a look at the ten streets in Brisbane where speed cameras are most commonly used:

Street nameareaSpeed limitAverage number of speed records per dayMaximum speed detectedAverage speed
Oateson Skyline DrSeven Hills60 km/h15265116k km/h54 km/h
Hawthorne RdHawthorne40 km/h13876140 km/h41 km/h
Gowan RdCalamvale60 km/h13609169 km/h55 km/h
Crossacres StDoolandella60 km/h13495117 km/h51 km/h
Lytton RdMorningside60 km/h13263123 km/h53 km/h
Bognor StTingalpa50 km/h12456116 km/h44 km/h
Oxley RdOxley60 km/h11584141 km/h47 km/h
Archerfield RdRichlands60 km/h10980123 km/h55 km/h
Annerley RdDutton Park60 km/h10664114 km/h45 km/h
Wondall RdTingalpa60 km/h10586166 km/h52 km/hour

These data not only reveal the seriousness of the speeding problem, but also highlight the importance of urban traffic safety management.

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