NEWS DESK
Speed check app for Link drivers Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au CONTROVERSY over a slew of speeding fines on Peninsula Link may have been avoided if motorists had been able to use Julian Varricchio’s latest innovation. The 24-year-old from Dromana has developed a free phone app that constantly displays and records a driver’s real-time speed – especially useful in point-to-point calculations, such as on freeways. The data can be used to determine an average speed and then be exported and possibly used as evidence to fight speeding infringements using what Mr Varricchio believes is incontrovertible data. “The end goal is that drivers will be recording all their trips and providing themselves with accurate data on their driving,” he said. Superintendent Glenn Weir, divisional commander of Southern Metro, which covers Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, was less than enthusiastic about the app’s potential abilities. “It sounds like a gimmick to me,” he said. “It might be a genius idea, but it has no scientific basis. It’s like those breathalysers you have at home – not worth the trouble.” However, the data would have been useful for the 60 drivers fined in October for travelling at 108kph in the same section of Peninsula Link. They reportedly are considering a class action against the state government to have their fines quashed.
Up to speed: Julian Varricchio’s phone app aims to give motorists the edge in speeding disputes. Picture: Yanni
The drivers are wondering if several point-to-point cameras on the freeway are faulty, with many claiming they always use cruise control, making it unlikely they averaged 108kph in the alleged timeframe of three minutes six seconds. “I became sick of hearing that there was no way to prove that [those] drivers weren’t speeding, as the cameras are presumed to be correct,” Mr Varricchio said.
“I’ve been working hard these past few months to have an app developed that will help provide data that proves the average speed the drivers were doing.” The app: Fine Mate – Speedometer is suitable only for iPhones at present, but will be made suitable for androids soon, he hopes. It works by tapping into the core location service of the phone. “We are aiming for the broader market in
future but, at the moment it just suits users of Peninsula Link.” Mr Varricchio said the main issue when discussing speed cameras on Peninsula Link is that there was not enough consistent evidence and data. “I’m hoping that my app can provide a low cost solution to the public, especially on the Mornington Peninsula, and generate enough data and results that they can be used effectively,” he said.
Meeting slammed by Ombudsman Continued from Page 1 The Ombudsman found Frankston Council had not publicly advertised the meeting at least seven days before the meeting as stipulated by the Local Government Act. Council acknowledged the meeting “was not in full compliance with the Local Government Act 1989.” The report noted councillors who attended the meeting were unaware it did not comply with local government laws. “The council advised that the officer who provided advice on governance, was on maternity leave when these events occurred,” the Ombudsman’s report stated. “When the officer went on leave in April, her position was not backfilled.” Crs Darrel Taylor and Suzette Tayler were subsequently forced by some fellow councillors to apologise after an arbitrator found comments made on Facebook breached council’s code of conduct. Their apologies were not accepted at the final public council meeting before 22 October council elections since they went “off script” when apologising using wording dictated by Cr Colin Hampton with council officers’ input. When contacted last week Cr Darrel Taylor said four councillors had not attended the June meeting since its validity was in doubt. “We always struggled to highlight the lack of transparency and hypocrisy of some councillors,” he said. “We were constantly vilified and personally attacked whenever we spoke out. “The meeting in question was just one of the mechanisms utilised to try and gag councillors for speaking out and trying to highlight the deficiencies of the council. “The issue now is what is the validity of any decisions or outcomes from that particular meeting?”
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www.stringybarkcinema.com.au Frankston Times 19 December 2016
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