One less death, a record number of drivers stung

With so much money flowing in from mobile speed camera fines and no huge decrease to road fatalities, voters should rightly expect black spots will soon be fixed, writes James O’Doherty.

In November last year, Transport Minister Andrew Constance declared that removing warning signs from mobile speed cameras and tripling their monthly hours of operation may save between 34 and 43 lives each year.

While one death on our roads is too many, the impact of the policy change needs to be assessed in its entirety.

In the year to date, 93 people have tragically lost their lives on the state’s roads, compared to 94 in the same period in 2020.

The staggering $14.88m in mobile speed camera fines issued to drivers so far this year seems to have so far not had the promised impact on reducing road fatalities.

In February, more money was raised from mobile speed cameras in one month than the entire 2019-20 financial year.

The staggering $14.88m in mobile speed camera fines issued to drivers so far this year seems to have so far not had the promised impact on reducing road fatalities.

There were more than nine times as many fines issued in March 2021 than in March last year.

Fines revenue has increased so much that Treasury officials have had to revise up the amount expected to be raised this year by $70 million.

It has frustrated Coalition MPs now questioning whether this policy change is a “cash grab” rather than a bid to drive down deaths.

Nationals MP Wes Fang rightly points out that if people cop multiple fines, they could lose their licence, and potentially their livelihoods. He says the impact will be felt most in the regions.

It’s unfortunately all too easy to creep above speed limits – which can frequently change along the same road. A common view is that warning signs remind drivers to check how fast they are going and slow down.

Coalition MPs are now questioning whether the policy change is a “cash grab” rather than a bid to drive down deaths.

The spike in fines so far indicates people aren’t slowing down, but are getting pinged more frequently.

We’re told the number of mobile speed camera fines will decrease when people get used to the changes.

But one significant change to mobile speed cameras hasn’t yet occurred: by the end of the year, they are set to be operating 21,000 hours a month (a threefold increase).

The government says all fines are reinvested into safer roads.

One can only assume the number of fines being issued will increase accordingly.

Secrecy also shrouds the modelling which indicated dozens of lives “may” be saved from these changes. That hasn’t been publicly released.

The government says all fines are reinvested into safer roads.

With so much money flowing in from drivers stung by unmarked mobile cameras, voters should rightly expect every black spot will soon be fixed.

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