Sydney camera racks up $4.7m in 18 months as new limits sting drivers

A single speed camera has raked in $4.7m in just 18 months, as new 40km-all-day speed zones squeeze unsuspecting Sydney motorists for being just a few kilometres over the new low limits.

Radical new 40km speed limits on some of Sydney’s busiest roads are creating a goldmine for the Perrottet Government in fines from unsuspecting motorists – amid claims the ultra low speeds are an “over-reaction” and the focus should turn to better driver education.

An analysis by the Daily Telegraph of speed cameras enforcing the new 40km zones shows one single camera alone at St Peters, on the six-lane Princes Highway, has reaped $4.7 million in 18 months.

While the government is pushing for more 40km zones – including on busy Cleveland Street – most drivers caught out on the new 40km and 30km zones were doing less than 10km over the limit, the NSW Revenue data shows.

It comes amid calls by the State Opposition to refund drivers stung by a draconian 30km limit imposed in Liverpool – and demands for the government to concentrate on education rather than revenue-raising.

Driver education pioneer and principal of Drive to Survive Ian Luff says the 40km zones are an “easy way to catch people out”.

Newtown’s new 40km/h speed limit road sign – the camera at the start of the suburb has become very lucrative. Picture by Julian Andrews.

He says while the new 40km zone at St Peters might be “all well and good”, at the end of the day “it’s an inappropriate speed for the conditions”.

“Yes there are certain roads that are narrow and busy, and speed management in those areas can be a consideration,” he said.

“But my view is that this is an over-reaction by the government to this whole thing.”

“We need to go back to the basics, how people are taught to drive. The whole basis of learner driving has got to start at the beginning.

“If you’ve got better education instead of ham fisted legislation, that’s the answer.”

“In many cases I believe it’s a complete standardisation that takes away our freedoms.”

“Driving at 40km/h – it’s 11 metres a second – a lot of drivers zone out at that speed and don’t pay attention, the same as going to Melbourne on the freeway at 110kms/hr.”

Drive to Survive principal Ian Luff.

The St Peters northbound speed camera on the Princes Highway – where speeds were radically slashed from 60km an hour to 40km in mid 2021 – has now raked in more than $4.7 million after the rule change.

Before the speed was dropped it only generated $21,198 in all speed related fines over a similar 18 month period. After the switchover motorists were caught out by their thousands, with many complaining about a lack of signage and warnings on the busy six lane highway.

Figures from NSW Revenue show that 90 per cent of the drivers on that stretch of highway had not exceeded the speed by 10km – meaning they had not even reached 50km/hour, much less the previous limit of 60km and would not have been booked had the limit been dropped to 50km.

Pictured are the 30km/h zones on Bigge in Liverpool, which are now going back to 40km/hour. Picture: Richard Dobson

Transport for NSW is now planning to impose a 40km/hour speed limit on the entire stretch of busy Cleveland Street, one of the city’s most congested thoroughfares where 49,000 vehicles traverse it daily, along with plans to cut several right hand turns.

Construction was meant to begin in 2021, but has been delayed, with the department not revealing the reasons why or when the switchover will occur.

Other lucrative 40km speed camera hot spots include Foveaux Street in Surry Hills, after Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore brought in 40km for the City of Sydney Council.

Back in the 2018-19 financial year it earned just $14,875 for the State Government in fines from motorists exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/hour.

Cleveland Street in Moore Park. Speed cameras on the road are already generating a lot of and there are plans for a new 40km speed limit. Picture by Damian Shaw

Then it switched to a 40km zone in 2020 and so far has generated $1.6 million from drivers travelling over the limit – but still under 50km/hour.

Oxford Street’s three cameras also saw revenue soar after speeds dropped to 40km in 2020, going from $345,797 in 2019-20 to $6 million the next year, $2 million in 2021-22 and $2.3 million in the last six months of last year.

ALP roads spokesman John Graham said “introducing low speed limits shouldn’t be an excuse for the Government to make a buck”.

“These cameras are making a fortune for the Government,” he said.

Opposition roads spokesman John Graham, is calling on the government to “return the fines for people fined in this trial who were travelling between 30 and 40 km an hour” at Liverpool. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Where speed limits have changed there needs to be adequate signage so that drivers know the limit.

“The focus should be on educating drivers on the road rather than making money from unsuspecting drivers.

He described the Liverpool 30km zone – where the Perrottet Government has now backflipped and allowed a return to 40km/h – as a “failed experiment”.

“We are calling on the government to return the fines for people fined in this trial who were travelling between 30 and 40 km an hour.”

“Many Liverpool drivers have lost points and paid fines. Often it has been the first time they have had an offence.”

Early last year Ismail Aydogan was being driven to a cardiologist appointment in Liverpool by his son when they were stung by the 30km/h speed camera on Bigge Street. They were driving at 37km/h and as a result lost a demerit point and had to pay $124.

“We were shocked, we had no idea it was there,” Mr Aydogan said. “My son’s a very careful driver and because there are schools nearby we were travelling under 40km/h.

Mr Ismail Aydogan, who was being driven by his son when caught by the Liverpool Bigge St speed camera doing 37km/hour in a 30km/hour zone while attending a nearby cardiology appointment Picture: supplied.

“It’s terrible. I’d never heard of this 30km speed – and yes I think it would be good to refund all the people.

“So many would have been going to medical appointments because the hospital is nearby.”

Fines for drivers doing less than 10km an hour over the 30km zone in Bigge Street have now added $2.9 million into government coffers.

Prior to the changes, in the 2020-21 financial year, the revenue was $56,299.

At Manly, residents are being confused by brightly painted orange squares placed on local roads – which are designed to alert them to the new 30km zones.

Many have complained they had no idea what the markings mean, while others have complained the squares and concrete median strips had actually brought more pedestrians on the roads, on the misunderstanding these are pedestrian crossings.

NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward would not answer questions on whether Liverpool motorists should be given a refund, or whether she considers 40km/hour an appropriate speed for the Princes Hwy at St Peters.

Transport deputy secretary Tara McCarthy said all fixed speed cameras were clearly signposted and all money from the fines went into a community road safety fund.

The department says if a car hits someone at 50 km/h, the impact is twice as likely to kill the pedestrian than if the car had been tra`velling at 40 km/h.