Wallet-killer speeding cameras catching thousands of Gold Coast drivers

Gold Coast drivers are coughing up a whopping amount in speeding fines, with just three cameras accounting for the bulk of tickets issued. Here’s where they are.

Gold Coast drivers are coughing up more than $40,000 a day in fines incurred at the city’s network of fixed speed and red light cameras.

Queensland Treasury figures obtained by the Bulletin show that 44,485 speeding fines and 3798 red light fines were issued by fixed cameras in the city in the 2022-23 financial year.

The figures do not include fines issues by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) using mobile vans and trailers or handheld devices.

Taking into account the minimum speeding fine during the period of $287, the combined value of the fines issued by the 20 cameras is at least $14,951,045.

The speed and red light camera at the junction of Bermuda St and Rudd St in Broadbeach Waters. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The red light and speed camera set-up at the Corner of Smith St and Kumbari Ave in Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Just three cameras account for the bulk of the fines issued.

The junction of Bermuda St and Rudd St remains the area where drivers are most likely to be caught, with 14,531 speeding and 121 red light notices issued by the combined speed and red light camera at the intersection.

However it is closely followed by the combined camera at the junction of Smith St and Kumbari Ave, where 14,068 speeding notices and 232 red light notices were issued.

That’s a massive jump on the 9946 speeding offences and 121 red light offences detected by that camera in the previous financial year.

Drivers at the Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach are also being caught out in big numbers, with 6332 speeding fines issued from a camera there in the last financial year.

News of the high number of speeding fines issued comes as the Gold Coast grapples with a horror year on the roads.

Since January 1, 34 people have been killed in the QPS South Eastern Region, which includes the Gold Coast and Logan. The figure for the whole of 2022 was 28.

Among those caught going too fast on the Gold Coast are some drivers going at extraordinary speeds.

On October 15, officers from the Gold Coast Highway Patrol conducting roadside breath tests in Advancetown observed a 25-year-old Carrara man allegedly riding a motorcycle at 134 km/h in a 70km/h zone. The man had a female passenger on the back of the motorbike at the time.

A 25-year-old Carrara man received a $1780 fine after allegedly travelling 134 km/h in a 70 km/h zone on his motorbike with a passenger on the back.

He was issued with a $1780 fine, lost eight demerit points and was told he faced a six-month licence suspension.

“In the Gold Coast Police District there have been 16 people who have lost their lives in road crashes so far this year compared with 8 for the same time frame last year,” said Senior Sergeant Andrew Frick, Officer in Charge of the Gold Coast Highway Patrol.

“No matter where you are on Queensland roads, drivers need to remember that their decisions count. Watch your speed, don’t drive while under the influence, take regular breaks if you’re travelling for long periods, and wear your seatbelt.

“Road safety remains a priority for Gold Coast Police. Please drive responsibly and keep yourself, your passengers and all other road users safe.”

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