Gold Coast drivers caught out by new speed cameras

Gold Coasters are racking up eye-watering fines as speed cameras continue to catch thousands of lead-foots across the city every week.

GOLD Coast drivers are racking up eye-watering fines as speed cameras continue to catch lead-foots across the city.

And as of this week, drivers have two more to worry about at major intersections.

Almost 28,000 fines were handed out in the first six months of operation for just two local cameras launched last year.

Existing red light cameras were upgraded to nab speedsters at the intersection of Southport-Nerang Rd and Currumburra Rd at Ashmore, and the Bermuda St-Rudd St intersection at Broadbeach Waters last April.

WHERE NEW SPEED CAMERAS ARE BEING INSTALLED ON COAST

The Gold Coast has eight permanent speed cameras and 16 red light cameras in place around the city.

Two months later the cameras were still catching 12 drivers an hour. But most motorists eventually woke up, with detections dropping down to around three an hour by the end of October.

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Drivers are being warned to be on high alert again, with Queensland Police launching more cameras on the Gold Coast this week.

Red light cameras have been upgraded to include speed cameras at the intersection of the Smith Street Motorway and Kumbari Avenue at Southport, and the Bermuda St-Christine Ave intersection at Burleigh Waters.

The changes were made on Monday. Police warn the cameras will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Drivers can be stung twice for speeding through a red traffic light and also if they are speeding on a green or amber light.

It brings the total number of speed cameras on the Gold Coast to eight, along with 16 red light cameras and countless mobile speed traps.

GOLD COAST SPEED CAMERAS: WHERE YOU RISK BEING CAUGHT

Speed cameras monitor motorists on the M1, dishing out fines of up to $1218.

Penalties range from $174 to $1218 in Queensland, with drivers caught more than 40km/h over the limit also copping an instant six-month suspension.

Motorists caught more than 21km/h over the speed limit twice in a year will cop double demerit points.

Superintendent David Johnson of the Road Policing Command said crash data from the past five years was used to decide where to place the new cameras.

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“You are very vulnerable if your car is hit side-on at speed and sometimes the driver behaviour that we’re witnessing is people trying to speed up to get through the red light, so this technology is designed to try and stop both,” he said.

Supt Johnson said the new speed cameras were “well-signed” so drivers should know when they see one.

The Coast’s newest speed cameras have been in testing mode for six weeks but offences began being recorded on Monday.

More speed detectors have also been placed on the Pacific Highway between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes this week to control speeds and improve traffic flow in roadworks zones.

SPEED CAMERA LOCATIONS

• Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach
• Gold Coast Highway at Southport
• Pacific Motorway at Gaven
• Bermuda Street at the intersection with Christine Avenue, Burleigh Waters
• Bermuda Street at the intersection with Rudd Street, Broadbeach Waters
• Markeri Street at the intersection with Bermuda Street, Clear Island Waters
• Smith Street at the intersection with Kumbari Avenue, Southport
• Southport-Nerang Road at the intersection with Currumburra Road, Ashmore