Speeding Victorian drivers slugged a total of $318.6m in fines

The impact from a 75 per cent increase in mobile road safety camera has been felt by leadfoot ­Victorian motorists.

The number of speeding fines issued as a result of ­detection by both fixed and mobile road safety cameras rose to 1,106,039. Picture: Tony Gough

Almost 1000 leadfoot ­Victorian motorists were ­busted at 45km/h or more over the speed limit during the last financial year.

New figures show 961 drivers were nabbed at that highest threshold over the limit in 2020-21, up from 882 in 2019-20.

The number of speeding fines issued as a result of ­detection by both fixed and mobile road safety cameras rose to 1,106,039 from 947,911. Victorian drivers were slugged a total of $318.6m in fines.

Speeding infringements issued between April and June 2021 increased by almost 50 per cent on the same period in 2020.

Victoria Police Acting ­Assistant Commissioner (Road Policing) David Clayton said speeding remained the “number one” cause of fatal and serious injury collisions on Victorian roads.

“During lockdown and the easing of restrictions, police also witnessed an alarming number of motorists driving at dangerously high speeds, due to less traffic on the roads,” he said.

“While we don’t want to issue infringements, our role is to prevent people from becoming seriously injured or dying on our roads.”

Mr Clayton said motorists breaking the law should expect to be caught.

In total, more than 1.2 million infringement notices were handed out across the state, including a 12.9 per cent increase for speeding and red-light ­offences over 2019-20.

It comes after a 75 per cent increase in the hours mobile road safety cameras were used. They were expanded after a horror road toll two years ago.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said the speed cameras played a “critical role” in changing driver behaviour.

“Increased enforcement and more people on our roads this year has led to an increase in the number of people caught breaking the law, and an increase in infringements detected,” she said.

Originally published as Speeding Victorian drivers slugged a total of $318.6m in fines