Speeding fines will be raised to help fill hole created by $500m drop in GST

Speeding fines will rise up to $600 as the State Government targets hoon drivers to help fill a Budget black hole.

• Thousands just one minor offence away from losing licence
• MAPPED: Adelaide road deaths nearly double five-year average

Hoon drivers will be hit in the hip pocket with increases of up to $600 per speeding offence, as the State Government targets them to help fill a Budget black hole.

The Advertiser understands that fines for SA’s worst leadfoots, those clocked at 45km/h or more above the posted limit, will rise from $1036 to about $1600.

The 60 per cent increase is expected to be mirrored in higher fines on other top-end offences.

While high-end hoons are targeted to raise revenue, so-called “creepers” who just edge over the limit are expected to face relatively smaller rises.

It comes as Treasurer Rob Lucas readies to release a new schedule of fees and charges for public transport and other services, amid fears they will be jacked up at higher than inflation levels to offset a GST collapse which threatens to put the State Budget in deficit.

Last night, Mr Lucas said he had no hesitation about punishing reckless road racers.

“Brainless idiots and hoons are blatantly thumbing their nose at the law, risking the lives of others on our roads and ought to be whacked,” he said.

A police officer speaks with a driver after pulling them over for speeding. Picture: Simon Cross

Police Minister Corey Wingard last week held a road toll summit, amid a worrying spike in deaths this year. He emerged saying there was a “particular frustration” with drivers going 30km/h or more over the limit, and the Government would “go after” them.

There have been 47 SA road deaths in 2019, compared to 30 at the same time last year.

RAA senior manager road safety Charles Mountain said education was key to reducing the state toll, in addition to appropriate cash fines.

“Tougher penalties have their place but they are not the total focus,” he said. “We would be concerned if we saw a similar level of increase for low-order speeding.

“We need to have a holistic approach to achieving road safety outcomes. Better driver education and understanding of the implications speeding we think is very important.”

At a press conference earlier yesterday, Mr Lucas echoed his former sparring partner and Labor treasurer Kevin Foley by declaring that speeding fines were “voluntary taxes”. “You don’t have to pay speeding fines of any size,” Mr Lucas said. “There is much more of an argument for those who blatantly disregard the law and place other road users at risk. Those who are just ‘creepers’ … in my view would be treated differently.”

At the election, Premier Steven Marshall pledged a speed camera review in response to public fears they were being used as revenue raisers. The infamous Bakewell Underpass speed trap was scrapped, as was another on Frederick Rd at West Lakes.

However, another dozen sites were embarked to receive new fixed cameras. They include school crossings and intersections with high historical rates of serious crashes.

Opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said fines were being increased to raise more revenue, which Mr Lucas needs to cover his own mismanagement.

“They promised a different approach, and at the first sign of Budget difficulty they’ve come straight after motorists again,” he said, adding there were fears that less deserving South Australians would be hit when a range of other new fees and charges becomes known.

Mr Lucas has said he expects the state to stay in surplus this year, but balance will be threatened in 2019-20 after the Federal Budget revealed a $500 million GST loss.