The bizarrely placed point-to-point speed cameras on Athllon Drive will be ripped up and moved, after a consultant deemed the location unsuitable three years after they were activated.
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The ACT government now wants to move the average-speed cameras to either Tuggeranong Parkway, Majura Parkway, or Parkes Way, at a yet-to-be-determined cost to taxpayers.
The government spent more than $745,000 installing the cameras in 2013 along a 3.8-kilometre stretch of Athllon Drive, between Drakeford Drive and Beasley Street in Canberra's south, which had a high crash rate.
The cameras rely on measuring a motorist's speed at the start and end point to work out an average for the 3.8km.
But that portion of Athllon Drive is interrupted by turns and two roundabouts, one of which is a major intersection with Sulwood Drive, meaning cars frequently stop and slow down, or turn off before completing the full point-to-point distance, allowing them to speed without fear of being fined.
It was a placement that still perplexes even the current Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury, who was not responsible for the decision.
"I was always surprised myself by the original decision, like a lot of people in the community," he said.
"The flaws in the siting did seem so self-evident. But now that it's clear, I think it is right to simply rectify the error that has been made."
Freedom of information documents showed the government was told not to put the cameras there, because they would clash with a park and ride service planned for Athllon Drive, and Fairfax Media revealed they were proving ineffective during their trial period, because most cars were turning off before reaching the end.
That still appears to be the case.
Last month, for example, only 22 per cent of the southbound traffic and 32 per cent of the northbound traffic went the entire length of the point-to-point area.
Mr Rattenbury said that as soon as he came into the role he responded to community concern and ordered a review of all road safety cameras.
That review, conducted by Martin Small Consulting, recommended the Athllon Drive cameras be moved.
It found the point to point cameras on Hindmarsh Drive were working well, as were all other fixed midblock cameras.
"The review conducted by Martin Small Consulting has told us that [Athllon Drive] is not a suitable site, I think that's a point people in the community have made," Mr Rattenbury said.
"The good news was that most of the cameras are in suitable locations, but this one isn't, and I think it's right just to acknowledge that, acknowledge the fact that it wasn't put in the right place the first time, and move it to somewhere that is suitable."
The consultant also found locations on Parkes Way and Tuggeranong Parkway would suit average speed cameras, while the government is also looking at the new Majura Parkway, which wasn't built at the time of the review.
The review found all red light cameras were well placed.
Mr Rattenbury said the consultant's report gave the government a solid evidentiary basis for future decisions on speed camera placement.
"Following the recommendations in the review, the government will ensure all new fixed midblock cameras are placed on sections of road with a high concentration of crashes," Mr Rattenbury said.
"Following the comprehensive reviews of the ACT's road safety cameras, we have a highly robust and evidence-driven approach to locating road safety cameras to ensure they have the best benefits for road safety," he said.
Athllon Drive was dangerous in terms of crashes, and had the second-highest crash rate of all the sites considered for point-to-point cameras.
There had been 456 crashes between 2004 and 2008, including a double fatality, and 568 crashes between 2008 and 2012.
The NRMA and regulators defended the placement in 2013, describing the positioning as "perfectly sensible".
