Where new Mackay ‘flash for cash’ speed camera is located

‘Every death or serious injury is one too many, and we are committed to reducing road trauma across Queensland’. The site located was chosen ‘based on crash data’.

A fixed red-light camera at a heavily used intersection in Mackay has been upgraded to include speed detection based on crash data.

The red-light camera has been operating at the Bruce Highway and Sams Rd intersection since 1992.

However, the Department of Transport and Main Roads confirmed it “was recently upgraded to include speed enforcement”.

“Every death or serious injury is one too many, and we are committed to reducing road trauma across Queensland,” a TMR spokeswoman said.

“Speeding and disobeying red lights are major causes of road crashes.

“This site was selected based on crash data and a statewide prioritisation process for the Camera Detected Offence Program.”

There are also three fixed red-light cameras around Mackay. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The department said money from the fines would be used to run the program as well as fund road safety programs.

There are also three other fixed red-light cameras around the city.

These are at the intersections of Bruce Highway and Gordon St, Gordon and Milton Sts and Shakespeare and Sydney Sts.

Queensland Police Service installed them and the cameras have been operating for more than 10 years.

This upgrade comes as authorities recently revealed new rules in relation to driving with mobile phones, including the introduction of new cameras to spot offenders.

Drivers are now banned from resting a mobile phone on any part of their body, such as their leg or lap – they are also banned from holding a phone even if it is switched off.

The new rules come into effect on July 26. Initially anyone busted by the new cameras will receive a warning before being slapped with a $1033 fine from November 1.