New data reveals spots where Victorian drivers are caught speeding and running red lights

SPEED and red light cameras at one notorious Melbourne blackspot are raking in almost $40,000 a day in fines. Have you been caught there?

Fifteen people were injured in 13 crashes at the intersection of King and La Trobe streets between 2013-2017. Picture: Rebecca David

MORE than 160 motorists a day are being snapped speeding and running red lights — averaging $39,300 daily in fines — at a dangerous CBD blackspot, new data reveals.

Between mid-February and June this year more than 22,600 fines were issued to drivers speeding and running red lights at the intersection of La Trobe and King streets in West Melbourne.

It was the fourth-highest site for infringements in Victoria for the 2017/18 financial year, and the cameras were only switched on for four and a half months during that time.

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Department of Justice and Regulation spokeswoman Ashleigh Brown said cameras were installed at the location after it was added to the VicRoads Blackspot list.

“There were 13 crashes at this intersection between 2013 and 2017, which left 15 people injured, including six cyclists — two of whom suffered serious injuries — and four pedestrians,” Ms Brown said.

Cameras at the site were switched on mid-February this year. Picture: Rebecca David

“There are clear road safety benefits to using road safety cameras to enforce 40km/h speed limits. While there are benefits to drivers and passengers, the primary road safety benefit is to pedestrians.

“Research shows us that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle travelling at 60km/h is unlikely to survive, whereas a pedestrian struck at 40km/h has a much greater chance of survival.”

The 40km/h speed limit applies about 400m before the King St and La Trobe St intersection.

Ms Brown said it was common for newly-activated cameras to catch a high number of motorists and it was expected there would be a drop in fines issued at the site once drivers realised they were breaking the law.

With $3.1 million in fines collected there over three months the junction also shot to the top of the list of Victoria’s most lucrative spots for the April-June quarter, reaping $1 million more than the infamous intersection of Warrigal and Batesford roads in Chadstone over the same period.

Over the past financial year there were more than 1.3 million fines — more than 3600 a day — issued on Victorian roads, racking up more than $338 million.

The notorious Chadstone junction was the worst over the 12-month period, with 35,075 fines issued, followed by the intersection of Fitzroy St and Lakeside Drive, St Kilda with 32,302 fines.

Cameras at the intersection of Batesford and Warrigal roads in Chadstone are regularly top the list as Victoria’s most lucrative. Picture: Paul Loughnan

The majority of speeding fines across the board — 867,685 — were for motorists travelling at less than 10km/h over the speed limit, but there were also almost 1000 drivers caught exceeding the limit by more than 45km/h.

“We understand no one likes getting a fine and we’d prefer it if no one did because it would mean they weren’t risking lives by speeding or running red lights,” Ms Brown said.

“Road safety cameras play an important role in reducing road trauma and the number of lives lost on our roads.

“They get motorists to slow down and drive at speeds appropriate for the road they’re travelling on.”

SITES WITH THE MOST FINES ISSUED — 2017-18 FINANCIAL YEAR

1. Warrigal and Batesford roads, Chadstone — 35,075 fines — $8,408,561

2. Fitzroy St and Lakeside Drive, St Kilda — 32,302 — $7,995,049

3. Princes Freeway, Point Cook, Forsyth Road Bridge, Geelong-bound — 23,067 — $5,360,064

4. King and La Trobe streets, West Melbourne* — 22,674 fines — $5,465,146

5. Flinders and William streets, Melbourne — 21,308 — $5,812,803

6. Princes Freeway, Lara, Avalon Road Bridge, Melbourne-bound — 19,996 — $2,786,422

7. Geelong Rd and Droop St, Footscray — 16,155 — $3,798,527

8. Princes Freeway, Hoppers Crossing, Forsyth Road Bridge, Melbourne-bound — 14,676 —

$3,397,544

9. North Rd and Clayton Rd, Oakleigh East — 12,370 — $1,216,902

10. Princes Freeway, Lara, Avalon Road Bridge, Geelong-bound — 11,998 — $2,786,422

*Cameras switched on mid-February 2018

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