New secret speed cameras catching out hundreds on Qld roads every week

New covert speed cameras have been rolled out in secret across Queensland and are catching out hundreds every week. You won’t believe where they’re hiding. SEE THE LOCATIONS

New hidden cameras are catching thousands of drivers speeding in school zones.

More than 10,000 drivers have been caught putting children’s lives in danger by speeding through school zones, with some lead foot motorists clocked at more than double the limit.

New data obtained by The Courier-Mail shows thousands of Queensland drivers are disregarding 40km/h limits in school zones and are being caught red handed by new covert cameras.

It comes after a teenager was sentenced to detention in September last year for hitting an eight-year-old student in a school zone at Scarborough, causing the boy permanent disfigurement.

RACQ road safety manager Joel Tucker said the numbers were extremely disappointing, and called for drivers to change their behaviours.

“The speeds are there to try and save lives,” Mr Tucker said.

“It’s obviously concerning to see drivers significantly in excess of that speed.”

The hidden cameras – dubbed Roadways Behaviour Monitoring Systems (RBMS) – were rolled out at 19 of the state’s schools in August last year.

According to new Transport and Mains Roads data, 10,129 speeding fines have been issued statewide through these cameras up until March 24, including 2500 fines at an all-day school zone in Scarborough.

The covert cameras are catching hundreds of motorists each week.

The zone racked up the most fines in the state, and was also the location of a horrific crash in 2022 where a 17-year-old driver ran over a student crossing the road after school.

The driver tried to drift and do a burnt out, losing control and slamming into the eight-year-old boy and his dad.

The boy was left with lifelong injuries, and the driver was sentenced to nine months’ detention and disqualified from driving for a year.

The largest number of fines in an average four-hour school zone was recorded in Idalia at Townsville, which caught 1317 drivers.

In North Queensland, five covert speed cameras have been set up at school zones in Ayr, Idalia, Mount Louisa, Wulguru and Bentley Park.

More than 2700 fines have been racked up between all five cameras, with a driver in Idalia clocked driving at 74km/h during school hours.

In the south east, 343 fines were issued at Alexandra Hills, 320 at Greenbank, 554 at Coomera, 739 at Tallebudgera and 258 at Peak Crossing.

But the most dangerous drivers in the state were caught in the Bundaberg region.

The school zone in Burnett Heads busted a driver speeding at 88km/h, and another at South Kolan going 83km/h.

Mr Tucker said drivers often copied the behaviour of other motorists around them instead of obeying the limits.

“With improved compliance around school zones we can get average speeds down, the people who do the wrong thing are deterred, and stop speeding.

“Speed limits are there for a reason and they are an enforceable road rule.

“We all have a responsibility to drive safely, particularly in school zones where you have a higher proportion of young people who might make mistakes.”

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said they made no apologies for the trying to protect children.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” a spokesman said.

“School zones present challenges for speed enforcement as there is little space for mobile speed cameras or road safety camera trailers.

“The Roadways Behaviour Monitoring System (RBMS) is capable of being deployed in restrictive areas and provides additional functionality by displaying the speed limit on the attached sign.

“We make no apology for protecting one of our most vulnerable road user groups in schoolchildren.”